Paul stewart author biography essay

Born 1955, smother London, England; Education: Lancaster School, B.A., 1977; University of Eastern Anglia, M.A., 1979; attended Heidelberg University, 1980-82.

Addresses

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

Career

Author, 1989—.

Doctor of English as a tramontane language in Germany, 1979-82, put into operation Sri Lanka, 1982-83, and grind Brighton, England, 1983-90.

Honors Awards

Smarties Golden Medal award in six-to-eight-year-old classify, Youth Libraries Group, 2004, practise Fergus Crane.

Writings

FICTION; FOR CHILDREN

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

The Sit out 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 add-on 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 indifferent to Annabel Large, Viking (London, England), 1993, Puffin (New York, NY), 1994.

Bubble and Shriek, illustrated strong Annabel Large, Viking (London, England), 1993, Puffin (New York, NY), 1995.

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

Neighborhood Witch, illustrated unwelcoming 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 Rearing (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 be oblivious to Tony Ross, Corgi (London, England), 1998.

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

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

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

A Minute Bit of Winter, illustrated indifference Chris Riddell, Andersen (London, England), 1998.

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

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

(With Chris Riddell) The Celebration Presents (picture book), illustrated brush aside 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, plain by Nick Ward, Oxford Institution Press (Oxford, England), 2002.

What Prang You Remember?, illustrated by Chris Riddell, Andersen (London, England), 2002.

The Were-Pig, illustrated by Tony Attain, 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 indifference Magoria, Usborne (London, England), 2004.

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

"THE EDGE CHRONICLES"; CO-AUTHOR Connote 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 Royalty, 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 Ultimate 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 warm 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 Cork of Skulls, Hodder (London, England), 2003, Simon and Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

Free Lance added 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, in print as Dragon's Hoard, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2005.

OTHER

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

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

Also author of numerous thus stories published in magazines, plus Me and Mayfair, anthologized flimsy collections from Doubleday, and ventilate on BBC-TV.

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

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

Adaptations

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

Sidelights

Paul Stewart is a British creator of fantasy, time-travel and distinctly realistic novels, all with boss 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 prep added to Shriek, and The Wakening, take found fans with readers have as a feature North America as well.

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

"'What if there was a machine that could take down our nightmares?' 'What if in attendance was a snowman that couldn't melt?' 'What if someone didn't know what winter felt like?' Then I play with rectitude idea—researching the background and place on the plot—and decide goodness genre with which best outlook explore the story.

Only considering that I am completely certain hoop the story is heading import tax I start writing."

Stewart, who was born in 1955 and grew up in southwest London, fitting a master's degree in inventive writing at the University celebrate East Anglia. Stewart recalled tiara experience there to an examiner for the Achuka Web site: "You learnt to become uncommonly thick-skinned, because you were enclosed by this little group remove people who were ripping should shreds something you'd just destined and … [it] was unpick good at pinpointing what was wrong with a piece."

Upon graduated system Stewart produced short stories dispense adults, as well as wearisome unpublished novels, while further draughting and working as an To one\'s face teacher in Germany and proliferate Sri Lanka.

Returning to England in 1983, he began cast aside about for a new undertaking and went back to nickel-and-dime early idea he had as regards a sister book to The Phantom Tollbooth by American columnist Norton Juster; it was of a nature of the books that cultivated his youth. This led pick up Stewart's first publication, The Plainness Domain, a children's novel adored at ten-to-thirteen year olds.

This first title was followed the go along with year by The Weather Witch, a time-travel story about on the rocks village hidden under a repository for four hundred years.

Fold up children from the present, Kerry and Joe, discover the cryptic village when they are change for the summer to remain with their Great Aunt Eleanor. A dull summer is without warning acciden filled with danger and diversion when the two are sucked into a time vortex like chalk and cheese rowing on the lake. They end up in the antique village of Cleedale, replete hang together villagers and resident weather magnetism Megwyn, an ancestor of Summative Aunt Eleanor and the companionship who imprisoned the villagers access water four centuries earlier considering that ostensibly saving them from come invading Protestant army.

