Cartwright, Pauline
IN BRIEF
Pauline Cartwright has written a wide range of books for children. Her writing includes radio stories, novels, pictures books, poetry and many educational readers. Some titles that have been short-listed for New Zealand Book Awards include, Grow a Gift (1991), and, Saved by Ryan Kane (1994). She was the Robert Lord Writer in Residence from March-May 2003. Cartwright is able to visit schools around New Zealand and is happy to talk to primary and intermediate age students as part of the Writers in Schools programme.
ProfilePlace of residence: Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cartwright, Pauline (1944 –) is a versatile writer who has published dozens of books, stories and poems for children.
‘Prolific Central Otago children's author Pauline Cartwright knows how to tell a good story whether it's fiction or non-fiction,’ writes Iona McNaughton.
Arthur and the Dragon, written by Pauline Cartwright and illustrated by David Elliot, received the 1991 Russell Clark Award for Illustration.
Her writing for children includes radio stories, novels pictures books, poetry and many educational readers on topics from How Dictionaries Came To Be (1992) to All Sorts of Trucks (1998).
Some titles that have been short-listed for New Zealand Book Awards have included: Grow a Gift (1991); What! No TV? (1993); The Reluctant Pirate (1993); Saved by Ryan Kane (1994); and All Sorts of Trucks (1998).
Of All Sorts of Trucks, six-year-old Kelsie Brown writes in the Marlborough Express: ‘This story is good for children my age to read to little brothers and sisters. I think the pictures are brilliant.’
Cartwright's first book is What Is It Like To Be Old? (1988). Instead of a Car was published in 2000.
Cartwright says, ‘Most children will have discovered my titles in their classroom reading. I write books for emergent readers, The Praying Mantis [1993] through to novels Inside the Game [2009] for older readers. For some children, the classroom is the only place where they see books and I want my stories there to be enticing and stimulating. I love to think I am helping to create readers and that at least some of those readers will extend their ability into a life-long passion.’
Big Farm Machines (Bridge Hill, 2000) as its title suggests, explores the big machines and equipment used to help New Zealand farms operate.
Pauline Cartwright was the Robert Lord Writer in Residence from March-May 2003.
Finding Father: The Journal of Mary Brogan, Otago, 1862 (Scholastic, 2004), which appears in the My Story series depicting historic events in New Zealand’s history, tells the story of 13-year-old Mary Brogan’s adventures during the 1862 gold rush to the Dunstan Diggings. The novel was completed in 2003 when Cartwright was Writer in Residence at Dunedin Teachers’ College from March–May.
Survive: Night Rescue (2005) was published by Scholastic.
The Cross Feeling (Scholastic, 2007) is written by Cartwright and illustrated by Annabel Craighead.
writers in schools information
Cartwright is able to visit schools around New Zealand and is happy to talk to primary and intermediate age students. Cartwright is able to talk to about writing poetry, educational books and picture books. She is happy to speak to one class or less and is prepared to run creative writing workshops with prior arrangement. Please continue down the page to see Cartwright’s answers to a list of questions provided by school students:
KAPAI: Kids' Authors Pictures and Information
Where do you live?
In one of New Zealands most beautiful places - Central Otago.
What kinds of books do you like to read?
All kinds of books. I am always discovering books by authors I haven't come across before. I can't pick an actual favourite as I admire the work of so many writers. Two books I have recently read are Tolkien, A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter and The Constant Gardener by John le Carre.
How do you think up your ideas?
The same way as you do! Using my brain, my eyes, my ears to gather the edges of ideas that can then be extended into stories. Looking at the world and everything in it as if I've never seen it before, can help to inspire new ideas.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
As a child I dreamt of being one. I made the dream come true.
Some special questions for Primary School
Do you have any pets?
During my life I have had all sorts from frogs to dogs. Right now I have none.
Do you have a favourite food?
Favourite food is fruit.
A favourite colour?
My favourite colour in spring is green, in summer is blue, in autumn is gold, in winter is red.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
Organising my time the way I wish. If I want to, I can call Wednesday Saturday.
How do you make a book?
I don't. I just write the words for someone else (publishers) to make into a book. They put the words on paper, find an illustrator to do pictures, use machines to print and cut and copy, sell the books in shops. There are books about it in your library, and probably information on the Net. Making a book is a team effort.
Where do you go on holiday?
Often to Australia where our three grandchildren live.
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I said, rudely, "I won't!" when a teacher told me to move my desk to the front. Maybe I was tired of being told to move there --always for being a chatterbox. We were supposed to do all our work in silence, all day. We sat in rows and were never given the opportunity to discuss lesson topics with others. I found it very difficult trying to be quiet all day!
How did you get started as a writer?
There always used to be children's writing pages in different magazines and newspapers and I used to send poems to them.
Who inspired you when you were first getting started?
My friend's mother who was herself a writer and with whom I shared my dream of being one. When I was 14 she sent a poem of mine to a newspaper. I was paid 10/- for it and that made me feel like a real writer!
I was also inspired by other writers that I didn't know, by the work they did and sometimes by reading about them. Reading Enid Blyton's biography made me realise that being a writer was possible as an actual occupation. I was 9 at the time and that was when I decided I would be a writer.
What advice would you give someone who wanted to be a writer?
Read and read and read. Write and write and write.
Is it difficult to make a living in New Zealand as a writer?
Yes.
What were you like as a teenager?
I was like most teenagers are, sometimes moody and awkward and selfish, sometimes kind and pleasant.
Are there any other stories you’d like to tell us?
A few years ago my husband bought a 20 foot yacht to sail on the lakes we have nearby. I turned out to be a wimpy sailor! There is a lot to know about winds and water, about ropes and sails. I think a lot of the concepts involved are quite mathematical and I don't have a mathematical brain. I found that sailing made me panic easily, which I found strange because I don't normally panic about things and don't fear water.
One other thing that does make me panic are large spiders. I mean LARGE spiders, the kind, unfortunately, that you sometimes find in Australia. If I meet one, I turn and go the other way -- immediately.
Media links and clips
- Cartwright on Christchurch Libraries' site — Interviews with NZ Children’s Authors
- Pauline Cartwright appeared in the Winter 2000 issue of BRAT: Books for Readers and Teachers
