Want to get to know one of the incredible creative minds behind the Your Next Read junior fiction novels? Read on!
Jane Godwin is the highly acclaimed, award-winning Australian author of more than thirty books for young people, and her work is published all over the world. Jane loves creating picture books and sees their possibilities as endless.
She often works in Australian schools and the community, running various literature and writing programs, making books, and encouraging students in their own creative ventures.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Most of her waking hours are dedicated to pursuing quality and enriching reading and writing experiences for young people, whether it’s as a writer, a publisher or a speaker/facilitator in schools.
And now Jane is bringing her writing talents to ‘Gabi Makes Room’, illustrated by Sara Acton, one of four launch titles in the Your Next Read Gold series (for readers aged 7-9) released this month.
Jane is also the author of ‘Will Fin Win?’, illustrated by Tom Jellett, and part of the Your Next Read Silver series for readers aged 5-8.
We asked Jane to share some insights about herself and her creative process, and to take our Your Next Read Icons challenge!
YKNR: Why did you choose THIS story to write for the Your Next Read series?
Jane Godwin: ‘I didn’t really choose the story, it just kind of grew. It started with the character of Sylvia. My daughter is an interior designer, and there’s a bit of a recurring theme in my work of bedroom makeovers, which is what Sylvia and Gabi do in the story, and it’s what brings the two characters together. Maybe the fabulous makeovers are me doing in my imagination what I don’t have the time or funds to do in reality! This story is really about making room, both physically and emotionally, for another person.’
Why did you want to be part of the Your Next Read Gold series?
Jane: ‘I’d really enjoyed writing for the Aussie Bites and Nibbles all those years ago (and also publishing them), and I had also enjoyed writing The Isabelle Stories (Hachette), which are for the same age group. So this was a new opportunity to write something different for this age group. I was interested in the idea of a new series, and I respected the people who were involved in it.’
What are you thinking about when you are writing a story for readers 7+? How are they different from younger or older readers?
Jane: ‘Stories for this age group require everything that longer novels require – originality, unique voice, complex characters, narrative tension, a satisfying arc – just in a more condensed form. So that’s a challenge, to manage all that in a specific word count, while still keeping the story skipping along and feeling fresh and relevant to the world of a child under ten.
‘And I still want it to be a story with depth, and some big ideas behind it. ‘Gabi Makes Room’ explores ideas about empathy, and understanding that people are complicated, and definitely more complicated than one always assumes.’
What’s the hardest thing about writing a story for this age group?
Jane: ‘Avoiding writing something slight.’
If you had to describe YOURSELF in three Your Next Read icons, which three would you choose?
Jane: ‘Family, Friends, and either Heartwarming or Funny Stories.’
Choose the three icons that describe the kinds of STORIES that you love to read and write
Jane: ‘Probably the same three icons as above!’
Discover more information about the Your Next Read icons here.
What’s your best tip for young writers?
Jane: ‘READ. And observe the world (which also works for young illustrators).
Jane joined YKNR podcast co-hosts Allison Tait and Megan Daley, and author Anita Heiss for a roundtable discussion about the steps that help kids into independent reading.
They discussed the keys to encouraging seven year olds to pick up a book, how to help them find that all-important ‘next book’, and tips and advice to turn kids aged 7-9 into lifelong readers.
You can listen to the full discussion here or on your favourite podcast platform (or see below for a video version).
About ‘Gabi Makes Room’ by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Sara Acton
Do you like FAMILY, ART and HEARTWARMING STORIES?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
Gabi has to give up her room when Mum’s friend Sylvia comes to stay. Sylvia is loud, bossy and nothing like Mum. Gabi doesn’t like her at all. But could they have more in common than Gabi thinks?
Buy here from your favourite online retailer
Jane is also the author of Your Next Read Silver title ‘Will Fin Win?’, illustrated by Tom Jellett
About ‘Will Fin Win?’ by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Tom Jellett
Do you like ANIMALS, SPORT and FRIENDS?
Then this book is YOUR NEXT READ.
Fin never wins anything. On school sports day, a naughty puppy stops Fin from coming first in his race. Will Fin ever win? Or will he learn that there are more important things than medals?
Buy here from your favourite online retailer
You can hear Jane read the first few chapters of this book here in our Friday First Chapters podcast episode.
Prefer to watch? See the full discussion about the First Steps Into Independent Reading below!
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Meet Jess Racklyeft, illustrator of ‘The Guinea Fowl Mystery’ (Your Next Read Gold)
Meet Kate and Jol Temple, authors of ‘Escape From Planet Milkshake’ (Your Next Read Gold)
Meet Sara Acton, illustrator of ‘Gabi Makes Room’ (Your Next Read Gold)
