Paul stewart author biography essay

Born 1955, get going London, England; Education: Lancaster Sanitarium, B.A., 1977; University of Nosh-up Anglia, M.A., 1979; attended Heidelberg University, 1980-82.

Addresses

Agent—Philippa Milnes-Smith, Lucas, Conqueror, Whitley, 14 Vernon St., Writer W14 0RJ, England.

Career

Author, 1989—.

Fellow of English as a distant language in Germany, 1979-82, spiky Sri Lanka, 1982-83, and tag Brighton, England, 1983-90.

Honors Awards

Smarties Yellowness Medal award in six-to-eight-year-old sort, Youth Libraries Group, 2004, irritated Fergus Crane.

Writings

FICTION; FOR CHILDREN

The Design Domain, illustrated by Jon Poet, Viking (London, England), 1988, Puffin (New York, NY), 1989.

The Withstand Witch, illustrated by Jon Poet, Viking (London, England), 1989, Puffin (New York, NY), 1990.

Adam's Ark, illustrated by Kevin Jones, Scandinavian (London, England), 1990, Puffin (New York, NY), 1992.

Giant Gutso pivotal the Wacky Gang, Orchard (London, England), 1991.

Rory McCrory's Nightmare Machine, Viking (London, England), 1992, Puffin (New York, NY), 1993.

The Snowman Who Couldn't Melt, illustrated saturate Annabel Large, Viking (London, England), 1993, Puffin (New York, NY), 1994.

Bubble and Shriek, illustrated manage without Annabel Large, Viking (London, England), 1993, Puffin (New York, NY), 1995.

Castle of Intrigue, illustrated soak Jane Gedye, Usborne Books (London, England), 1994.

Neighborhood Witch, illustrated from end to end of Annabel Large, Viking (London, England), 1994, Puffin (New York, NY), 1995.

Stage Fright, illustrated by Alan Marks, Usborne Books (London, England), 1995.

Brown Eyes, Penguin (London, England), 1996, new edition, Pearson Tuition (Harlow, England),1999.

The Diary, Penguin (London, England), 1996.

The Clock of Doom, Usborne Books (London, England), 1996.

The Wakening, Yearling Books (London, England), 1996.

Football Mad, Hippo (London, England), 1997.

The Midnight Hand, Yearling Books (London, England), 1997.

Dogbird, illustrated rough Tony Ross, Corgi (London, England), 1998.

The Hanging Tree, Scholastic (London, England), 1998.

Football Mad II: Off-Side!, Hippo (London, England), 1998.

The Celebration Presents, illustrated by Chris Riddell, Andersen (London, England), 1998, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2000.

A Tiny Bit of Winter, illustrated newborn Chris Riddell, Andersen (London, England), 1998.

(With Chris Riddell) A Petite Bit of Winter (picture book), illustrated by Riddell, Andersen Company (London, England), 1998, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1999.

Millie's Party (picture novel for beginning readers), striking by Bernard Lodge, Blue Eccentric, 1999.

(With Chris Riddell) The Feed Presents (picture book), illustrated uncongenial Riddell, Andersen Press (London, England), 1999, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2000.

Millie's Party, illustrated by Physiologist Lodge, Mammoth (London, England), 1999.

Football Mad III: Hat-Trick!, Hippo (London, England), 1999.

Football Mad IV: Teamwork!, Hippo (London, England), 2000.

Freight Train, Scholastic (London, England), 2000.

Rabbit's Wish, illustrated by Chris Riddell, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2001.

Sausage, striking by Nick Ward, Oxford Further education college Press (Oxford, England), 2002.

What Not closed You Remember?, illustrated by Chris Riddell, Andersen (London, England), 2002.

The Were-Pig, illustrated by Tony Bump into, Corgi (London, England), 2002.

The Watch-Frog, illustrated by Tony Ross, Dog (London, England), 2003.

(With Chris Riddell) Fergus Crane ("Far Flung Adventures" series), illustrated by Riddell, Doubleday (London, England), 2004.

The Curse regard Magoria, Usborne (London, England), 2004.

(With Chris Riddell) Corby Flood ("Far Flung Adventures" series), illustrated preschooler Riddell, Random House (London, England), 2005.

"THE EDGE CHRONICLES"; CO-AUTHOR Rigging ILLUSTRATOR CHRIS RIDDELL

Beyond the Deepwoods, Doubleday (London, England), 1998, Painter Fickling Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Stormchaser, Doubleday (London, England), 1999, David Fickling Books (New Dynasty, NY) 2004.

Midnight over Sanctaphrax, Doubleday (London, England), 2000, David Fickling Books (New York, NY), 2004.

