Alex’s Comments (group member since Jul 18, 2014)

Alex’s comments from the Q&A with YA Author Alex Smith group.

Goodnight, thanks Cherry and everyone who came along to chat. (Ah, love the idea of the video-off skype for questions on Wendesday) xx

Malini wrote: "Thanks. When I was growing up some of our best family friends were SA expats and their Granny Tilly visited often, from Cape Town, so I am channelling her for the accents!"
That sounds perfect:) I'll think of Granny Tilly too.

Oh, yes, please do send that story!

Okay, before we all go, Alix and Cherry, I'd love to know what your favourite books were growing up?

Cherry, you asked about favourites - Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of OZ, Around the World in 80 days, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Never Ending Story, The Arabian Nights, Wind in the Willows, The Borrowers,

(I hope Haruki Murakami and David Mitchell would not be offended if I add that I think perhaps part of what I love about their work, aside from dazzling use of words, is that there is often an element a childlike or fantasticalness in the people and places they conjure)

Alix wrote: "I'm always interested in discussing children's literature, I've read it almost all of my life from the age of about 5. Apart from a brief break in my late teens because I thought I should have grow..." Alix to be honest I think children's books are my favourite books too. Maybe it is just that I had more time to cherish each book I read when I was a child, or maybe it's because each book's story is a first in my life, but they seem so much more vivid than most of the grown up books I've read. (Though I do love Murakami and David Mitchell)

Cherry wrote: "Ah, but if you look at Breughel or even delft tiles, there are children playing with kites and hoops, skating and mucking about generally, which rather undermines that argument... though I agree; i..." That sounds perfect, especially the no marketing thing (I'm sorry! I won't mention marketing again, I know, I know is so important, and yet...gah! it's a bit of a catch 22) ... I'd prefer to think of the muddy cat.

I suppose it is a necessity because there is just so much out there...so there is another difference: volume.

So it seems perhaps the greatest difference between literature 100 years ago (as you said Cherry) and now, is that, nowadays literature is broken up into saleable segments, target markets.

That's so interesting Alix, I'm glad somebody is out there still ... I think I was rambling.

And in some ways it is a pity, not from a marketing point of view, it is after all, a marketing tool,, but

Children and adults shared stories before 'childhood' was created! The creation of 'teen' or more (is it politically correct?) 'YA' is an even newer category than childhood.

So now then came children's books (before probably there was just whatever religious text or oral storytelling mythology that was most common wherever the child lived)

And on a bit of a tangent, I remember in psychology at university we read about the creation of childhood, how it was a fairly recent phenomenon. ( one manifestation for example, if one looks at say, the paintings of Dutch Masters, children are dressed exactly the same as adults, there appears to be no such thing as children's clothing). That when 'childhood' was created, children were given special protection and rights and then of course a long way down the line it opened up to marketing which has gone wild for children. Where am I going with this as I sip my tea...

Cherry, to answer your question about the changes in literature, one major change is really in the marketing. There was no such thing as YA 100 years ago.

We can certainly try - I'll probably look like a badger by then in my pj's(is it Skype with video?)... No no, I'll make sure I don't look like a badger.

Yes, his voice has broken. Erin is 13.
It's ree-beer-k

Malini wrote: "Hi Alex,
I am doing a reading from Chapter 3 for the book launch on Wednesday. Haven't finished the book yet, but what I have read is great. Devil skein is a wonderfully odd and threatening charact..."
Hi Malini! I wish I could be there to see the reading. I'm doing the same bit at a book shop in Long Street that evening, so I'll be thinking of you.

Muireann wrote: "Hi Alex
The bustle and life on Long Street come across really vividly. Is this somewhere you know and love? (Are the recycling lorries a bugbear?!)"

Hi Muireann, Long Street is one of the best streets on earth! I've traveled a fair bit and there is not a street I can think of that beats its atmosphere and myriad of delights. Equals maybe, but not beats. I didn't even mention the Pan African Market in the novel. It's worth travelling to Cape Town just to see that market. Recycling not a bugbear, but as a pedestrian I always find lorry fumes irksome.