Author Interview: Ele Fountain

An interview with Gemma Louise Bull

Ele Fountain has published five novels for children: ‘Wild’, ‘Lost’, ‘Fake’, ‘Melt’ and ‘Boy 87’. Known for her interesting characters, and unique settings, Ele is one of the most popular writers of her generation.

In this interview, Ele shares her wisdom about the creative process, her love of writing adventure stories and the importance of providing children with knowledge about the world.

Can you explain the process of your writing? Do you start with the character, setting, plot, or something else?

In my writing, I like to make connections between news headlines and everyday life, to show why events happening far away and out of sight still matter. This means that I often write about subjects I care deeply about, such as climate chaos, the refugee crisis and the rising power of ‘big tech’ companies. My stories are also very character driven. Once I have my subject and main character, I let my imagination run wild!

Your books include original, complex and interesting characters and settings. How do you find inspiration? Do you base your characters on people you know?

Fiction tends to inhabit that area between imagination and experience. Nothing is taken directly from real life but might be influenced by it. For example, I have a friend who loves playing chess, which inspired Shif’s love of chess in Boy 87 – although Shif is unlike my friend in any other way. Parts of your own personality creep into your characters too.

Likewise, your books touch on current social issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence, etc. What do you want your readers to learn/take away from your books?

Books can be a safe space to explore big topics, spark discussion and encourage readers to develop their own opinions. I hope my books empower readers to feel they are never too young to have views or to make a difference. First and foremost, I write adventure stories, so I really want my readers to find my books page turning and exciting.

What common challenges do you face when you are writing? How do you overcome them?

Common challenges might involve a problem with the plot. Perhaps something doesn’t make sense or doesn’t work as I’d hoped. Taking a short break by going for a run or a walk, usually helps me to unravel the issue, or feel ready for the challenge of fixing it. On a smaller level, I might have trouble making a particular sentence or paragraph sound right. Usually this happens because I’m very fond of that sentence or paragraph and want to keep it, when I should press delete!

Many of our students love writing and are required to complete a piece of writing for their 11+ exams. What advice would you give to any budding writers?

Don’t fear the blank page. It’s impossible to improve or edit something you haven’t written, so get started and don’t worry about perfection. Many writers will tell you that their first version is never their best.

Are you currently writing a book? Are you able to share any information about it at this stage?

I’m writing something with big waves, stormy seas, and a protagonist to match…

What is your favourite novel? Or novels? Why?

I have eclectic tastes and really enjoy funny books, non-fiction, fantasy and adventure stories. One of my favourite novels is The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. The atmosphere, tension and vivid characters drew me in from the very first page, and I was completely captivated until the very last page. I hadn’t realised books could be like that.

What do you enjoy about reading?

Everyone takes something different from a book. It’s a very personal experience – just you and the words on the page. But it can also be fantastic to share what you’ve read, such as facts (if it’s non-fiction) or opinions about the story, especially if someone else has read the same book. What did they think about it?

How important do you think getting a good education is? Why?

A good education means different things to different people. The chance to discover what you are passionate about and create opportunities for your future are just two reasons why a good education should be available to all young people, wherever they live.

How did your parents support you with your education?

My Mum was a teacher. She understood how to inspire a love of learning – and I think that’s why she chose the profession. My dad was always reading, and suggesting books he thought I might like, but he never checked to see if I’d read them, which I really appreciated.

As a parent, how do you inspire your children to engage with their learning?

As with most things in life, start with what you love, and build on it!

To find out more information about Ele’s books, check out the following link: Ele Fountain books on Amazon