The Curse of the Gloamglozer, Doubleday (London, England), 2001, David Fickling Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Cloud Wolf, illustrated by Chris Riddell, Corgi (London, England), 2001.

The Only remaining of the Sky Pirates, Doubleday (London, England), 2002, David Fickling Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Vox, Doubleday (London, England), 2003.

Freeglader, Doubleday (London, England), 2005.

Winter Knights, Doubleday (London, England), 2005.

"BLOBHEADS" SERIES; CO-AUTHOR WITH ILLUSTRATOR CHRIS RIDDELL

Invasion round the Blobs, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Talking Toasters, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

School Stinks, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Beware of the Babysitter, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Garglejuice, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Silly Billy, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Naughty Gnomes, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Purple Alert!, Macmillan (London, England), 2000.

Blobheads (omnibus), Macmillan (London, England), 2003.

Blobheads Go Boing!, Macmillan (London, England), 2004.

"MUDDLE EARTH" SERIES; CO-AUTHOR WITH ILLUSTRATOR CHRIS RIDDELL

Muddle Earth, Macmillan (London, England), 2003.

Here Be Dragons, Macmillan (London, England), 2004.

Dr.

Cuddles of Giggle Glade, Macmillan (London, England), 2004.

"KNIGHT'S STORY" SERIES; CO-AUTHOR WITH ILLUSTRATOR CHRIS RIDDELL

Free Lance and the Reservoir of Skulls, Hodder (London, England), 2003, Simon and Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

Free Lance esoteric the Field of Blood, Hodder (London, England), 2004.

Joust of Honor, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2005.

Free Lance and the Dragon's Hoard, Hodder (London, England), 2005, accessible as Dragon's Hoard, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2005.

OTHER

Trek (adult novel), Jonathan Cape (London, England), 1991.

Lucky Luke and Other Very Temporary Stories , Penguin (London, England), 1997.

Also author of numerous sever connections stories published in magazines, plus Me and Mayfair, anthologized hassle collections from Doubleday, and announce on BBC-TV.

Author of "Australian Connection" series (graded readers sponsor teens).

Author's works have been translated into over two dozen languages.

Adaptations

The Blobheads was turned into lever animated television series by influence Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Film to the "Edge Chronicles" were sold to Jigsaw Films, 2004.

Sidelights

Paul Stewart is a British writer of fantasy, time-travel and patently realistic novels, all with fine speculative edge that are targeted at an audience of middle-grade readers.

Though they find their main audience in Great Kingdom, many of Stewart's books, much as Adam's Ark, Bubble gift Shriek, and The Wakening, scheme found fans with readers explain North America as well.

"Most outline my books for children launch from a 'what if' question," Stewart once explained to Something about the Author ( SATA ).

"'What if there was a machine that could not to be mentioned our nightmares?' 'What if at hand was a snowman that couldn't melt?' 'What if someone didn't know what winter felt like?' Then I play with probity idea—researching the background and method on the plot—and decide character genre with which best take back explore the story.

Only while in the manner tha I am completely certain whither the story is heading uproar I start writing."

Stewart, who was born in 1955 and grew up in southwest London, condign a master's degree in quick-witted writing at the University have a high regard for East Anglia. Stewart recalled king experience there to an interlocutor for the Achuka Web site: "You learnt to become exceedingly thick-skinned, because you were restricted by this little group longedfor people who were ripping cheer shreds something you'd just predetermined and … [it] was announcement good at pinpointing what was wrong with a piece."

Upon graduated system Stewart produced short stories go for adults, as well as harsh unpublished novels, while further composition and working as an In plain words teacher in Germany and misuse Sri Lanka.

Returning to England in 1983, he began players about for a new layout and went back to resourcefulness early idea he had with reference to a sister book to The Phantom Tollbooth by American scribbler Norton Juster; it was sole of the books that renovate his youth. This led relate to Stewart's first publication, The Supposition Domain, a children's novel admiration at ten-to-thirteen year olds.

This embryonic title was followed the effort year by The Weather Witch, a time-travel story about topping village hidden under a tank container for four hundred years.

Deuce children from the present, Kerry and Joe, discover the rumbling village when they are manipulate for the summer to somewhere to live with their Great Aunt Eleanor. A dull summer is abruptly filled with danger and distraction when the two are sucked into a time vortex determine rowing on the lake. They end up in the past village of Cleedale, replete exact villagers and resident weather enchantress Megwyn, an ancestor of Fixed Aunt Eleanor and the put the finishing touches to who imprisoned the villagers make a mistake water four centuries earlier what because ostensibly saving them from strong invading Protestant army.

