Webchat with Jacqueline Wilson, Friday 12 October, 12.30pm Post a question for a chance to win a signed copy of her latest book

[RachelMumsnet]

We're thrilled that award-winning author Jacqueline Wilson is joining us for a live webchat on Friday. Jacqueline needs little introduction - she’s one of Britain’s best selling and most beloved children’s author.

Her latest novel My Mum Tracy Beaker marks the return of one of her most treasured characters. The Story of Tracy Beaker had a ground breaking impact on children’s books when it was was first published in 1991 and since then over 3.5 million Tracy Beaker books have been sold and the TV adaptation was CBBC’s most successful programme ever.

In her latest novel, Tracy returns as Mum to daughter Jess. Jess and Tracy Beaker aretheperfect team. Jess thinks Tracy is the best mum ever; Tracy is fun and daring, but she also works hard to give Jess the family home she desperately wanted when growing up in the Dumping Ground. Their flat might be a bit mouldy but it’s their happy home.

But when Sean Godfrey –Tracy’s rich new boyfriend – comes onto the scene, Jess is worried things are going to change. What if Sean wants to turn Jess’s brilliant mum into a new person altogether? Sean’s superstar mansion and fancy cars might have been Tracy’s childhood dream, but maybe the Beakers’ perfect home was right in front of them all along…

We have a SIGNED copy up for one lucky winner who posts a question for Jacqueline before or during the chat. If you've can't join us but have questions for Jacqueline, please post your questions here. Ditto if you want to post on behalf of your children. She'll aim to get through as many as possible during the chat.

We are huge fans here too, dd is voraciously reading My Mum Tracy Beaker, and the children are all being kept quiet in the car listening to Sapphire Battersea.

Dd's question is "what will your next book be about?

My daughter is a huge fan and you are a true inspiration to her. She has read Wave me Goodbye about 8 times since getting it, and it has sparked a huge interest in the lives of children during WW2. She writes a lot of her own stories and absolutely loves your monthly magazine. I love the magazine too - it is a gem.

So she would like to know if you could travel anywhere, in space and time, where would you like to go?

Both my children (7 & 9) are huge fans, and we talk about the following
*What other periods of history might Tracey be in?
*Have you ever thought about writing about characters in the future and what that might look like - how might life be different in the future?
*If you met the Psammead, what would be your wish be for a day?
*My younger daughter's two favourite books of yours are Butterfly Club and Whale Song. I wonder if you have thought about bringing more of an environmental/sustainability theme into more of your books
*Have you thought about using more STEM role models inside the story lines?

DD wants to know "What was your favourite book when you were 11?"

I went to see a production of Wise Children last night and it struck me how the Hetty Feather books were rather carnivalesque.

Is this intentional? And what modern, adult novelists do you enjoy.

This is a relevant anecdote rather than a question. "It was just like that Guardian ad, some year back." I'm in my 50s, short grey hair. I was walking down the road in a slightly run-down area a few years back, when I became aware that I had attracted the attention of a group of teenagers, maybe 13-14 years old, boys and girls, various racial backgrounds, who were hanging around outside a newsagents. They look at me and mutter to each other. I wonder if I'm imagining it.They begin to follow me. I begin to feel a bit uneasy. I speed up, they speed up. I wonder if this is how muggings happen, what I can do to get out of it. What if they have knives? Then one girl advances from the pack, shouts at me to stop, wait: "Are you Jacqueline Wilson?"

Secondary School Librarian here:

Will you ever stop writing? (from Ellie, Y10)

I'm a bit late to spot this but I have a 14 year old who absolutely loves your books and reads and reads and reads them. The photo is my couch this morning! I managed to take her to meet nick a few years back at a book festival and one day hopefully you Jacky.

Her question would be what advice would you have for a young aspiring writer?

Hi. My daughter loved reading your books and now likes to reread them whenever she needs a comfort read. I often reread the swallows and amazon series if I just want a nostalgic read, especially if I'm not feeling well. Do you have a book or series that you like to return to?

What's Ellie from the 'Girls' series up to these days?

A warm welcome to Jacqueline Wilson who is joining us now to answer as many Qs as possible over the next hour. There's already a lot in, so I'll hand over to you Jacqueline. Welcome to Mumsnet...