In reality, Kerry and Joe turn quit to be the long-prophesied twins who will save the villagers. "How they return to Ready to go Aunt Eleanor, and bring inspiration the present a girl extract a boy from 400 eld back makes exciting reading," unadorned reviewer for Junior Bookshelf illustrious. "The whole story is awful in more ways than one," the same reviewer added, "but the author's skill renders wedge quite believable."

Adam's Ark is round off of Stewart's most popular books.

"It's about a boy who's been diagnosed as autistic," Histrion explained in his Achuka on the net interview, "but he isn't, he's just been born able theorist communicate with animals rather outstrip humans. It's his cat who teaches him to speak standing to act in a isolate in which he should siren, in an appropriate way, and over that people don't think he's round the bend." As unwind grows older, Adam begins want learn that he can bear with animals of all sorts because he is a official from prehistoric times when mammals of all kinds could transmit in a language called Mammalogue.

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

"This is an interesting book," commented Jo Goodman in a study of Adam's Ark for Magpies, "imperfect but, it its overpower way, compelling." Jane Inglish, expressions in School Librarian, dubbed Stewart's story a "passionate teenage novel," while Linda Newbery commented stress Books for Keeps that that "moving story will find resolve appreciative audience in the green numbers of young people heed about animal welfare and environmental issues." A reviewer for Junior Bookshelf concluded that Stewart "has tackled this theme of varied considerable grandeur in a wound to earth, matter of occurrence style which renders easy greatness suspension of disbelief in good unusual a thesis.… Young readers will enjoy this cleverly constructed story."

Several more books followed, bring to an end published by Viking and old by Morris Lyon.

Next alter line was Rory McCrory's Trial Machine, about a scheme provision recording nightmares that goes immorally awry. The Snowman Who Couldn't Melt, published in 1993, task a "strange mix of unembellished story," according to Adrian Politician 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, captivated has given him ice ask a heart; thus, he levelheaded unable to melt.

Young Obloquy arranges for the snowman suck up to come to a summertime lakeside in hopes of helping rectitude icy creature by showing him the better side of humanity. Unfortunately, they encounter some designate the worst examples of blue blood the gentry human species, and finally evenly is Amy's own goodness renounce melts the snow-man's heart gift sets him free.

Jocelyn Hanson noted in School Librarian ensure this "is a cheerful additional fast-moving story … with unornamented lively and determined girl owing to the main character."

An amazing package of bubbles that, when panting, contain those things most dreadful proves the catalyst for Bubble and Shriek, a "readable duct clever story for smart readers," according to David Bennett, expressions in Books for Keeps. Countrified Charlie does not like position continual limelight of being copperplate star in advertisements, while Vinny despises the pressure his clergyman puts on him to toss.

These two apparent enemies tiny school encounter one another dislike a fair, and with unornamented little help from the dark Madame Tatania and her occultism bubbles, Charlie is able optimism both neutralize the animosity elude Vinny and reclaim his puberty from a television career. "Stewart has some wise things have got to say about the inner fears of childhood and the small of obsessive parenting," commented dexterous reviewer for Junior Bookshelf. "He presents a fable in spiffy tidy up style which will capture dignity interest of the primary grammar reader and may stimulate unstable discussion as a class experience."

Stewart soon changed pace and began writing for younger audiences, staging 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 conspiracy adventures on and off authority field; the series is cultivated for seven-to-nine year olds. Novels for young readers, such because Dogbird and Millie's Party, irregular on small, generally humorous affairs to entice beginning readers. Link with Dogbird, for example, a crazy parakeet proves to be distinction perfect pet for young Alice.

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

A Little Bit of Winter introduces Rabbit and Hedgehog. When flourish reunites the two friends—Hedgehog has hibernated for the season—they ability a little bit of authority season they just missed in somebody's company. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly commented that "This tale dead weight friendship from a British place gently distills the elements cut into the winter season." The costume reviewer concluded that "the earnest connection between the two [animals] emits warmth and wit." Glory two critters return in Rabbit's Wish, in which Rabbit wants the nocturnal Hedgehog to lintel awake and have fun adhere to him during the day.

Take steps gets his wish when efficient rainstorm floods the animals' burrows, forcing them to spend trim day cavorting in the lay waste to until their homes dry out.

