ChildhoodI was born and grew up in a very small town in the West of Ireland called Castleisland. I am the oldest of four, and the only girl.
My parents met when teaching together at a tiny, two-teacher national school called Curranes (with only 29 pupils). My Dad taught in this same school for his whole career until he retired! Some of the children he taught were the grandchildren of his first set of pupils! It’s hardly surprising that I had a keen interest in education and child development from a very early age. I always loved reading (even though we didn't have that many books). I mostly got books from the library and reached a point where I'd read everthing there! This was in the days before YA, but happily the wonderful librarian, Miss Downey, gave me an adult card (and closely supervised my choices) so I was able to borrow more widely. My favourite was Enid Blyton whose books I read over and over. I also loved comics which Dad didn’t approve of and he once he even made a comment about it in my school report! |
EducationIreland has a generalist system of education, so in secondary school I studied English, Irish, Latin, French, Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Art History History and Geography). Little did I know how well this wide range would prepare me for working in the wonderful world of Children's Publishing.
After secondary school, I went to University College Cork and studied English, Irish, History and Philosophy. After completing my B.A., I did a post-graduate diploma in Education, specialising in Children’s Literature. I taught English for a few years before returning to UCC to read for an M.A. in the Gothic Novel. |
While researching my M.A. I because interested in publishing and in 1988, I left Ireland to look for work in the UK.
It was hard to leave beautiful Kerry where I grew up, but as my mum always said “you can’t eat the view!”
It was hard to leave beautiful Kerry where I grew up, but as my mum always said “you can’t eat the view!”
Work
Teaching
My first proper teaching job was English Teacher at St Aidan’s Community School in Cork city. At first I taught English to First Years (ages 11 and 12). Then I was asked to take small groups of reluctant readers, learners who were struggling and low motivated groups. I had a number of these classes of teenagers aged between 12 and 16 - it was challenging but very rewarding work.
When I returned to read for my M.A., I worked as a Tutor at University College Cork, first as a General English Tutor and later as a Specialist in Old and Middle English.
Publishing
As an ex-teacher, I got my first job in the UK in educational publishing at NFER-Nelson. However, a 'Damascus moment' at a Letterbox Library conference turned my focus to Children's Trade Publishing. At the conference, I also joined the Working Group Against Racism in Children's Resources (and remained a working member for many years as well as serving a long stint on the management committee).
My first job in Children's Publishing was at Child’s Play International where I learned a tremendous amount. I also worked as freelance editor for Tamarind at this time and was both inspired and motivated by Verna Wilkins' amazing passion and talent.
I went from there to Victoria House / Readers Digest where I saw the best novelty publishing in action under a wonderfully creative MD, Stewart Cowley. After that, I worked at Frances Lincoln before moving on to DeAgostini to start a new children’s list for them.
In 1998, following a buy-out of the DeAgostini list, I founded Zero to Ten with the very talented Andrew Macmillan from whom I learned everything I know about sales and marketing. It was a tremendous challenge running a small independent list and I learned a fantastic amount.
My first proper teaching job was English Teacher at St Aidan’s Community School in Cork city. At first I taught English to First Years (ages 11 and 12). Then I was asked to take small groups of reluctant readers, learners who were struggling and low motivated groups. I had a number of these classes of teenagers aged between 12 and 16 - it was challenging but very rewarding work.
When I returned to read for my M.A., I worked as a Tutor at University College Cork, first as a General English Tutor and later as a Specialist in Old and Middle English.
Publishing
As an ex-teacher, I got my first job in the UK in educational publishing at NFER-Nelson. However, a 'Damascus moment' at a Letterbox Library conference turned my focus to Children's Trade Publishing. At the conference, I also joined the Working Group Against Racism in Children's Resources (and remained a working member for many years as well as serving a long stint on the management committee).
My first job in Children's Publishing was at Child’s Play International where I learned a tremendous amount. I also worked as freelance editor for Tamarind at this time and was both inspired and motivated by Verna Wilkins' amazing passion and talent.
I went from there to Victoria House / Readers Digest where I saw the best novelty publishing in action under a wonderfully creative MD, Stewart Cowley. After that, I worked at Frances Lincoln before moving on to DeAgostini to start a new children’s list for them.
In 1998, following a buy-out of the DeAgostini list, I founded Zero to Ten with the very talented Andrew Macmillan from whom I learned everything I know about sales and marketing. It was a tremendous challenge running a small independent list and I learned a fantastic amount.
Community Librarian
When Zero to Ten was taken over, I was made redundant and I began working directly with young children and their families as part of a Sure Start Project in West London.
