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Mumsnet webchats

Webchat with award-winning author and illustrator, Lauren Child - Monday 22 October 1-2pm

74 replies

PatrickMumsnet · 18/10/2012 10:08

Hi everyone,

Next week we are delighted to extend a very warm welcome to children's writer and illustrator, Lauren Child, who will be at Mumsnet Towers for a live webchat on Monday 22 October between 1-2pm.

Lauren is one of Britain's best known children's writers who burst onto the scene in 1999. Her work has won numerous awards including the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal, The Smarties Award and the television series, Charlie and Lola, became one of the most popular programmes on TV and won four BAFTAs. The programme is now aired in more than 34 countries and the spin-off books have sold over 5 million copies.

The second instalment of Lauren's Ruby Redfort series, Ruby Redfort: Take Your Last Breath is now published along with an exciting new e-book version from iBooks.

The Ruby series is aimed at girls aged 9 plus and tells the story of Ruby, a genius code-breaker, daring detective and gadget-laden special agent who just happens to be a 13 year-old girl. Ruby and her slick side-kick butler Hitch, foil crimes and fend off evil villains, but are always cool in a crisis. Check out the trailer

If this wasn't enough, Lauren is doing an event for the Mumsnet Academy on Sunday 25 November during which she will offer tips for aspiring children's writers and illustrators, tell stories of how she started out, ruminate on success and discuss her continued dedication to her craft. Sign up here.

Put 22 October in your diary or if you can't join us live, post a question to Lauren in advance.

OP posts:
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SkippyYourFriendEverTrue · 20/10/2012 00:14

Hurrah!

More Charlie and Lola books please?

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GW297 · 20/10/2012 00:22

Yipee! Charlie and Lola are my favourite and are my best.

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ohmichellemichelle · 20/10/2012 11:08

Oh, marvellous! We have the version of Pippi Longstocking that came with free set of illustrations from the book which I've framed and put in DD's room. I have also always wanted my website to have pink party rings and flowery wrapping paper superimposed on the home page.

Qu. Does Lola on the telly have the voice you imagined her too?
Also, are Charlie and Lola's parents smoking dope in the basement much of the time? Poor Charlie has to do so much parenting doesn't he? Is this artistic licence or were your parents off jet skiing somewhere when you were Lola's age?

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mrscumberbatch · 20/10/2012 11:31

Yes, more Charlie and Lola please. It's been a firm favourite in our house for the last 2 years but I am sick to death of the same stories Grin

Also, can we have a peek at the parents please? I want to know if the dad has a beard.

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gazzalw · 20/10/2012 11:40

We have a daughter who is just 7. We find that there are not terribly inspiring must-read modern books for girls in this 6-8 age-group. Our daughter has very much enjoyed your quirky takes on the fairy story books though, as a natural successor to the Charlie and Lola stories (our daughter is Lola for sure!). We will most likely take on Ruby Redfort as bedtime reading!

Do you personally think that there is a literary 'gap' in the market in girls' fiction? We struggle to find modern books which are not formulaic and badly written. It feels to us that literature has been dumbed down to make it more accessible and yet it's done the opposite in our household. Our daughter has always loved reading but just as she's becoming an independent reader she seems to have been turned off by the lack of good quality novels aimed at her age-group.

What do you think?

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MaureenCognito · 20/10/2012 11:43

oh Lauren I am so pleased to tell you that all my three sons loved the first three books - the Ruby Redfort one sadly not as much.

I wsa very sad when the last son finished No3. We all knew kids in their classes like RObert granger. I am proud to say that I own at least three name changes on here from your books! I might pop into say hi as them!

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MaureenCognito · 20/10/2012 11:44

also STILL use the "callmemol" in conversation

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KarlWrenbury · 20/10/2012 11:45

Yup! HELLOOOO
i had this name ages ago,

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BettyMoody · 20/10/2012 11:46

oh look i had betty too.
POor old betty

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BettyMoody · 20/10/2012 11:48

s3 has a question

" at the end of the book you make a reference to your best friend, Clarice bean is a lot about friendship; how did you meet your best friend"?

he is 9

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DameMargotFountain · 20/10/2012 13:43

we love Clarice Bean chez Fountain, would you ever contemplate a TV series of those stories too?

