Interview With Boo Irwin
Young Adult Author and Editor Talks About The Wayfinder Chronicles
Apr 20, 2009
By day Stephanie Williams works in the legal world, does freelance editing, works with independant publishers and works with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) but by night she is Boo Irwin, author of The Wayfinder Chronicles.
Having already spoken to Suite 101 about her editing and SCBWI work Stephanie took a bit of extra time out to talk about her writing.
You are maybe best known for writing Young Adult fiction under the pseudonym of Boo Irwin. What is the story behind the name?
The name is actually something that I came up with a while ago. My friends and family call me Boo. It’s a nickname because I used to collect Halloween bits and pieces. It was my favourite time of year and I loved everything about it. The last name is my Mum’s maiden name. I was very close to my Grandma and her name was Bertha Irwin so my Boo Irwin is a bit of a tribute to her.
What inspired your series of books The Wayfinder Chronicles and which is your favourite character?
I am currently re-writing the first Wayfinder Chronicle – Lily & the G.H.O.S.T. I wrote it originally over three years and it seems to be taking on a life of its own again. It was inspired by a dream that I had and then just snowballed. The characters came alive and I created this place called Winterdale where all my stories seem to take place now. My favourite character is called Tiger Belvedere. He is the local business man and owns the Museum and Antique Shop. He’s very self-important and I just kind of loved the way he grew out of this little seed, plus it’s my favourite name.
The illustrations for The Wayfinder Chronicles seem almost to be like the style most often seen in graphic novels. Who is your illustrator and how did you find an illustrator to work with?
The actual mock up cover of the book that is available on my site was done by Dai Owen who is a very talented illustrator that I met through a critique group. He did the cover and I absolutely loved it and have the original framed in my bedroom. The other more graphic novel style illustrations were done by a friend of mine, Glynn White. He is extremely talented and does work on graphic novels. I just loved the effects that he used so much.
Do you have any advice for authors who hit a mid-book slump? What are the drivers that stop you from giving up when the going gets tough?
I would just say that if the characters and the story mean a lot to you then tell it. Keep on going. I don’t benefit from taking a break I just have to imagine that story being told over and over again and I know I have to keep on going. A book should last forever and I want to write that type of book, the kind that is never off the shelves and never gets tired.
This is a tough question. In the whole of literature who is the character you connect with the most or like the most?
That is a tough question. There are loads I’d like to be like but the one that I really identified with was The Fool in the Robin Hobb novels. It’s a guy yes but he is just so innocent and childlike and just wants to do good. I think the main thing was this fierce loyalty he had for his best friend which is something I have shared with my best friend for many years and have always treasured.
To read more about The Wayfinder Chronicles visit Boo Irwin's website
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