James Dawson interviewed at the North East Teenage Book Awards
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Version 0 of 1. The North East Teenage Book Awards (NETBA) have been running for the past 16. This year, however, was the biggest yet; unlike previous NETBA events I have attended, this year coincided with Harry Potter Book Night and so, obviously, they included this in the evening, giving Hogwarts house stickers to everyone who bought a book on the night with some students wearing Harry Potter attire as well! Each year, six authors and their books are short-listed for the award. 2014 saw an even more exciting range of titles including: The Winner Say Her Name by James Dawson This look at urban legend “Bloody Mary” had us all sitting on the edge of our seats and definitely not having an early night! Although it did have some major clichés, it was gripping and, with the twist at the end, not something you’ll soon forget. The ‘Highly Recommended’ book Salvage by Keren David This was not Keren’s first NETBA ceremony, as 2010 saw her winning the prize with her first novel, When I Was Joe. Although there are a lot of books about broken families and split siblings, Salvage shows the story through both points of view, something that was highly enjoyed by most schools. Other nominees In Bloom by Matthew Crow In Bloom was narrated by a boy, Francis, and set in the North East, making it a refreshing contribution to others of its kind. It isn’t your typical “cancer love story” book, grabbing comedy and action and throwing it into the mix to make it rather amusing in an ironic way She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick Unfortunately, Marcus Sedgwick wasn’t able to be at the awards ceremony, but his book still stood out from the rest. Throughout the book, there are hidden coincidences of the number “354”, a number which Marcus himself believes he comes across more than most. Allies & Assassins by Justin Somper Justin Somper was also missing from the ceremony but his book, Allies & Assassins, was met with rapturous approval. My Second Life by Faye Bird The concept of this book is unlike many seen before. As a gripping and intriguing novel, it follows Ana and how she deals with knowing that this is her second life. A lot of people believe that ‘teenagers don’t read’ and that ‘game stations and the internet have killed reading’, but I disagree completely. By attending these events, it gives young people the chance to experience types of books they wouldn’t always notice or choose for themselves. It gives readers a goal – to finish the books before the ceremony – whilst also not excluding those who aren’t as quick to finish books, as the award runs from October when the shortlist is announced to the ceremony in February. The style of the night means you can really feel part of something big and the atmosphere in the venue is always electric. We love taking part in the North East Teenage Book Awards and hope to carry on being a part of this in years to come. Here’s what James Dawson said when we interviewed him afterwards: How do you feel after being crowned the winner of the North East Teenage Book Awards? Awards always mean that little bit more when they’re voted for by teen readers, so I’m really thrilled. At the end of the day, I want my books to be enjoyable so it’s nice feedback to get! We found and were pleased that the shortlisted books this year were so different from each other. Did you read any of the other books on the shortlist and was there one which you really enjoyed besides your own? Of the shortlist, I’d only read She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick. He’s a phenomenal writer. I’m actually a very slow reader so don’t read nearly as many books as I’d like! Related: James Dawson's top 10 books to get you through high school What in your opinion is the most worthwhile part of being a bestselling and award winning author? It’s truly the best job in the world. I have always loved telling stories and I’ve always loved words, so this is a dream come true. My earliest memories are of creative worlds and stories. When I was little, I had Lego but instead of building spaceships and stuff I involved all the little people in complex love triangles and the like. I remember one of the spacemen lost his wife in a buggy crash and developed a drink problem. Now I get to do that and get paid! I’m insanely fortunate to be able to do this every day. What genre of books do you love to read yourself? Do you have a specific part of a bookshop or library which you always check out first when browsing for something to read? Oh the YA section and not JUST to ensure I’m in stock! What I love about YA is its immediacy. Teen readers are notoriously brutal – if a book doesn’t grab you in the first few pages, it’s off to the charity shop. I’m the same, I have little tolerance for books that don’t grab me right away. Life’s too short. We as a group read for pleasure for a number of reasons – to relax, to be stimulated, to feel inspired and to share our thoughts. What does reading for pleasure mean to you? With your busy schedule do you find time to read much? I read on public transport – that’s where I get most of my reading done. I do try to read before bed each night too. That’s how I know if a book’s worth reading – do I want to read it or pass out and sleep? Related: Top 10 urban legends Do you prefer books or e-readers? 100% real books. E-readers don’t smell of anything. Books are also beautiful objects to be loved and collected. Did you use libraries much when you were younger and, if you did, are you still a frequent library user now? My mum didn’t have much money when we were growing up so I went to the library every Saturday morning while she took my sister to swimming lessons. I had one hour to go through Bingley library in search of Doctor Who paperbacks, Point Horrors or Nancy Drew Case Files. Ah, happy days. I don’t so much now, but only because I get sent a lot of books by publishers so I always have a mountain of reading to do at home. How do you go about choosing names for your characters? I LOVE naming characters, I spend HOURS on Nameberry looking for unusual-but-not-stupid-names. I want my characters to really inhabit a name, and, I admit, you want something that has the potential to become iconic in the way that ‘Bella’ or ‘Hermione’ has. No surnames needed! Say Her Name is a horror novel and you said at the ceremony that you were a fan of Dean Koontz; do you have a favourite horror novel which you have read over and over? I very, very rarely read any novel more than once. I really don’t get that at all. I was very scared by Dark Matter, by Michelle Paver – it’s a masterclass in creeping tension. Related: James Dawson: we need to take action on mental health of LGBT teens How would you describe your books to a reader who has not read them before but would like to try them? They’re all, to some extent, books about friendship. I think friendship is the most powerful thing on the planet. My characters get into some dark, scary situations with ghosts and demons, but there’s always a glimmer of hope and humour. Looking back over all four of my books, I see there’s a running theme of identity too – characters figuring who they are and their place in the world. Under My Skin, more than any of the others, is about a normal girl coming to terms with her darker side. I hope people like it, it’s a very different sort of horror – much more Jekyll and Hyde. Do you want to interview your favourite author? Join the Children’s books site and you could be in with a chance! |