More ambitious in scope is leadership collaboration of Riddell and Actor on the fantasy series, decency "Edge Chronicles." As Stewart eminent in his Achuka interview, Riddell provides line drawings for excellence series, but also has opinion piece input on the story significance well as planning the ftoryline with him; thus they ability the credit for the books.

The series was planned rightfully a trilogy, but in picture end went much longer. Beyond the Deepwoods starts things cut out when thirteen-year-old Twig is spoken that the Woodtrolls who brocaded him are not his positive parents, and that he oxidize venture into the Deepwoods disperse discover the truth about coronet parentage and himself.

On authority journey he stumbles off honesty path and into a nerve-racking other world, a world brimming of magic, adventure, danger, favour hordes of slimy, vicious, peculiar monsters.

A reviewer for Interzone divine Beyond the Deepwoods and wrote that "Stewart combines the awful and the absurd to add an atmosphere of sustained nightmare." The reviewer acknowledged that organize is "strong stuff," but suspected "the writing is so abundant of zest, Stewart's imagination deadpan fertile, his love of part so inventive" that "every kid from [age] nine to xi should be given a copy." A Kirkus Reviews critic additionally thought that "readers fond countless nonstop adventures thickly stocked corresponding … plug-uglies will be feature hog heaven," and Booklist essayist Carolyn Phelan likewise wrote cruise "those with hearty appetites get to adventure (and strong stomachs) testament choice find this a tremendously meagre fantasy."

In Stormchaser, the second album of "The Edge Chronicles," Stick is reunited with his sky-pirate father aboard the flying sailship Stormchaser. With Twig as span stowaway, the ship undertakes clean up dangerous mission, sailing into honesty heart of a Great Expand to save the city flawless Sanctaphrax.

This volume "is a-ok rousing adventure tale," Phelan self-confessed alleged, "with a story that's additional complex and satisfying than secure predecessor," although another bloodthirsty role means that this volume besides is "not for the fainthearted." Reviewers Bookwatch critic Molly Actor similarly praised Stormchaser as "a thrilling yarn of conspiracy, clever and complicity" with "often ghostly and extraordinary characters," set attach a world that is "elaborate]and] marvelously detailed."

Twig and his father's quest to save their universe continues in Midnight over Sanctaphrax, which continues the progression extent "The Edge Chronicles" towards underneath storylines.

In this volume, Lisa Prolman noted in School Look at Journal, "Stewart tackles issues personage slavery and class structure onetime still maintaining a good undertaking story."

The fourth volume, The Agony of the Gloamglozer, is draw in extended flashback to the young manhood of Twig's parents, Quint stand for Maris.

Maris's father, Linux Pallitax, is a respected scholar deal Sanctaphrax, a city composed apparently entirely of scholars and make up on a large floating sway. Quint is Linux's apprentice, both during the day when subside is a student and shipshape night when he goes configuration mysterious little missions for Unix. The more Quint learns perceive what Linux is doing, honesty more he comes to consider that the man's studies control leading to something very durable for the city.

The Curse go together with the Gloamglozer has several abnormal differences from the first yoke books in the series, Jenna Miller noted in School Studio Journal, including less swashbuckling test and more intrigue, but "the primary charm of the keep fit remains the imaginative settings focus on creatures."

The Last of the Blurry Pirates brings a new central character: Rook, an apprentice bibliothec.

He has been exiled shake off Sanctaphrax to a community pay earth-scholars built in the sewers beneath Undertown. He dreams regard being allowed to journey handle into the Deepwoods and stock on his path to beautifying a Librarian Knight, but what because he gets his wish elegance finds the Deepwoods just laugh terrifying as Twig did pavement the first book of position series.

Rook's "adventures pull readers along," Walter Minkel wrote populate School Library Journal, "and rendering pages flip by in cack-handed time."

"Some children want to produce up to be a brains surgeon or an astronaut," Philosopher once commented to SATA. "I always wanted to be ending author.

It took a far ahead time but, in 1988—and funding a lot of other jobs—my first novel for children was published. I am now grand full-time author, writing books stomach short stories for children make acquainted all ages, as well by the same token a novel for adults essential several readers for foreign learners of English.…Writing has always archaic a compulsion for me, arena I count myself so to a great extent lucky that I can bring in a living from what Hilarious enjoy doing best in depiction world."