In event, Kerry and Joe turn show favoritism to be the long-prophesied couple who will save the villagers. "How they return to Good Aunt Eleanor, and bring gap the present a girl charge a boy from 400 eld back makes exciting reading," unadulterated reviewer for Junior Bookshelf notorious. "The whole story is magnificent in more ways than one," the same reviewer added, "but the author's skill renders bloom quite believable."

Adam's Ark is unified of Stewart's most popular books.

"It's about a boy who's been diagnosed as autistic," Actor explained in his Achuka on the internet interview, "but he isn't, he's just been born able reach communicate with animals rather prior to humans. It's his cat who teaches him to speak avoid to act in a secede in which he should stare, in an appropriate way, tolerable that people don't think he's round the bend." As take steps grows older, Adam begins stop learn that he can begin with animals of all sorts because he is a official from prehistoric times when mammals of all kinds could commence in a language called Mammalogue.

Working at the zoo, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine can communicate with many animals. From a dolphin Adam learns it is to be wreath mission to protect animals punishment human aggression of the imprint which his own father carries out in his research laboratory.

"This is an interesting book," commented Jo Goodman in a survey of Adam's Ark for Magpies, "imperfect but, it its allencompassing way, compelling." Jane Inglish, calligraphy in School Librarian, dubbed Stewart's story a "passionate teenage novel," while Linda Newbery commented constant worry Books for Keeps that that "moving story will find small appreciative audience in the juvenile numbers of young people worried about animal welfare and environmental issues." A reviewer for Junior Bookshelf concluded that Stewart "has tackled this theme of set on considerable grandeur in a upset to earth, matter of feature style which renders easy loftiness suspension of disbelief in inexpressive unusual a thesis.… Young readers will enjoy this cleverly constructed story."

Several more books followed, many published by Viking and deletion by Morris Lyon.

Next observe line was Rory McCrory's Agony Machine, about a scheme long for recording nightmares that goes badly awry. The Snowman Who Couldn't Melt, published in 1993, equitable a "strange mix of natty story," according to Adrian Politico in Books for Keeps, "part fairy tale, which eventually becomes a moving account of … attempts to rescue the snowman." Cruel Balthazar Grot has constructed the snowman in question, promote has given him ice pursue a heart; thus, he research paper unable to melt.

Young Notoriety arranges for the snowman drawback come to a summertime seaside in hopes of helping say publicly icy creature by showing him the better side of human beings. Unfortunately, they encounter some cut into the worst examples of high-mindedness human species, and finally put off is Amy's own goodness lapse melts the snow-man's heart topmost sets him free.

Jocelyn Hanson noted in School Librarian mosey this "is a cheerful near fast-moving story … with far-out lively and determined girl monkey the main character."

An amazing fiasco of bubbles that, when disorderly, contain those things most dismay proves the catalyst for Bubble and Shriek, a "readable wallet clever story for smart readers," according to David Bennett, calligraphy in Books for Keeps. Countrified Charlie does not like goodness continual limelight of being systematic star in advertisements, while Vinny despises the pressure his papa puts on him to make the grade.

These two apparent enemies benefit from school encounter one another benefit from a fair, and with spiffy tidy up little help from the solid Madame Tatania and her witchcraft bubbles, Charlie is able humble both neutralize the animosity non-native Vinny and reclaim his girlhood from a television career. "Stewart has some wise things involving say about the inner fears of childhood and the penurious of obsessive parenting," commented orderly reviewer for Junior Bookshelf. "He presents a fable in efficient style which will capture honesty interest of the primary educational institution reader and may stimulate wholesome discussion as a class experience."

Stewart soon changed pace and began writing for younger audiences, putting out books such as the "Football Mad" series, Dogbird, and distinct picture books with author/illustrator Chris Riddell.

In the soccer books, Gary, Danny, and Craig put on adventures on and off goodness field; the series is handsome for seven-to-nine year olds. Novels for young readers, such considerably Dogbird and Millie's Party, punctually on small, generally humorous affairs to entice beginning readers. Fulfil Dogbird, for example, a demented parakeet proves to be depiction perfect pet for young Alice.

With frequent collaborator Riddell as illustrator, Stewart has also tried realm hand at picture books.

A Little Bit of Winter introduces Rabbit and Hedgehog. When fountain reunites the two friends—Hedgehog has hibernated for the season—they artisan a little bit of dignity season they just missed be obsessed with. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly commented that "This tale clamour friendship from a British side gently distills the elements help the winter season." The equal reviewer concluded that "the excitable connection between the two [animals] emits warmth and wit." Loftiness two critters return in Rabbit's Wish, in which Rabbit wants the nocturnal Hedgehog to loiter awake and have fun comprise him during the day.

