D A Nelson
Telephone:
01389 849285Email:
d-a-nelson@tiscali.co.ukWebsite:
www.danelson.co.ukBRAW network:
yesLL funded:
yesBiography:
I was born in Glasgow and grew up in Neilston, which to the south of the city. It's a farming community and a great place to grow up. I attended the local primary school there before hopping on the train to attend Eastwood High School in Newton Mearns.
On leaving school at 17, I trained as a cub reporter with a local newspaper in Glasgow. I also worked for newspapers in Paisley and Hamilton. I did a few shifts on the Scottish Sun and the Sunday Times Scotland before deciding newspaper journalism wasn't for me and moved into PR. My first job was with a major political party and I've worked for a local authority and two health boards. I currently work part-time for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as their Publications Manager.
Now living in Cardross, I am married to Ian and we have two lovely children, a girl and boy. I have no idea how I find the time to write... I suppose I just make it happen!
I have always written and I still have a file of papers that make up Beatrix Potter and Graham Greene inspired books I wrote and illustrated when I was a child. I love books, my house is full of them and it's what I ask Santa for every year at Christmas. My favourite pastime (if I can successfully escape from the aforementioned weans) is to sit in my favourite bookshop, cup of tea and muffin in hand, reading a fantastic novel. My other great loves - apart from aforementioned weans and husband - are music and food.
My favourite types of books are fantasy (unsurprising as DarkIsle is a children's fantasy novel), adventure and comedy. I like a great story that keeps you engrossed from start to finish.
About writer's work:
Weirdly I started my book writing career writing for adults, but four unsuccessful novels later and I turned back to a children's story I began in my early 20s. DarkIsle is inspired by the dragon that overlooks Irvine Beach (yes, she actually exists) - a stone sculpture created by Roy Fitzsimmons that I've loved since childhood.DarkIsle is a children's fantasy novel that is packed full of action, has really memorable and loveable characters including the dragon, and is basically the type of book that I would have loved as a child. I wrote it for myself, but am delighted with the response it's had from both young and older readers.
It's a good versus evil plot where a young orphan girl meets up with some magical friends and embarks on an adventure that sees her taking on an evil wizard to rescue a stolen magical stone and save the world.
The story takes the girl - Morag - through a world where the magical folk travel about Scotland via underground railway. The story is also about Morag discovering that she can be brave and touches on the effect the disappearance of her parents has had on her.
DarkIsle is the first of a trilogy and the second is due out late 2008.
About writer's events and projects:
I am available to do readings and have done a number of them over the past year to audiences of school age children. Many of the children had been read early copies of the book, so were familiar with the story and had done class work, including creative writing and artwork, linked to the book. I'm also interested in carrying out workshops with youngsters and adults, and would be open to offers. Themes, ideas and topics I would explore include: writing and developing fantasy/magical stories; writing for children; creating memorable characters; taking inspiration from everyday objects and developing a story.
Language:
EnglishAge groups:
9-12, AdultsBooks written
For 10-year-old Morag, there's nothing magical about the cellar of her cruel foster parents' home. But that's where she meets Aldiss, a talking rat, and his resourceful ...