I ran Baby Rhyme Times, Toddler Groups, the Stripey Top Club and Nurture Club in Acton Library. We focussed on language learning, rhymes, stories, books and lots of singing, as well as supporting parents.
When Zero to Ten was taken over, I was made redundant and I began working directly with young children and their families as part of a Sure Start Project in West London.
I ran Baby Rhyme Times, Toddler Groups, the Stripey Top Club and Nurture Club in Acton Library. We focussed on language learning, rhymes, stories, books and lots of singing, as well as supporting parents.
My community outreach work convinced me of the need for a book which would show families how little kids and their parents were welcome in libraries and I wrote Lulu Loves the Library which was acquired by Charlesbridge Publishing in Boston, USA. Unable to find a UK publisher, like the little red hen, I founded Alanna Books.
Back to Publishing!
With the publication of Lulu Loves the Library, I found myself back in publishing – though I continued to divide my time between running Alanna Books, writing, freelancing for other publishers and still working with children as part of the Sure Start Project three days a week.
With the publication of Lulu Loves the Library, I found myself back in publishing – though I continued to divide my time between running Alanna Books, writing, freelancing for other publishers and still working with children as part of the Sure Start Project three days a week.
Now
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In 2018 Ken Wilson-Max and I decided to form a partnership and Alanna Max was born.
Ken is the Owner, Fay Erek is Co-Publisher and Operations Director and I've become Editor-at-Large.
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This move enabled me to move back to Kerry and spend more time writing (AND looking at the view!).
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Hobbies
In theory, working for yourself/freelance means you're in charge of your own time and can achieve a satisfying work-life balance. In reality, it means you work all sorts of crazy hours.
I still manage to take some time, however. even though so much of my working life is take up with books, I still love to read. I've been addicted to crime novels for many years (I read recently that its only of the only adult genres that has resolution at the end and so is the modern equivalent of Fairy Tales - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)
I do also make time to watch basketball. One of the most exciting events in my life was when I met one of my heros, Luol Deng, and Team GB when they had a warm-up game before the Olympics in 2012 in Sheffield. Luol is featured briefly in my book, My Friend Jamal and I presented him with a copy. It turned out he'd been reading it to his nephew all week and was excited to meet the author. Swoon!
I still manage to take some time, however. even though so much of my working life is take up with books, I still love to read. I've been addicted to crime novels for many years (I read recently that its only of the only adult genres that has resolution at the end and so is the modern equivalent of Fairy Tales - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)
I do also make time to watch basketball. One of the most exciting events in my life was when I met one of my heros, Luol Deng, and Team GB when they had a warm-up game before the Olympics in 2012 in Sheffield. Luol is featured briefly in my book, My Friend Jamal and I presented him with a copy. It turned out he'd been reading it to his nephew all week and was excited to meet the author. Swoon!
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I've also become an amateur beekeeper!
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Mentoring and Activism
I have always believed passionately in including as many and as varied voices as possible in publishing.
I was a member of the Book Section and Board Member of The Working Group Against Racism in Children’s Resources for many years, helping run conferences, develop publications and training courses. This was a formative time for me, an experience that taught me so much.
I was a Committee Member of IBBY UK, the British section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) - a worldwide non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing children and books together.
I was also a Creative Access Mentor for many years. Creative Access Mentors inspire, guide and empower talented individuals from under-represented backgrounds, helping to forge pathways, improve confidence and expand networks for the next generation progressing within the creative economy.
I was delighted to consult and advise on texts and strategytor for African Bureau Stories in Ghana.
I am currently a mentor for the Jericho prize, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that supports emerging, unpublished and self-published Black-British children's writers. I mentored the 1st prize winner in year one, 2021, and the Runner-up in 2022-23.
I was a member of the Book Section and Board Member of The Working Group Against Racism in Children’s Resources for many years, helping run conferences, develop publications and training courses. This was a formative time for me, an experience that taught me so much.
I was a Committee Member of IBBY UK, the British section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) - a worldwide non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing children and books together.
I was also a Creative Access Mentor for many years. Creative Access Mentors inspire, guide and empower talented individuals from under-represented backgrounds, helping to forge pathways, improve confidence and expand networks for the next generation progressing within the creative economy.
I was delighted to consult and advise on texts and strategytor for African Bureau Stories in Ghana.
I am currently a mentor for the Jericho prize, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that supports emerging, unpublished and self-published Black-British children's writers. I mentored the 1st prize winner in year one, 2021, and the Runner-up in 2022-23.