Live webchat with Jacqueline Wilson, Tues 10 March, 9-10pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

We've very chuffed that award-winning author Jacqueline Wilson is joining us for a live webchat on Tuesday 10 March, 9-10pm. Jacqueline needs little introduction - with sales of over 25 million books, she's a massively successful author, up there with JK Rowling and Dan Brown. Her latest book, My Secret Diary, is the sequel to Jacky Daydream and includes excerpts from her own teenage diary. 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 before the chat.

Dear AddisonMontgomerySheppard - your name is longer than your question! I don't mind being called the UK's Judy Blume, though I don't think our books are necessarily similar.

Do you have to research your books first? E.G. If they are based in a foster home, did you go and visit any or are they all just from your imagination?

Hello Jacquline,
So when are you coming to Bute? Lovley island, we will spoil you rotton, if you like jazz, come at the jazz festival and have a jazz picnic in the grounds of the castle.
kind regards
tracey guy

Hi PinkFairyDust - wonderful nickname. Thank you so much
for sharing your books, I'm glad they helped.

Dear ahundredtimes, I haven't had a child asking to be adopted themselves, but I did once have a social worker tentatively suggesting I might be able to offer a home to a twelve year old girl. I was very touched, but knew I couldn't make that permanent commitment. I so admire those who do.

Your books help children from all walks of life. Has helped develop empathy im sure. Please come to Bute, you will love it here, its a stunning island, not too difficult to reach, just ask Nick Sharrett.
Me Again
Tracey Guy

Dear jacqueline, my younger sister Millie would like to ask you how many brothers and sisters you have?

Sorry to jump in again! I do supportive lodgings (stepping stone between foster care and independant living) which is for youngsters 16 - 18, I currently have a 16 year old, and my first ever girl who arrived at 16 is about to turn 21 in a few weeks and now a mum herself (and a very good one at that!) I would like to say how true to life so many of your books are and how much in common between your stories and some of the lives of the youngsters we have/had with us. Reading your books (which I borrow when Abigail has read them) as well as my own background has helped me to understand some of the reason my youngsters behave in the way that they do, and I'm sure will help when I start training as a social worker.
Thankyou for joining on here - you are a star.
xx

Dear sundew and Jasmine, we called literacy 'English' when I was at school - and I was good at it. Just as well, because I was useless at maths and absolutely rubbish at games.

Hi again,
will you be visiting Glasgow to promote your new book?
regards
tracey

Just remembered - i saw Sound of Music on the opening night in london - and i saw you getting the tube - but i was to shy to speak to you! so my Brother spoke to you and signed my leaflet from sound of music it will be something to show my charge tomorrow, she will like that Thanks!

Emily has asked me to ask you, which books do you read now.
from emily Guy
aged 9

Dear dozymare, I'm not sure where I get my inspiration from, anywhere and everywhere! I'm currently reading Mr Toppit by Charles Elton, an adult literary novel...about a children's author. Before that, I was mostly reading Victorian books for research. I enjoyed George Gissing, though he had a very weird outlook on women. I also loved The Crimson Petal and the White, by Michel Faber - but took care not to read it on the train because a/ it weighs a ton, and b/ it's very explicit!

Thank you very much Jacqueline - Jasmine will be thrilled when she wakes up tommorow. She has just finished Midnight so I imagine we will be off to the library this weekend to try and find one of your books she hasn't read.

I hope you keep in good health and write many more books to fire childrens love of reading. It really is a most amazing skill you have.

Jacqueline, do you have any say about how your books are marketed, in terms of some of them looking very girly on the front cover?

(and thanks for answering dd2's earlier questions )

Hi Tidey. I did indeed write four books about a tomboy teenage detective called Stevie Day.....though they've been out of print for many years now.

Hi again,
do you have an agent?

Thank you so much for answering my question. I remember reading the Stevie Day books when I was about 12, and loved them but couldn't find any info on them on the internet. I was starting to think I'd imagined them. They should be reprinted, by the way, they were fab!

(Thank you for answering, I will tell my son your answer. He may very well write to you and suggest he move in next week - ignore it, he does not live in a children's home, and is quite happy here (I think) but possibly has his eye on better things!)

Dear Eleanor at Allottwant, Andy in The Suitcase Kid is an invented character. However, her little lucky mascot Radish is based an old toy belonging to my daughter, Emma.
I'm so sorry Elaine the Pain seems a bit of a caricature - Tracy Beaker isn't very fair to her. I know lots of social workers, and I think they do a wonderful job.

dear Jacqueline how old are you

hey xx how do u like to relax when you're not writing?

millie aged 8 smile

zak she is 63 and do not ask that