May Artist of the Month – Steve Cole
Our May ‘Artist of the Month’ is the amazing author and prolific writer Steve Cole.
About Steve Cole
Steve Cole’s first four books for children were published in 1997, and over the last 25 years over 200 more have followed them. He’s written everything from his own series fiction such as Astrosaurs and Cows In Action to official novels for Young James Bond and Doctor Who. More recently he has collaborated with astronaut Tim Peake (Swarm Rising) and TV presenter Ben Fogle (Mr Dog) and has written several novellas designed to raise children’s awareness of global problems (Tin Boy, World Burn Down, Welcome to Trashland). In other careers he’s worked as an editor, a salsa instructor and the voice of a Dalek.
What a visit from Steve entails
Steve works with students aged 5-13 and offers large, fun and lively presentations about his books.
Details can be found on his author page.
Feedback from Steve’s previous visits
“The visits were both GREAT! Thank you so much! Steve was full of fun and energy and kept the younger children captivated with his songs and antics.”
Marlborough House School
“Steve was amazing his presentations were funny and informative, he entertained all day. We thoroughly enjoyed having him here he was the best Author we have ever had and I will certainly recommend him to all my school contacts.”
Chigwell School
“We had a good day with Steve yesterday. It all went smoothly and the staff and students enjoyed his presentations. He did Young Bond/Spies/Gadgets twice for Year 8s and then Space Travel with Year 7s and also spent time talking with some students at lunchtime. The books have been flying out today and I overheard two boys deciding to borrow and read copies of the same book so they could talk about it!”
Featherstone High
Read about Steve and his author visits on his author page.
Interview with Steve Cole
When and why did you join Authors Abroad?
I was doing events for the Sharjah Literary Festival in 2012 when I met Trevor (The Manging Director) from Authors Abroad who asked me to come on board. I love travelling and doing events all over the world – and all over the UK, of course – and so I jumped at the chance.
You write for such a wide range of age groups, is there a type of book you prefer writing, or does it depend on your mood?
I like to mix it up. So, if I’ve just written a book for young readers I’ll often feel like writing something different, like nonfiction or a middle-grade adventure or something. Different word-counts and genres flex different imaginative muscles.
What made you learn the ukulele? Do you ever make up songs at schools or is it only rehearsed tunes?
I play the bass guitar and sing in a band, and I often put musical characters into my stories, so I wanted to bring a musical element to my school visits. Music is such a fun way of getting audiences involved with words. I do a workshop where the children do their own versions of one of my songs. My events involve a fair bit of improvisation and bouncing off the children’s ideas because that makes it more fun!
You’ve collaborated with other authors and celebrities to create books – does this make the process easier as there are more ideas being brought to the table? Or does it mean you have to fit in with other’s schedules and can’t disappear down a writing rabbit hole?
It depends what the celebrity is like! I’ve had a great time working with Tim Peake on the Swarm Rising books, he is so full of ideas and enthusiasm. We each spark off each other and really enjoy the process. It does complicate the writing process a little but sometimes if your co-author is otherwise engaged you get to put your feet up until they return!
Do you feel more pressure for books where the character is already well known such as Doctor Who or James Bond? To make sure you put your own mark on it or do the original character justice?
Yes, it’s always a bit nerve-racking because fans are not backwards in coming forward to tell you you’ve messed up! But the reason I’ve accepted the challenge is because I love the character and want to contribute to their world. I feel the same pressure whatever I’m writing, to be honest.
Where do you get your ideas from? How do you come up with the idea of action cows fighting dinosaurs in space or a superhero duck?
I maintain that ideas are everywhere, all around us – you just need to learn how to find them and how to encourage them to grow. Good ideas stay in your head and as they grow they exert gravity on other ideas, drawing them into the light. How to come up with ideas is something I talk a lot about in schools, I love drawing out the children’s creativity.
You have written some very funny books – does the humour come naturally or is it a skill that has to be practised like anything else?
I suppose the humour comes naturally, I enjoy the surreal and the absurd and especially dreadful puns… but then I’ve written some pretty serious books too, and I suppose that comes naturally too. Maybe I’m just seriously silly!
What has been your most memorable moment from a school visit so far?
A child once wet themselves with laughter in one of my talks, so the hall had to be cleared! And on another occasion I put my back out leaping through the air like Spider-Man. But I love it when my stuff is used as the basis for creative work throughout a school – the pupils sing, put on plays, read poems and so on.
What would you like students to leave one of your school visits thinking?
I never knew how much fun I could have chucking imagination at words – which is all reading and writing is.
Some of your latest books touch on environmental issues. Is this a cause you are passionate about – did it mean more research to create these books?
I’ve written plenty of funny books and that’s one side of me, but the troubles we face as a species scare me quite a lot. I don’t want to preach, but I love to see young people engaging with the issues – ultimately they will be the drivers of change because it’s their futures at stake – so try to use an environmental issue as a backdrop for an adventure. Each story needed a LOT of research but that’s good – doing research means you can tell yourself you’re working while not actually getting a word written!
At what age did you know you wanted to become a writer?
It didn’t even occur to me I might become a published writer, which is odd because I was always making my own books and comics – a lot of them about Doctor Who! Of course my young mind would’ve been blown at the thought I’d be writing them for real. I started writing as part of my first job as a magazine editor, and it sort of grew from there.
I still have a lot of my old stories and bring them into schools to show the students!
Which books and/or authors inspired you as a child and got you into reading?
Stan Lee, creator of so many Marvel superheroes, wrote the most exciting, fast-paced adventures that made me love stories and expanded my vocabulary. Charles M Schulz too – I loved the way he could tell a story in just four little pictures.
How long on average does it take to finish a book from the initial idea to having the printed copy in your hands?
There isn’t really an average for that, because it depends so much on how long the book is, when the publisher wants it handed in, how much time I waste outrageously during the day etc. The longest was about 2 years from first Young Bond approach to finished novel. The shortest was 4 months for an Astrosaurs Academy!
Do you have a lot of input in the finished book or once you have created the words do you leave the cover design etc to an editor?
I’m consulted on illustrators and cover design and my feedback is kindly taken on board by the editors. I always write my own back cover blurbs. I can’t stop myself fiddling with things, basically.
Do you have any writing goals left to achieve?
I have many more stories I want to tell, and my goal – as it’s always been – is to free them into the world.
Quick Fire
Scariest Dr Who villain?
The Daleks!
Would you prefer to be able to teleport or time travel?
Time travel. Then I could arrive somewhere before I’d even left, so better than a teleport, and with added bonus of being able to win the lottery each week.
Best dog character – Scooby Doo, Snoopy or Mutley?
Snoopy, paws down.
You have been given the honour of renaming Mars – what do you call it?
Malacandra, after CS Lewis’s name for it in his book Out of the Silent Planet (1938)
Sun or snow?
Sun. Ideally with a cocktail.
If you were Prime Minister for the day, what law would you introduce?
A library in every school.
Arrange for Steve Cole to visit your school
To make an enquiry about Steve, or any of the other authors, poets & illustrators listed on this website, please get in touch. Our office number is +44 (0) 1535 656015,
UK visits
Email: UKbookings@caboodlebooks.co.uk
Or contact Head of UK Visits, Yvonne - 01535 279850
Overseas Visits
Email:Overseasvists@caboodleboverseasvisits@caboodlebooks.co.ukooks.co.uk
Or contact Overseas Manager, Robin - +44(0) 1535 279853