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champagnesupernova · 20/10/2012 14:41

Hello Lauren
thanks for coming on MN.
I would love to be here on Monday but I have a v dull appointment with a Carpet fitter
What would your best advice for getting my reception DS to enjoy drawing?
I think it's so important but he is so much more interested in cars/lego etc?

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strandednomore · 20/10/2012 15:19

Have you ever thought of doing a Lola clothing range? I don't mean the stuff you can already buy (ie we have pyjamas with a picture of Lola on) but her actual clothes? The colours and styles are brilliant, so much nicer than most of the crap clothes you can buy in the shops for girls.

No more lift the flap books though please. I can't cope with having to look through 3,000 little flaps to try and find Sizzles ever again...

I second what someone else said about more books for the 6-8yr girls market. There seems to be so much more for boys in this age range (is it to try and get them to read???) - everything aimed at girls seems to be all fairies and unicorns....

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HappyTurquoise · 20/10/2012 19:25

Dear Lauren, we absolutely utterly love Charlie And Lola and Clarice Bean here (Monsnet, shame on you! How could you leave out Clarice Bean!) and so do our extended family, despite all our children being rather too old now! I will be getting some Ruby Redfort for my borrowing library, they're new to me.

Lauren, please would you:
Write for teenagers.
Bring back the old Ladybird Range of clothes (you know, the ones available in Woolworths) but in adult sizes, please! I would very much like to wear some Charlie and Lola socks and a matching coordinated long sleeve top.

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HappyTurquoise · 20/10/2012 19:27

(Monsnet --> Mumsnet.) Sorry. I will type it out in wobbly typeface 100 times in a Word document. Ever so Possibly.

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MaureenCognito · 20/10/2012 21:44

I'd like to suggest that Lauren's best work is to be found in her novels. Not in Charlie and Lola.

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MaureenCognito · 20/10/2012 21:44

The clarice bean are stylish and seemingly funny.
Eggplant. I love that shop

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Francagoestohollywood · 20/10/2012 23:25

Lauren, I would like to thank you for having given my dc hours and hours of happy reading and tv watching. Charlie and Lola will always have a special place in my heart.

Following an old thread here on MN, i would like to know if charlie and lola's parents wear Birkenstocks.

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HanSolo · 21/10/2012 01:04

What age is Clarice Bean supposed to be from please?

DD picked one up at an early age, but it was way too advanced for her, just wondering when we could go back to it...

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MaureenCognito · 21/10/2012 07:07

"Seemingly funny" ? Typo. I meant something else. Nicer.

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MaureenCognito · 21/10/2012 07:07

Hans i read them to them at about 8?

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thekitchenfairy · 21/10/2012 08:05

Charlie and Lola bounced into our lives when DS1 was about 2, they are our favourite and our best (and this is not the only Lola-ism to pepper our family dialogue).

DS2 asks if you have ever considered writing for boys... or a book about C&L when they are a little more grown up, perhaps even teenagers?

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HanSolo · 21/10/2012 17:07

Thanks Maureen-not-so-cognito Wink

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cornflakegirl · 21/10/2012 17:07

We're also big fans of Charlie and Lola stories, and DS1 (7) really likes Clarice Bean books. He would like to know what you feel like when you are writing the
stories.

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JugglingWithPossibilities · 21/10/2012 17:34

My daughter learnt to read with the fabulous Clarice Bean books - that was when her reading really took off ! You were her first favourite author. She has mild dyslexia which caused her some difficulties at school in years 1 - 4 (ish)
She still has some challenges with organisation and spelling, as do I.
The other day though I heard her say "I used to have dyslexia" Smile
I loved Clarice Bean too, and Charlie and Lola on TV.
I think you're sooo super stylish - and your writing is genius and so beautiful !

My question ... which part of the writing and production process do you enjoy most ? Which part do you think is most important ? Where and when do you have your most inspirational thoughts ? (maybe more than one question, but all kinda connected !)

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