The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Steve Cole

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Steve Cole

Summary: Here at Bookbag Towers we're massive fans to Steve Cole and we thought his latest book was just brilliant, but when we heard that Steve was popping in to chat to us we decided that we needed an expert to conduct the interview - eight-year-old Billy Young. Over to you, Billy!

Date: 17 May 2013

Interviewer: Billy Young

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Here at Bookbag Towers we're massive fans to Steve Cole and we thought his latest book was just brilliant, but when we heard that Steve was popping in to chat to us we decided that we needed an expert to conduct the interview - eight-year-old Billy Young. Over to you, Billy!

• Bookbag: When you close your eyes and imagine your readers, who do you see?

Steve Cole: Well, I like to imagine parents and children reading together, and all of them enjoying not just the words, but of sharing something. I think reading to children is really important.

• BB: How old were you when you started writing stories?

SC: I was five when I started - at school on a Monday we had to draw a picture and write a few words about our weekends, like a diary. One day I made up that the house was attacked by aliens, and the teacher liked it. She asked me to make up what had happened to me from then on! So, being happy to please, that's what I did.

• BB: What were your favourite books when you were a kid ?

SC: Doctor Who books and Spider-Man comics. They were the main things I read.

• BB: I really like Posho, but I did think a pig was a strange superhero before I read the book. What gave you the idea?

SC: I knew I wanted to start the book with a pig in a top hat running around the house; it seemed a good way to start, because as he runs about so all the main characters get involved, and you can *show what they're like rather than just tell the reader about them, and you can do so quickly. As for why a pig, well, I wanted an animal that was as unsuperheroic as you could get, and a posh pig seemed a very unlikely hero. I wasn't sure how he would come out, to be honest.

• BB: What made you imagine dinosaurs going into space ?

SC: I wanted to give them a happier ending than the one scientists think is true! I mean, living happily and peacefully for millions of years, then wiped out because of one random rock... UNFAIR!

• BB: My younger brother, Ian, who's four wanted me to tell you that your books are really good and that the big metal bottoms (from The Robot Raiders) was the best of all. He also wanted to say that having dinosaurs go into space was a very good idea. He never did like the idea of them all being killed by a meteorite.

If the Astrosaurs keep all of the herbivores safe, what do the carnivores eat?

SC: If you read Riddle of the Raptors (and other Astrosaurs books with General Loki in) you'll hear about the Meat-Mines of Raptos - I think out in space the carnivores discovered a world of meat and have made their own food mines. But they prefer prey they can hunt of course!

• BB: Dutch from Astrosaurs Academy is my very favourite character. Will he be in any more books?

SC: I'm glad you like him! I always liked writing for Dutch and Blink. I'm not sure if we'll see him again - he's not in the upcoming ASTROSAURS vs COWS IN ACTION book - but who knows...?

• BB: I know you like comic books too. Will you ever make an Astrosaurs comic book or graphic novel?

SC: That's a great idea! I'd love to do something like that, one day. Though I'd have to find the right illustrator...

• BB: If you were Stew's grandfather, and had the chance to draw something with the magic Ink - what would you have drawn?

SC: A never ending hamburger! Mmmmm.

• BB: What's next for Steve Cole?

SC: It's a busy and exciting time for me at the moment. I have the second children's novel to finish off, "Little Green Gangsters', which will again be illustrated by brilliant Jim Field... I have the Astrosaurs/CIA team-up to finish off... I have two big new projects to work on... some 'early reader' books for younger children... and alots and lots of events at festivals, schools and bookshops. Wish me luck!

• BB: Good luck and thank you for chatting to us!

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