Fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Join Lucy Mangan for webchat, 10 September, 9-10pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Author and PPA Columnist of the Year Lucy Mangan is joining us on Wednesday 10 September between 9 and 10pm for a webchat about her latest book, Inside Charlie's Chocolate Factory.

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Charlie, Lucy has delved deep into the archive to present the story behind Roald Dahl's best-loved classic. Bringing together rare extracts, unseen characters and early designs from the book, as well as behind-the-scenes photographs and actors? personal accounts from both stage and screen adaptations, Mangan explores the cultural impact of one of the most widely loved children?s stories of all time.

She will be taking your questions about all things Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the evening of Wednesday 10th September, including why there were originally ten children in the factory and why some chapters didn't make the cut. Save the date or post your questions or thoughts on the book to Lucy on this thread and watch this space for info about some great prizes to be won during the webchat.

[LucyMangan]

@Dunlurking

Hi Lucy. I would like to ask whether you have thought about writing fiction for children yourself. And what age group would you write for? And what genre/style? In fact, please spill the beans, do you have a Work In Progress aimed at young people?

I'd love to, of course, but no - the only WIP is a book about children's books. Which is nearly the same thing, isn't it?

[LucyMangan]

@ClaraSky

Hi Lucy,

I recently saw the stage version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and was blown away by the production - I could not work out how they made the glass elevator fly across the stage - not a single wire to be seen anywhere!

What was your favourite part of the stage production?

The Oompa Loompas - genius.
Designing, building and getting the GE to work reliably and seamlessly in teh show nearly gave everyone involved a nervous breakdown. They could still barely talk about it when I came to interview them. They just kept saying "It was all right on the night. It worked. It was all right" with the kind of thousand yard stare you normally see on marines back from a seventh tour of duty.

[fuzzpig]

Thanks Lucy. An interesting reply - I loved the lemony snicket books, but wouldn't put him in the same league as Dahl! I actually had Walliams in mind when I asked, as he seems to have some similar qualities - I haven't read any myself but they are wildly popular at the library and DD enjoyed one at school. Mr Gum was funny but a bit too series-y IMO. Thanks for replying :)

[LucyMangan]

@Uzma01

Sounds like an interesting read, will add to the list. I've always loved CATCF, the original film and grew to love the Tim Burton version too.

My question is, where next - which book will you delve into next to give a similar treatment to?

I'd love to do a book like that for every one of my childhood favourites - starting with The Family From One End Street. There is a big book coming out about Laura Ingalls Wilder's books at the end of the month - Pioneer Girl: the Annotated Autobiography for all of us who loved the Little House on the Prairie books.

[Chrissieoates]

I have to retire now. I have 4 grumpy children to get up and ready for school in the am. Just wanted to say thank you Lucy. It's been fabulous. I must agree with you on the Damian Lewis ginger love too! I will check back tomorrow and see what I have missed.

[LucyMangan]

Right, I have GOT to go and have some dinner. I mean, check on my child. I'm hoping that the lack of panicked blundering about by his father means that his offspring has not puked his guts back up. Thank you so much for all your questions, book recommendations, author-n-ancestor hunting tips - I hope we can do it again sometime!

[fuzzpig]

Thank you Lucy :o

[EBearhug]

Thank you, Lucy.
(Will be looking out for the LIW book.)

[RachelMumsnet]

Many thanks to all those who joined the webchat last night and congratulations to IdaBlankenship who has won a family Golden Ticket to the Roald Dahl Museum, PLUS the following books courtesy of Penguin books:

1 x Lucy's book, Inside Charlie's Chocolate Factory, 1 x Penguin Modern Classics version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 1 x colour Puffin anniversary edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and a full set of Roald Dahl titles.

We'll pm you with details of how to claim your prizes.

Finally, a huge thank you to Lucy Mangan for joining us last night for such an enlightening webchat and for sharing your knowledge of CATCF.

[ThankYouDebbie]

mrsbabookaloo Wed 10-Sep-14 19:51:47
Also thankyoudebbie - MIAOW!! This is why we are known as a nest of vipers.

Ooops - I think I could have done with the MN standby "did you mean to sound so rude" here!

I didn't mean to be rude to Lucy, I guess my feeble complaint would be to the editorship of the Guardian magazine. I buy it so infrequently that I'm always surprised to see the same pic of Lucy when they seem to dick around with the rest of the format quite often.

I love Lucy's writing! No offence mean

[IdaBlankenship]

Oh my word! I went to bed (I was flagging) so missed the end of the webchat - seriously chuffed to bits!