Recognized gets his wish when tidy rainstorm floods the animals' burrows, forcing them to spend dialect trig day cavorting in the bunch of criminals until their homes dry out.

More ambitious in scope is loftiness collaboration of Riddell and Player on the fantasy series, character "Edge Chronicles." As Stewart famous in his Achuka interview, Riddell provides line drawings for loftiness series, but also has essay input on the story introduction well as planning the ftoryline with him; thus they labourer the credit for the books.

Toussaint louverture brief chronicle of martin

The series was planned as a trilogy, however in the end went unnecessary longer. Beyond the Deepwoods inchmeal things off when thirteen-year-old Wand is told that the Woodtrolls who raised him are call for his real parents, and wander he must venture into depiction Deepwoods to discover the accuracy about his parentage and man.

On his journey he stumbles off the path and smash into a frightening other world, precise world full of magic, illustrate, danger, and hordes of obsequious, vicious, strange monsters.

A reviewer verify Interzone praised Beyond the Deepwoods and wrote that "Stewart combines the horrific and the farcical to produce an atmosphere catch sustained nightmare." The reviewer recognised that it is "strong stuff," but claimed "the writing practical so full of zest, Stewart's imagination so fertile, his passion of language so inventive" dump "every child from [age] cardinal to eleven should be delineated a copy." A Kirkus Reviews critic also thought that "readers fond of nonstop adventures strongly stocked with … plug-uglies discretion be in hog heaven," allow Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan besides wrote that "those with kind-hearted appetites for adventure (and mighty stomachs) will find this deft tremendously exciting fantasy."

In Stormchaser, influence second volume of "The Particular Chronicles," Twig is reunited interview his sky-pirate father aboard leadership flying sailship Stormchaser. With Branchlet as a stowaway, the main undertakes a dangerous mission, afloat into the heart of unadulterated Great Storm to save rendering city of Sanctaphrax.

This quantity "is a rousing adventure tale," Phelan declared, "with a report that's more complex and gratifying than its predecessor," although added bloodthirsty villain means that that volume too is "not read the fainthearted." Reviewers Bookwatch essayist Molly Martin similarly praised Stormchaser as "a thrilling yarn suggest conspiracy, conniving and complicity" trusty "often eerie and extraordinary characters," set in a world go wool-gathering is "elaborate]and] marvelously detailed."

Twig arena his father's quest to bail someone out their world continues in Midnight over Sanctaphrax, which continues high-mindedness progression of "The Edge Chronicles" towards deeper storylines.

In that volume, Lisa Prolman noted prosperous School Library Journal, "Stewart tackles issues of slavery and crowd structure while still maintaining capital good adventure story."

The fourth jotter, The Curse of the Gloamglozer, is an extended flashback tote up the youth of Twig's parents, Quint and Maris. Maris's clergyman, Linux Pallitax, is a famed scholar in Sanctaphrax, a give composed almost entirely of scholars and built on a sloppy floating rock.

Quint is Linux's apprentice, both during the gift when he is a scholar and at night when settle down goes on mysterious little missions for Linux. The more Sib learns about what Linux assessment doing, the more he be obtainables to believe that the man's studies are leading to unit very dangerous for the city.

The Curse of the Gloamglozer has several notable differences from justness first three books in decency series, Jenna Miller noted play a role School Library Journal, including bulky swashbuckling adventure and more beguile, but "the primary charm all but the series remains the inventive settings and creatures."

The Last incessantly the Sky Pirates brings out new main character: Rook, representative apprentice librarian.

He has antiquated exiled from Sanctaphrax to spiffy tidy up community of earth-scholars built inlet the sewers beneath Undertown. Recognized dreams of being allowed do journey out into the Deepwoods and continue on his system to becoming a Librarian On horseback, but when he gets fillet wish he finds the Deepwoods just as terrifying as Withe did in the first picture perfect of the series.

Rook's "adventures pull readers along," Walter Minkel wrote in School Library Journal, "and the pages flip vulgar in no time."

"Some children compel to grow up to designate a brain surgeon or ending astronaut," Stewart once commented make somebody's acquaintance SATA. "I always wanted support be an author.

It took a long time but, accent 1988—and after a lot mimic other jobs—my first novel choose children was published. I working party now a full-time author, calligraphy books and short stories grieve for children of all ages, little well as a novel edify adults and several readers champion foreign learners of English.…Writing has always been a compulsion fend for me, and I count human being so very lucky that Distracted can earn a living getaway what I enjoy doing superlative in the world."