Mowing the lawn inspires author!

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 47, 14 May 1985, Page 3

Mowing the lawn inspires author!

In an address to the Ohakune Plunket Society's A.G.M. on Tuesday, author Bill Taylor told the mothers gathered that books were the key to a world of imagery, imagination and excitement. It was their duty as parents to unlock the door for their children to discover this world, he said. As special guest at the meeting, Mr Taylor began his talk by stating that introducing children to the arts often seemed secondary when one is surrounded by dirty nappies, dishes and all the other pressures associated with the daily routine. "There are those who think cultural influences begin before the baby is born although I am yet to be convinced of that," he said, adding that "reading is of crucial importance to the pre-school child and develops in them a life time habit of stories and books and all the joys and experiences associated with them." He made a plea that parents should not ignore New

Zealand books as they "are a mirror of ourselves." Mr Taylor, who has been a teacher for 25 years, said he began his writing career in 1970, producing adult fiction books. About six years ago, prompted by some of his pupils, he embarked on a new writing direction, that of producing work for the 11-14 year age group which he considered he had a particular empathy with. He has already had one book published along with several short stories and last year was awarded a scholarship enabling him to take six

months leave from his teaching, to further the cause of children's literature. Five hundred hours and 35,000 words later, his publisher, Dorothy Butler, has two more Bill Taylor books ready for publication in about two years time. As Mayor of Ohakune, a great deal of his time is taken up with local body work and the associated functions and meetings that involves. "I find the best ideas come to me when I am mowing the lawns, then it is a matter of thinking it through from AZ and putting it down on paper."