Interview with Ben Brown

Book Cover The penguin who wanted to flyName: Ben Brown

Date of birth: 3 July 1962

Place of birth: Motueka, New Zealand

Now living in: Lyttelton, Banks Peninsula

What is your favourite food?

Chocolate!

Do you have a nickname and if so what is it?

No.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

There have been so many.

How do you relax?

Reading.

Who inspired you when you were little?

Mum and Dad.

Book Cover of A Booming in the NightWhat were you like at school?

A BRAT!

What was your favourite/most hated subject at school?

Favourite: English.

Most hated: Maths.

What was the book you most loved as a child?

Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.

Which person from the past would you most like to meet?

Hoturoa captain of the Tainui canoe.

Who is your favourite author/children’s author?

Poetry: Dylan Thomas

Novels: James Ellroy

Children’s books: Shaun Tan

Why did you want to be a writer?

Because I have always enjoyed making up stories.

Book Cover of On The Road to TuapekaDo you have a special place where you write your books?

Sort of… In the living room of my house.

What’s the best thing and worst thing about being a writer?

Best thing: you are in charge of yourself.

Worst thing: it’s hard to make money.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you like to be?

A publisher.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Keep writing!!

Read Ben Brown’s online story
Read some books by Ben Brown
More information about Ben Brown

Read posts featuring Ben Brown from the Christchurch Kids Blog.

This interview is from 2006.

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