Writer tours

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 17, 22 September 1987, Page 6

Writer tours

"Dear William Taylor, I wouldn't mind reading one of your books but unfortunately I'm already reading another..." "Dear William Taylor, I'm allowed to buy one book this year and I'm going to buy one of yours..." Local children's novelist William (Bill) Taylor gets much joy from reading the letters sent to him by children whom he has visited in schools or have otherwise read one of his books. Mr Taylor, a former teacher and current Mayor of Ohakune, left this week on a whirlwind visit to towns and centres around New Zealand, on a tour to promote his books. The tour is a first for Mr Taylor and is expected to take around two weeks. It will include visits to schools, libraries, bookshops and teachers' colleges as well as a number of radio and magazine interviews arranged by his publishers, Reed Methuen. The tour marks the publication of his sixth book, entitled 'Break a Leg', the sequel to the series 'The Worst Soccer Team Ever' and 'Making Big Bucks' both released last year. The series is proving to be extremely popular with children in the 11-15 age bracket and an 'amazing' number of adult readers according to Mr Taylor. An American version of

his novel 'Possum Perkins' renamed 'Paradise Lane' and a Danish translation of 'My Summer Of The Lions' are both due to be released this week. The release of 'Paradise Lane' in America won him rave reviews from the prestigious Publisher's Weekly in New York. "An impressive debut by a New Zealand author, William Taylor. 'Paradise Lane' transcends its theme to become truly memorable," the review said. "I've been very lucky," Mr Taylor stated. "Writing is such a perilous way of making a living, but I seem to be writing what kids want to read at the present time." "Some of the letters received from children are very touching," he said. "The main thing that comes back from readers is that they find my characters real, which means that they relate to them." On average, it takes Mr T aylor two months to finish a novel, after which he is "physically unable" to write another. "I go through a period where I think I'll never write again," he said. Mr Taylor was hopeful of completing his latest novel, still untitled, before leaving. After the completion of that he is keen to write another, this time humorous, before Christmas.