New Zealand Writers
CARTWRIGHT, Pauline
A versatile and prolific writer who has published dozens of books, stories and poems for children.
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.
Her writing for children includes radio and television scripts, novels, picture books, poetry and many educational readers on topics from How Dictionaries Came To Be (1992) to All Sorts of Trucks (1998).
Of All Sorts of Trucks 6-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.
(KC.)
Updated Information
New publication Big Farm Machines (Bridge Hill, 2000).
Pauline Cartwright was the Robert Lord Writer in Residence from March-May 2003.
Her most recent novel is 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. It tells the story of 13-year-old Mary Brogan’s adventures during the 1862 gold rush to the Dunstan Diggings. The novel was completed during Cartwright's Otago residency in 2003.
Survive: Night Rescue (2005) was published by Scholastic.
The Cross Feeling (Scholastic, 2007) is written by Cartwright and illustrated by Annabel Craighead.
KIDS AUTHORS PICTURES AND INFORMATION
Some Questions for Pauline Cartwright
Where do you live?
In one of New Zealand's 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.
Where do you go on holiday?
Often to Australia where presently two of our adult children 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. I am looking happy in this photo because we have friends on board with us. The men are doing the sailing and I can just enjoy the sun and the water and the silence.
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.
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