Bottin, Janet Slater
IN BRIEF
Janet Slater Bottin is a children's writer, and a writer of fiction, non-fiction and drama for adults. She has published numerous titles since her first picture story book was published in 1985, The Big Block of Chocolate. Several of her books for junior readers have been adapted for radio, and her stories have appeared on children's television programmes. The Big Block of Chocolate, illustrated by Jeffy James, remains a children’s favourite for its rhyme and rhythm.
ProfilePlace of residence: Otaki, Kapiti Coast |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bottin, Janet Slater (Janet Slater Redhead) (1940 –) is a children's writer, and a writer of fiction, non-fiction and drama for adults. She has published eighty books for children since her first picture story book was published in 1985, The Big Block of Chocolate. Her first junior novel, Call of the Kotuku, was published in 1986.
Several of her popular books for junior readers have been adapted for radio, and her stories have appeared on children's television programmes. In 1990 her second junior fiction book, Pins and Needles (1989), was Hodder and Stoughton's bestselling title in any category. The Big Block of Chocolate was awarded a Premier New Zealand Bestseller Gold Award in 2004. The Big Block of Chocolate written by Janet Slater Bottin and illustrated by Jeffy James (2003) remains a favourite not only for its sweet topic, but for the rhyme and rhythm of the text which is a delight to read aloud.
Further titles from Janet Slater Bottin include The Trouble With Oatmeal (2000), Ice Cream Snow (2001), and The Fizzy Orange Soft Drink (2002). The Truth about Toffee (2003) is by Janet Slater Bottin and designer, Alice Bell. The story follows Skye, and what she will have to do to save her horse, Toffee, from the Pet Food Factory. Miss Primrose and the Missing Bulbs (Scholastic), with illustrations by Claire de Zoete, was released in 2005 as was Miss Primrose and the Empty Corner (Scholastic). In 2006, Miss Primrose and the Mystery Mouse and Miss Primrose and the Stolen Salami were both published by Scholastic.
The Fizzy Orange Soft Drink won Best in Illustration at the 2002 Spectrum Print Book Design Awards.
The Queue that Grew (Scholastic, 2007), illustrated by Graeme Kyle, is the story of a little green 'pedestrian signal' man who goes on strike.' The author gets right into the psyche of small chidren in this simple story.' Magpies, Vol 23, Issue 2, May 2008, p.4 (NZ section)
Janet Slater Bottin has also published the junior fiction title Best Looking Nose in the World (Createspace (Amazon)), and the teen novel Barefoot in a Prickle Patch (Createspace (Amazon)).
writers in schools information
Janet Slater Bottin is available for school visits as part of the Book Council's Writers in Schools programme. She is happy to talk to primary and intermediate age children and her specialty areas are talking about picture book writing, as well as being a storyteller and junior fiction writer. She prefers to talk to classes of between 15-30 students, and it is possible for her to participate in tours outside of her region depending on her other commitments at the time.
KAPAI: Kids' Authors' Pictures and Information
Where do you live?
Otaki Beach
What kinds of books do you like to read?
Mostly historical fiction and children’s books!
Do you have a favourite author?
A.A. Milne.
Where do you get your ideas?
By observing things, people and happenings around me.
What is the best thing about being an author?
Hearing back from children that they have enjoyed my books.
Questions for Primary School Students
Do you have any pets?
Not at the moment, apart from tame birds that visit our garden.
Do you have a favourite colour?
Blue.
Do you have a favourite food?
Cheese sandwiches and real fruit yoghurt ice creams.
Do you have a favourite movie?
It keeps changing as new movies come out.
Do you have a favourite game?
Playing hockey, as well as going up in a hot air balloon, and also a glider flight, were experiences I'd love to repeat. I also enter in 5 kilometer running events.
What is the most fun thing about being an author?
Being inventive. Visualising characters and situations in which they interact.
How do you make books?
My personal contribution is through writing the stories.
Where do you like to go on your holidays?
My favourite holidays are cycle tours, both in New Zealand and overseas. I love to visit Japan and England, as I have family in both these countries.
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I ran away (when I was five). My mother took me straight back again.
Questions from Secondary School Students
How did you get started?
I started by writing humorous articles for adults. My children's writing began when I was a scriptwriter for a children's radio programme, and several of my stories were accepted for 3 different children's TV programmes.
Who inspired you when you were getting started?
My children.
What advice would you give an aspiring young writer?
If you enjoy writing and know you have a talent for it, persevere! You need to be 'made of rubber,' so you can 'bounce back' from publisher rejections.
Is it difficult to make a living as a writer in New Zealand?
Yes.
What were you like as a teenager?
A bit of a daydreamer, but also adventurous. I liked long country bike rides and tramping. I've always been an 'out-doors' person - and I still am!
Do you have any funny stories to tell us?
A lot of humorous things have happened on my bike trips, e.g. the time I was adjusting my bike helmet while biking along and got my fingers firmly stuck through the holes on top. Managing to stop and dismount was a bit tricky with my right hand on my head! Or the time my bike was nearly impounded by security guards as ‘a suspicious object’ at a seaport in England (My bike, with red saddle-bags, a purple sleeping bag strapped to the carrier and a long-eared Bugs Bunny hooter on the handlebars! Get real!)
Media links and clips
- Janet Slater Bottin is available for school visits as part of the Book Council's Writers in Schools programme.
- The Truth about Toffee features in the Spring 2003 Issue of BRAT: Books for Readers and Teachers
- Janet Slater Bottin's author file on the Scholastic (NZ) Ltd site.
- An interview with Janet Slater Bottin on the Christchurch City Libraries site.
