Horrible Histories author Terry Deary has been slagging
off books and authors again, suggesting to the BBC that all
other authors (but him) are privileged idiots. The BBC printed it all without question,
so I’d like to refute a few of his pronouncements here.
In fact children’s non-fiction authors are
professional writers. Their careers are based on being skilled at writing for an age-group. Many have teaching experience. Many have
kids. Some visit schools. Many also write novels and short stories. I know this
because I belong to a large discussion group of children’s non-fiction authors from
around the country (Nibweb). Mr Deary doesn’t.
In fact non-fiction is having a bit of a golden moment, with amazing
artists being put together with imaginative authors. (I don’t think he’s
noticed).
"In
the publishing industry, I'm a fish out of water," he says. "I don't
do literary festivals. And I don't mix with the literati."
Who is this literati? Do we have one in children’s
books? It seems to me we’re all pretty inclusive and supportive, and we can contact each other
easily. I've found so, anyway.
"I
only know one northern children's writer now," he says - singling out
Skellig author David Almond.
Lots of authors I know come from the north/live in the
north. Does he mean ‘write with a northern voice’? He doesn’t seem to do that
himself.
"There
are 100 southern middle-class women [writing books]. And it's business.
Southern middle class girls read books. So the publishers publish books for
them. Northern working class lads don't read books, so why bother publishing
books for them?"
I know there are kid's authors who travel round northern schools and get a great reception. He's really stereotyping northern kids here, isn't he.
By the way, about half of the Nibweb non-fiction writing members
are male. There are also single parents and carers, and we’re not dilettante posh
folk. There are all kinds of people, in all kinds of situations, doing their best to write fiction, too. There are men doing it, despite what he says.
Many of us non-fiction writers have been fighting for
years to get non-fiction valued in schools and in bookshops because we knew
that some children love it (yes, some boys, in particular). We’ve carried on in
the face of low payments and tough income choices. Bring a non-fiction author
is most definitely not a cushy number financially. It’s pretty tough, to be
honest. I’m certainly not driving a new car…. Given the overall author income figures we have recently seen writing is not a 'middle class' choice as a career, I don't think. Wouldn't it be great if we got some support from Terry Deary?
I’d say that overall in kid's publishing people have been
working really hard to try to get books out there for the ‘non-readers’ he mentions. People have also been working really hard to get diversity into books of all kinds. And I know from reading the blogs that authors are deeply engaged in trying to open up school visits to every kind of school, and generally in the politics of education. Children's authors are also very engaged in supporting each other. So, although the children's book world is by no means perfect, I find it a vibrant forward-looking place.
But Mr Deary says he doesn't mix with authors and he doesn't read books, so I guess there's quite a lot he doesn't know about - and a heck of a lot he's missing. That's a shame because he gets publicity and he's in a position to help.
Moira Butterfield
www.moirabutterfield.com
Twitter @moiraworld
Instagram @moirabutterfieldauthor
