Interview: Judy Walker

Dec 17 2008 By Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

Barbara Hodgson talks to a working mother about nurturing her first novel.

AS a mother of three, Judy Walker pretty much knew her market when she made the decision to write a children’s book.

The idea first came to her while on holiday in Crete in 2002 and, over the years, her story slowly grew and developed.

Now, at the age of 52, she’s had it published.

Frankie is the story of a 13-year-old boy whose life takes an unexpected twist when he is sent to live with a strange aunt and uncle in Northumberland.

There, as well as having to tackle such nasties as the vegetables and fruit he hates to eat, he struggles with the local accent, makes an enemy as well as a friend at the local school, and meets a blind girl who seems to be in danger.

The tale, full of twists and turns, has been described as a thriller but, says Judy, “it’s an adventure story really and it goes on to be a mystery”.

It’s aimed at nine to 12-year-olds who will no doubt identify with the eponymous hero, especially as the author bases Frankie – elements of him, anyway – on real life.

Judy, from Hexham and a mother of a 19-year-old son and 16-year-old twins, a girl and boy, explains: “My eldest son was about 13 when I started writing Frankie – the age Frankie is in the book.

“So I was very aware of that age range.

“My son was a very bad eater and he wouldn’t eat vegetables or fruit.

“It gave me the idea for Frankie and what would happen if he was suddenly put into a situation and he had to eat fruit and veg.”

So Frankie is sent to live with his hippy relatives who lead a Good Life-style existence, and then finds a mystery to solve, involving a Famous Five-sounding big house with lots of comings and goings.

“My daughter was the first reader of the book in a way,” says Judy. “She’s an avid reader and would say if something wasn’t quite right or might say, ‘I don’t think Frankie would say that’. It was very useful.” The end result has already won praise from author GP Taylor, who called the book a great fireside read and said: “I found this story enthralling, wonderful and moving”.

While this is her first novel, Judy has had short stories and poetry published in anthologies and magazines, and has done readings on BBC local radio stations.

She has also written two stage plays: Bottling It, which was performed at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham last year, and Frail Elderly, about the frustrations of an old man, staged at a London pub theatre earlier this year.

She has an MA in creative writing from Newcastle University and enjoys attending weekly writing classes at its Centre for Lifelong Learning.

While her busy working and family life may have taken up the intervening years, writing is something Judy wanted to do even as a child.

She won a writing competition at the age of seven with an essay on the theme of ‘what I want to be when I grow up’ (a hairdresser, apparently).

And for two years from the age of 12, the enterprising youngster and a friend wrote, typed, duplicated and delivered a magazine, Brancepeth Monthly, to the 200 residents of the village where they then lived, donating profits to charity.

With that kind of enthusiasm, it’s hardly surprising she’s found success.

She now fits in her writing around her part-time job for a marketing company and finds inspiration around her.

“A lot comes from eavesdropping!” she says.

“Travelling on public transport is great for writers.

“On a bus, you might hear a snippet of conversation that sounds interesting and might write it down.

“Reading newspapers can also give you an idea and I often listen to Radio 4 which has some really quirky programmes on subjects you’ve never really thought about.”

As in Frankie, the local landscape often colours her work.

“I think the North East has a very well-developed sense of place and it’s easy to use it.”

Her next plan is for a novel for grown-ups but she hasn’t abandoned Frankie who she has grown very fond of. She would be reluctant to close the door on him.

“He has been a part of life for such a long time now,” she says. So a sequel could well be on the cards.

Frankie, published by UKA Press, is available from Seven Stories, The Centre for Children’s Books, in Newcastle and Cogito bookshop in Hexham. It can be ordered through Amazon and Waterstone’s websites.

Alternately, you can contact Judy through her own website at www.judywalker.co.uk.