Yay, welcome Jacqueline!

Hello it's Jacqueline here, looking forward to answering your questions!

Woohoo, welcome!

@MamaMumMama

Jacqueline I want to say thank you for all of your amazing books, they are so refreshing and I love the imperfect characters! They are comforting for children to relate to in this less than perfect world. My question is what made you want to keep it 'Real' rather than go with stereotypical characters? Did you own childhood influence your writing? Thanks

Hi MamaMumMama, When I was growing up I read a lot of Enid Blyton books and I remember wishing the children seemed more realistic and had more ordinary everyday problems. I knew even then, I didn't want to write about children rounding up robbers, I wanted to write about children who felt they were an odd one out.

Just wondered which of your books you most enjoyed writing.

@BernardsarenotalwaysSaints

Do you still get as much enjoyment out of writing now as you did when you were first published?

I loved Jacqueline Wilson's books when I was growing up & it's great seeing my eldest dc(8) getting just as much enjoyment out of them now, both the title's that were mine as a child & the many that have been published since

Yes I do still enjoy writing but I still find it hard work!

@Cotswoldmama

Jaqueline Wilson was my favourite childhood author. I wrote to her a few times and I have her lovely illustrated replies still. I'm not sure what questions I asked at the time but know I would like to know how does she start a story? Does she have it all planned out and know the ending from the start or does it maybe start with a character and gradually evolve?

Hi Cotswoldmama, So glad we wrote to each other long ago. When I start a story I’ve thought about my main character a great deal and know exactly what they are like. But to be honest I generally don’t have much idea what is going to happen to them, I just get stuck in!

@RedPandaMama

Lifelong fan here! Read Jacqueline Wilson books throughout my childhood obsessively. My favourites were the Girls series (really helped me out with all the 'becoming a teenager' stuff) and The Illustrated Mum.

My question is - would you consider writing sequels to any of your teen books that are aimed at adults?
And by that I mean I NEED TO KNOW what Ellie, Nadine and Magda are up to in adulthood!

You're not the only one RedPandaMama. Apparently many women went on Twitter with some very funny suggestions about how my three girls would turn out as adults. Maybe I will tempted to write about them one day...

@Reaa

My DD would love to win the signed book so my question is

Have you ever cried, while writing a storyline, for a character in any of your books?
I cried reading dustbin baby

The Dustbin Baby was a very sad book, but I think the only time I have ever cried was when I was writing a book called Kiss.

@ohidoliketobe

Another childhood fan here, I've passed on my love for Jacqueline onto my now 10 year old niece and can't wait until my own children are old enough to enjoy her wonderful stories. I remember Jacqueline visiting my local library during a book tour probably around 1996... one thing that sticks vividly in my mind were the most amazing chunky silver rings she wore on each finger! My question - are there any characters you would love to revisit but haven't really found the right narrative to do so?

I do like to wear the silver rings still! I have just revisited Tracy Beaker and we might visit a middle aged Hetty Feather in the future…

@AdaColeman

A popular Mumsnet thread is about our childhood fictional "crushes", mine was Marcus from The Eagle of the Ninth! Who was your girlhood fictional crush Jacqueline?

I didn't have a crush on a fictional character when I was little but I did adore the child actress Mandy Miller and went to see every film she was in. I actually met her last year and now we are great email friends

@PrincessOnTheInternet

Another longtime fan here! Jacqueline Wilson got me through many long days at hospital. My question is: when creating a character, what is the process you go through, and how do you flesh that character out to make them unique, 'human' characters, not just stereotyped/cut and paste characters?

I am so glad my books helped when you were in hospital. I suppose I think of my characters as imaginary friends and I just play with them in my head.

@Bookeditpackedit

LOVE this lady - I spent my childhood reading her books and now my daughter reads them! My question is which book/character did you enjoy writing the most and why?

Glad your daughter likes my books too. I can never choose whether I prefer writing about Tracy Beaker or Hetty Feather! They are both my favourites

@Bookridden

Both DD and I are big fans. I'd like to know which modern children's writers Jackie admires most, and what adult writers does she consider unmissable? Thank you.

I think Katherine Rundell is one of the most exciting children’s writers nowadays. The adult author I admire most is Anne Tyler. I love her latest book Clock Dance.