Hi! I’m Cristy Burne, author of Takeshita Demons, and I’m stoked that Takeshita Demons is part of Booked Up. There are so many great books on the Booked Up list. My advice is to go to your library and read them all! You’ll be laughing and crying and scared silly and then laughing again. And, after you’ve read all the Booked Up books, why not write your own book? Go on! It’s FUN!
Below I’ve answered my Top 5 questions to myself. Since it’s a bit sad to interview yourself, please ask me your own questions at the bottom of this post: I’d love to answer them for you.
But for now…My Top 5 interview questions for me: Cristy Burne:
1) Why did you become a writer?
Because I love making stuff up. When I’m writing, I can do whatever I like. I can introduce new characters, kill off old characters, make something really terrible happen to my favourite characters and then rescue them again. It’s like having a videogame inside your head. It’s like being the director of your own movie. There is seriously nothing cooler than inventing a whole pile of stuff and seeing it come to life.
2) Do you like reading?
Yes! When I’m reading, I can do anything. I can slay dragons, fight aliens, climb mountains, win races, explore new countries, fall in love… I can get inside someone else’s head and have an idea of what it feels like to be them. So yes, I love love love reading, especially in bed at night, when everything else is quiet and it’s just me and my book and the adventure.
3) How many books have you written?
Takeshita Demons is my first published book (and good news: if you like Takeshita Demons, there are two more Takeshita Demons books coming soon: The Filth Licker and Monster Matsuri: YAY!).
Before Takeshita Demons I wrote heaps of other things: articles, short stories, diaries, poems, riddles…plus three other books that have never been published because they’re hidden in my bottom drawer.
4) Has Takeshita Demons won any prizes?
Yes (and thank you for asking ;-)). Takeshita Demons won the 2009 Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award. This prize is awarded to a story that features a character or a culture whose voice might not otherwise be heard. In the case of Takeshita Demons, that’s the voice of Miku Takeshita, the star of the story. Miku is a Japanese girl who has moved with her family to live in England. She and her best friend Cait end up having to break into their school in the middle of a snowstorm to fight a headless demon who’s pretending to be their supply teacher. Spooky!
5) Is it true that you’re incredibly good-looking and intelligent?
Well, I don’t like to comment on that (blush). But thank you for asking!
So, as you can see, when you’re writing, you can make up whatever you like! It’s truly fabulous fun. And writing and reading go hand-in-hand.
So don’t forget…if you have any other questions, put them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Happy reading! Happy writing!
xxx
Cristy
Comments
Hi Amina, Thanks for your questions: the next book is called The Filth Licker and it's due out in June 2011, then Monster Matsuri comes out in 2012. The Filth Licker is set in the UK, at a school camp in the middle of nowhere.... I hope you like it!!!
When are you going to bring the next book out? Is it going to be out in japan or england?
Hey Maisie, That's awesome news :-) :-) YAY! I can't wait to hear about what you're writing and how it's going. I have three bits of advice: 1) Read a lot and think about what you like and why. 2) Write a little bit every day (and then write a bit more if you feel like it. 3) Enter competitions, especially free ones, and especially ones for younger writers: it can be a great confidence boost. GOOD LUCK!! Let me know how you go!
I loved reading your blog and it has inspired me to write my own book so I would just like to say thank you first and do you have any advice or tips that would help? I was stuck between your book and The Crowfield Curse but chose Crowfield Curse but after I've read it I want to swap with someone that has your book. Can't wait to start reading it although our school hasn't ordered ours yet. Bye for now!
Hi Lottie and Scott, Isn't it cool that you get to choose a book that you can keep and read over and over again! YAY! I wish you luck in your choice and remember: you can read all of the books in your library anytime! Libraries rock!
I like boffin boy because it looks action packed and funny.
Your book looks really good I'm stuck beetween two! CAN'T DECIDE!
Hi Tan, Bryn and Archie! Thanks for your questions!
HOW MANY PRIZES HAVE YOUR BOOKS WON? - Tan I have always loved entering competitions (especially free competitions) and I think it’s a great way to get your writing noticed. When I was in high school I entered the Canon Young Writers of the Year competition and was the finalist in Western Australia: the prize was a trip to Sydney staying at the Ritz Carlton Hotel! Cool!
I have also won the Voices on the Coast Childrens Writing Competition (the prize was money :-)) and a Young and Emerging Writer fellowship from Varuna House (the prize was a trip to the Blue Mountains staying at Varuna House! Awesome!). And Takeshita Demons won the 2009 Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Childrens Book Award (the prize was money and publication: YAY!). I really recommend entering competitions. The 2011 Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Childrens Book Award is calling for entries now: For full information about the award and to download an entry form go to www.sevenstories.org.uk
HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANY OTHER BOOKS? – Bryn Hannah also asked this question, so check through for my answer to her. But I forgot to add that I have also written three books in the Takeshita Demons series: Takeshita Demons, The Filth Licker and Monster Matsuri (but you’ll have to wait because they don’t come out till next year!).
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE TAKESHITA DEMONS AND WHY? - Archie I was inspired to write Takeshita Demons because of the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award. The award encouraged writers to include different cultures and ideas in their books, so it was a great chance for me to write a book about Japanese demons and mythology, which I love. I am always happiest when I’m working on a book.
hi how many prizes has your books won
Have you written any other books?
Hi Cristy just would like to ask: What inspired you to write takeshita demons and why? love your book I was entranced by just the blurb
Hi Hannah, Libby and Beckie! Thanks for your questions :-) I've tried to answer them below :-)
WHAT TYPE OF BOOKS DO YOU LIKE TO READ THE MOST AND WHY? - Hannah I love reading books that bring fantasy into ordinary life, because I love the idea that something strange or magical is lurking just around the corner. And I love adventure stories. I love books that make me want to read and read into the night.
WHERE DID THE FANTASTIC IDEA OF TAKESHITA DEMONS COME FROM? - Beckie I’m glad you think it’s a fantastic idea :-) The idea came when I was living in Japan. I was sitting down to lunch with a Japanese friend and he was telling me what happened to him the previous night: He had woken in the middle of the night with the strong feeling that someone was in the room with him, but he couldn’t check who because he couldn’t move a single muscle in his body. He said he was totally frozen and couldn’t even blink, and that’s how he knew that it was a ghost in his room. SPOOKY! So he had to lie there, frozen in his bed, and wait until the ghost decided to leave… That’s when I started to think about Japanese ghost stories.
HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANY OTHER BOOKS? – Libby I’ve written three other books, but they’re all hiding in my bottom drawer. The first book I ever wrote is called One Weekend with Killiecrankie and it won the Voices on the Coast writing competition in Queensland, Australia, but it has never been published. It’s a funny mystery story about a girl detective and boy who wishes he was a superhero.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE BOOKS? - Libby I love to read books and I loved to write stories at school, so I always secretly wanted to try and write a book. It’s SO MUCH FUN to invent crazy funny things and make a story out of your ideas. YAY! Thanks for the questions guys! Any more questions out there?? :-) Cristy
Where did the fantastic idea of Takeshita Demons come from?
Hi Cristy, Just thought I might ask, Have you written any other books? Hope you write more books. whoops forgot to ask you, What made you want to write books? from Libby :)
What type of books do you like to read the most and why?
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