December Artist of the Month – Tim Collins
Our December ‘Artist of the Month’ is author Tim Collins.
About Tim Collins
Tim Collins has had over 110 books published, and they’ve been translated into over 40 languages. He has won many awards, including a Children’s Literature Festivals award earlier this year.
Tim’s fiction for children includes Sherlock Bones, Knutz and Boltz, Traitors in Space, Monstrous Maud, Dorkius Maximus, Cosmic Colin and The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World’s Worst.
Tim grew up in Manchester, but now lives near Oxford. He has visited hundreds of schools and appeared at many festivals over the last 20 years.
What a visit from Tim entails
An in-person visit from Tim will enthuse your students about creative writing and reading for pleasure. His books are a unique blend of story, illustration and puzzles that appeal to readers who struggle with large chunks of text.
Tim’s ‘Sherlock Bones Puzzle Quest’ is an interactive presentation that tests the detective skills of students. Tim gives the background on how he became a reader, and how he became a writer, and explains how reading can help you to become more successful in all walks of life. He gives an overview of Arthur Conan Doyle and the Sherlock Holmes character that inspired his current series.
He then shares some of the puzzles from the Sherlock Bones series before testing the observation skills of the students, and getting them to solve some imaginary crimes.
This session usually lasts 50 minutes, with 10 minutes for questions.
Interview with Tim Collins
When did you first develop a love of writing?
I used to draw comic strips in my school exercise books, and I remember they featured a rather odd-looking mole character. I soon got more interested in the stories than the pictures.
You have written a lot of books, how do you keep finding so many ideas?
I think about the adult genres I love and how I could make them work for a young audience. I have a long list of subgenres I’d like to attempt in a fantastical animal world, for example.
A lot of your books are funny. Is comedy a skill that can be honed and improved with practice or do people either have it or not?
I think some people see the world in a comic way, and will naturally think of the humorous consequences of events. But I think anyone can learn the formulae of jokes such as reveal and reversal.
Are you good at solving puzzles or just creating them?
When it comes to tricky puzzles, I can dish them out but I can’t take them. If I got stuck, I’d definitely peek at the answer section.
What do you love about Sherlock Holmes, the inspiration for your dog detective?
Conan Doyle’s stories were my gateway into Victorian literature, and the odd sense of time travel that you get from reading things written a long time ago. The language was accessible, and the mystery element made them addictive to me.
Is there added pressure if you are creating a character yourself inspired by such a famous character?
I just hope I inspire readers to seek out the original stories one day. But all characters have predecessors in other books really.
What do you believes make books so important?
Books help young readers build empathy. They show them the world from a different point of view, and widen their experience. That’s important in a world where online activity is increasingly encouraging narcissism.
You have quite a few nominations and awards under your belt. Are there any you are particularly proud of or that hold a special place in your heart?
The first award I ever won was called Manchester Fiction City, and the ceremony was held close to my old school, just near where I used to get the bus. So I hold that one very dear.
What would be the best thing that someone could say about your books?
That it kept them away from screens for a while. We all feel better about ourselves if we settle down with a book rather than looking at our phones or watching TV.
What can a school expect from you if they book you for an author visit? What impact do you believe they have?
I’ll take pupils through my love for reading and writing, and how it developed over time. Then I’ll challenge them with puzzles, and answer their questions. Or I can run creative writing workshops for smaller groups, where I’ll help them generate ideas of their own.
Meeting an author creates a buzz around books in the school, and encourages children to read and write. It encourages me too, as I feed off their enthusiasm for my own writing.
What has been your favourite moment of a school visit so far?
Most of the best moments are where pupils come up with incredibly inventive ideas for stories and characters. It’s like we have a huge store of creativity that lessens as we become adults.
Any advice for getting reluctant readers to pick up a book or unconfident writers to pick up a pen?
The right book is out there for everyone. Readers just need to be given a wide range so they can find something that sparks their interest. I’ve written several ‘high-low’ books for children whose reading age is lower than their actual age, so they can read age-appropriate content in uncomplicated language. As for unconfident writers, there are many creative writing exercises based around story starters and scene descriptions that can get them going.
How much of your books do you plan beforehand before you start writing?
I write a synopsis of a few hundred words. I like to know the ending I’m working towards while leaving space for the characters to do their own thing.
What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
I’ve been showing the 90s episodes of The Simpsons to my son, and they still make me laugh a lot. I have to explain a lot of the old cultural references, though.
Do you feel books can help young people tackle some serious issues through fiction?
Yes, books are vital in helping us see the world through the eyes of others. But for me, the characters and storytelling have to come first. As a child, I was very suspicious of books that seemed to be hammering home a message, even if I agreed with it.
Which book that you read has left a lasting impact on you?
I was probably too young to be reading it, but The Stand by Stephen King got me into epic novels. King is the archetype of a natural storyteller who doesn’t need to plan, and his books can go on forever as far as I’m concerned.
How do you stay motivated when writing? Is it a lonely job that requires a lot of will power?
If you’re in the middle of a series, you have plenty of deadlines, so motivation isn’t a problem. But it’s much harder if you’re writing something on spec. Sticking to a daily word count is the only thing that works for me.
What are your future goals?
I hope I can get another 100 books published, and I hope I can keep visiting schools.
Quick Fire
Would you rather visit the past or the future?
I would visit the past and accidentally destroy our current timeline by stepping on an ant.
Starter or dessert?
Starter. It’s the only time you’re basically allowed to eat two meals in a row.
Clowns – funny or scary?
Scary. Especially when they peer out of storm drains and offer me balloons.
Which skill do you wish you could wake up possessing?
Illustration.
Would you rather win an Olympic Medal or a Nobel Prize?
I’d like to win Olympic gold with a breakdance routine so powerful that it inspires world peace, and then get the Nobel Prize too.
If you were Prime Minister for the day, what law would you introduce?
I would renationalise energy, water and rail.
Arrange for Tim to visit your school
To make an enquiry about Tim Collins, please contact us as follows
UK visits
Email:UKbookings@caboodlebooks.co.uk
Or contact Yvonne on - 01535 279851
Overseas Visits
Email:Overseasvisits@caboodlebooks.co.uk
Or contact Overseas Manager, Robin - +44(0) 1535 279853