Congratulations on becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to children's literature. How did teaching for 30 years in the classroom shape the way you write Story Seekers for children?
Thank you. it certainly was a surprise, but very special. A fabulous day in Wellington, and extra special to get lovely messages from so many readers and people I’ve worked with in schools, including pupils who are now parents and even grandparents.
Thiry years in teaching has shaped everything I write and for Story Seekers I wanted towrite something pacy, an adventure for the children who haven’t found reading easy. I’ve met many children struggling with reading. I wanted to give these readers a chance to succeed with an age-appropriate level of interest and a manageable vocabulary.
Go Story Seekers!
Tell us about Lola the cat – is she a help or a hindrance when you're writing?
Sady Lola the cat died. We still miss her but luckily my granddaughter found Joyce for us. Joyce had been at the SPCA for quite some time and she was very happy to come home to our place.
She is a silver tabby with big green eyes and everybody loves her. She has taken Lola’s place in the studio, keeping me company as I write. She has learned not to walk on the keyboard. I just had to show her the way around my computer once. She listens to my stories too which is great because I have to read my work out loud to make sure it makes sense and works well in pages. She loves to come to work and she reaches up to rattle the door handle to tell me she’s waiting outside.
You've written over 40 picture books and 230 educational scripts. What's the biggest difference in how you approach the two?
I approach all my work with the story, be it educational readers or picture books.
For picture books the story is often looser, in that it can develop and change as I start to work on it. For the readers I do a fast write of the story and use that as the base. I then work it to meet the reading level, the layout and the vocabulary requirements.
Of course, the reader story can change too if suddenly the plot takes a twist that I didn’t expect, especially with stories for the older children. In writing both readers and picture books I’m often surprised about what happens in the story and I need to “listen” and make changes. Sometimes I have to change the whole thing as a better story idea comes in.
Of everything you've published, is there one book you're proudest of, and why?
That’s a hard question to answer! Probably Home Child. It hasn’t been a big seller but I feel as if it’s the most important story I’ve ever written. It is the true story of Pat Brown whose father made the heartbreaking decision in 1950 to send his children to New Zealand for a better life. Neither their father nor the children knew that they would never be going home again, and that on their arrival in New Zealand the children would be separated. I worked with Pat for her story. She trusted me with her treasures from her ship journey including her invitation to the captains dinner.
This is the courageous story of a child migrant and her family. The tears rolled as I typed this story, and I’m proud that I had the opportunity to offer Pat and family the story of her life. The book is beautifully illustrated by Trish Bowles and published by Oralia Media.
What's one piece of advice you'd give a teacher trying to spark a reluctant reader's interest?
Make reading fun! Gear the task to suit the child’s ability and age and be sure to have the child involved in reading activities like plays, which allow for a bit of improvisation in sticky vocabulary. Here the emphasis is reading for meaning.
The main thing is to sell the love of reading.
- Reading his or her own reading to an appreciative audience allows other children to praise and encourage.
- Build the basics with the likes of sight word cards and memory games where other children can participate at the same level.
- Read to the whole class a book suited to the interests of the child with difficulties. Involve the child in the book choice.
I’m sure there are many screen choices to make but I believe that a live audience and shared participation are key in building reading confidence and ability.
Beach, bush or desk – where do your best story ideas actually strike?
Surprise … in the car! Although both beach and bush are great story places.
About Dawn McMillan
Dawn McMillan is a children’s author with work published world-wide. After 30 years of a wonderful teaching career she moved into writing full time. Dawn has had 230 educational scripts published, including readers and activity cards, and over thirty picture books published with more in process. She won the Children’s Choice NZ Post Award in 2003 and has since won two Notable book Awards. Some of her fiction work is fun, some serious in content. She loves the challenge of non-fiction work.When she is not glued to the computer, or sitting on the beach creating stories, Dawn loves to spend time with family and friends. She walks, gardens and enjoys craft work. Dawn lives with her husband Derek, and their cat Lola, in a small coastal village on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. For more information, her website is www.dawnmcmillan.co.nz
