An Interview with Pauline Hosking

I live near Melbourne in Australia. To pay the bills I have worked as a teacher, teacher-librarian, journalist, theatre publicist, theatre producer, TV script assistant, and lecturer in the Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing and Editing).

A number of my plays for adults and teenagers have been performed professionally and are available from Australian Plays Transform (www.apt.org.au).

I have written two previous books for middle grade readers featuring twelve-year-old super sleuth Cinnamon Stevens.

I have a website (www.paulinehosking.com), although I don’t update it as often as I should.

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What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I taught drama for many years in secondary schools. Then I branched out and started a professional theatre company. We received government and philanthropic grants to tour in Victoria and South Australia. It was an exciting, exhausting time, as I also wrote the plays presented.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The prophecy of the bones is that only four young shortlifes can save their island, Miran, from invasion: one who is wise, one who is foolish, one who is kind, and one with royal blood. Ana discovers she is one of the four.

The title took forever to discover. I wasn’t sure whether I should include the four main characters (Defenders of Miran) or concentrate on the central character (Ana, Spellbinder in Trouble; More to her than Magic). After I made the choice, I was told that it was a mistake to include a girl’s name in the title as this would discourage boy readers. Well, luckily it hasn’t.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

Ana is an exceptionally talented spellbinder. When she loses her magic, she finds that everyone, even those without magic, has strengths and abilities. Every single person has their own gifts. That’s what I hope middle-grade readers aged nine to twelve will remember.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

The book was launched at a literary festival near where I live. It was exciting to sign books and discuss the story with an enthusiastic audience.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I am currently finishing a one-act play about a woman obsessed with poker machines. Two of the characters need more work so that will keep me busy for the next few weeks. My plays are written for adults, and my three books for middle-grade readers. Working for different age levels on different types of writing definitely develops your skills.

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