Interview With Stephanie Williams

Advice and Insights From the Author Also Known as Boo Irwin

Apr 20, 2009

The North West Regional Co-Ordinator of the British Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Stephanie Williams and her alter-ego Boo Irwin talk to Suite 101.

When not working with the British Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators or writing her novel, Stephanie Williams works as a freelance editor and is working with a new company called Rebel Books.

Thankfully Suite 101 managed to squeeze a few minutes out of this busy lady's day to have a chat about her work and inspirations.

One of your unusual achievements is that you are now involved with an independent publishing house called Rebel Books. How did you become involved with this?

I worked with Bridge House Publishing for a couple of months and now do freelance editorial work for them. I am now working with Rebel Books which specialises in young adult and teen writing. Submissions are now open and for more information and guidelines you can contact Rebel Books. With my editorial work with Bridge House and my work with Rebel Books I feel like I am getting a real insight into the publishing industry.

As if you weren’t busy enough writing and working with Rebel Books you also do a lot of work for the SCBWI. What work do you do with the Society?

I am the North West Regional Co-ordinator which means that I run critique groups and events in the North West. It is an achievement that I am very proud of because I have established groups in both Manchester and Chester that are now thriving. I also run regular events with amazing guest speakers. As well as this I have just become the Assistant Editor on Words & Pictures which is the newsletter for the SCBWI in the British Isles. This involves putting together various columns and occasionally writing articles.

You are quite experienced in organizing writing critique groups. Do you have any useful tips for anyone wanting to arrange a critique group of their own?

I’d say the most important thing is finding the right space. I have been really lucky to work with both Waterstones and Borders in this and they have donated amazing spaces for our use. The fundamental thing is to make sure that it is constructive criticism not just criticism that is banded around. People really do benefit from hearing another perspective on their work and if you run your group well then you make a network of support for everyone in it.

So don’t keep us guessing what does the next year hold for you?

I was lucky enough to have a short story accepted to the Dragon Tales anthology by Wyvern Press so I am really looking forward to that. I am working on a new novel at the moment which is hounding me day and night to complete it. With that and all my other work I think I’m going to be very busy.

How long did it take you to write your first novel?

My very first novel was an embarrassing manuscript called Night Killers when I was fifteen years old. I think it took me six months and then I thought I was a real author. In general a novel will take me between 2 and 4 years to complete with re-writes but I’m trying to make this process speedier.

To read more about Stephanie you can visit Boo Irwin's website. You can also read the Suite 101 article with Stephanie's alter-ego, author Boo Irwin.

The copyright of the article Interview With Stephanie Williams in Writing for Children is owned by Dulcinea Norton-Smith. Permission to republish Interview With Stephanie Williams in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.