by Judith Eagle
The novel has such a strong message of family and not giving up. If your readers were to take only one thing away from this story, what would you want that to be?
Whilst family, friends and perseverance are all important, one thing I would love readers to take away is that real-life can be just as weird and wonderful as the stories we read about in books.
What is your favourite part of the book?
Probably when Peter, Clara and Amelia-Ann first go to Leeds, mooch about in the department store and eat cream buns.
What is it like being a debut author?
Exciting and nerve racking all at the same time! One of the most eye-opening and satisfying things has been working with the editors at Faber. They have this very skilful way of helping you make the story the very best it can be. I’m a naturally shy person and am so much better at writing than speaking, so the first time I met Alice Swan, my editor, was a bit of a shock. She asked me so many questions about how and why and what. We talked about the book in forensic detail. But I coped! It was very good for me and hugely confidence boosting.
When and how did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Do you have any advice for writers embarking on their journey to publication?
Although my teacher in Year 6 asked me to dedicate my first book to him, I didn’t really think it would ever happen! I did daydream about becoming an author, but I didn’t pursue it even though there was a little spark burning inside me. Then about nine years ago I did an MA in Children’s Literature. The course was taught by Michael Rosen and at the interview he asked me why I was choosing the Critical Pathway (the one where you write about books) rather than the Creative Pathway (the one where you write the book). I remember thinking: I can’t write a book! But when I finished the course, I decided that I would have a go, and it became a goal. I joined a writers’ group and that was what got me going. Meeting with them motivated me to keep writing, and their feedback kept the ideas coming. My advice would be, don’t think about it, do it. Write a little every day and share it with other writers.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
Reading of course! I also love the feeling I get when I go to a great museum or gallery, full of fizz and spark. I also tap dance (or attempt to!) and I would like to do more embroidery if I had time.
What are your all-time favourite children’s books?
That is a really hard one to answer for someone who went to the library every single Saturday throughout her childhood! Books that stand out are Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg and Watership Down by Richard Adams. I also loved The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aitken; Thursday’s Child by Noel Streatfeild and when I was a bit older, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. I read non-fiction too: junior biographies about people like Mary Queen of Scots; and a really great series about children growing up in different parts of the world – describing things like the food they ate and what their typical day involved.
Finally, are you working on anything new? What can your readers expect from you next?
I am. It’s a mystery-adventure set in 1960’s Paris. There will be twists and turns galore, but that’s all I’m saying for now!
With thanks to Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher & #PrimarySchoolBookClub, for writing these questions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To become a writer you need to be a reader, so my biggest thanks are to my parents Moira and Selwyn – both librarians – who throughout my childhood gave me the time and space to wallow in books. To my writer friends: once upon a time, the thought of joining a writers’ group filled me with horror. Now I can’t understand why I waited so long! Thank you Heather, Tim, Lis and Graham. Without our meetings and your brilliant feedback, this book would not have come this far. Thank you Poppy, Rose, Clare, Pip, Margot, Moira, Lucy and Henrietta for being my first readers. Your encouraging words really spurred me on.
A trillion thank yous to my agent, Tessa David at PFD, for scooping me up and believing in me; and to my wonderful editors: Alice Swan and Stella Paskins, for helping to make this story the very best it could be. Thanks to the lovely copy editor Maurice Lyon and everyone at Faber who has worked so hard to bring this book into the world: Natasha Brown, Sarah Lough, Hannah Love and Margaret Hope. Kim Geyer, I adore your fantastic illustrations. Thank you!
To Nick (who like Peter, is a dab hand at cracking a hard-boiled egg on his forehead) thank you for all the cups of tea and always being there for me!
And last, but very much not least, thank you, Reader, for choosing this book. The Secret Starling will be a tiny piece in the rich patchwork of books you will go on to read. I wish you all the best on your reading journey!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judith Eagle’s career thus far has included stints as a stylist, fashion editor and features writer. She currently works in a secondary school library and lives in South London with her family and Stockwell the cat. The Secret Starling is her first novel.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Kim Geyer studied textile design before taking up children’s book illustration. She lives in London with lots of pets and kids – her biggest inspiration. Kim loves ice-cream and sherbert dibdabs and being taken for walks by her puppy, Dusty.
Copyright
First published in 2019
by Faber & Faber Limited
Bloomsbury House,
74–77 Great Russell Street,
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2019
All rights reserved
Text © Judith Eagle, 2019
Illustrations © Kim Geyer, 2019
The right of Judith Eagle and Kim Geyer to be identified as author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–34631–8
