When did you start writing and why?

I couldn’t not!  I’ve always just made stuff up. My first poem – The Electrified Spiders – came when I was 8. By 15 I was writing songs (VERY bad ones) and by my 30s I was writing poems for children and haven’t stopped. I LOVE words and poems are little word worlds to put all your inky thinky thoughts. And I have plenty! Don’t we all?

What is your favourite book that you’ve written?

Maybe my next collection for 7-11s, WHAT RHYMES WITH AXOLOTL (Otter-Barry Books, 2027, illustrations by the tremendous Neal Layton) as it’s been great fun to write – from thinky thoughtful stuff to totally daft stuff.

What were you like as a child?

Quiet. Shy. The wimpiest kid in the world, but I LOVED comics and books, exploring woods, doodling, riding my bike, watching telly and er making stuff up.

What superpower would you like to have?

I’d like to visit every single school in the UK and do my little bit to help get children writing as for me that’s what my job is all about, helping to share the passion for words, and helping children have ownership of language and creativity.

Do you have any pets or what imaginary pet would you have?

Could I be a wolf for the day? Or if not, a capybara riding on a croc’s head down river? Please? OH, GO ON!

Where do you write and what do you use?

I write in my head until there are so many words pouring out I have to write them down in my notebook or on the back of an old poem. In cafés. On trains (but it makes the ticket collector VERY angry).

What happens in your virtual author sessions?

Fun. Lots of it. I show my books (briefly), read a bunch of interactive poems – some thinky thoughtful ones and some utterly daft ones with music (Derek the disko ukulele and Steve the melodica), a Q & A – then the best/important bit, a poem workshop. I scribe a poem with the class’s ideas, then they write a poem on a template sheet (I email to the teacher before) then it’s THE BIG READ OUT FINALE TIME with HUGE QUANTITIES of PRAISE and yes, APPLAUSE!

What’s the best thing about being an author?

Being creative, using words, writing poems and music and above all, visiting schools – meeting brilliant children and their outstanding teachers – in person or ONLINE to GET CHILDREN WRITING!

What is your favourite book to read?

In my presentations I read from a whole range of my books, both poetry and non-fiction, depending on the age I’m working with. With KS2, a blend of reflective poetry to totally daft stuff. I want them to think and to have fun. With EYFS or KS1, zippy, upbeat and interactive riddles and rhymes. But my recommendations from other children’s writers would be for UKS2 Skellig by David Almond, for LKS2 A Boy and A Bear In A Boat by Dave Shelton, and for KS1/EYFS Stanley’s Stick by John Hegley and Neal Layton. All stone cold classics!

And finally, what’s your top writing tip?

Keep a little notebook. Scribble in it. Doodle in it. Write in it. Whenever you want to. It’s your little creative place and you don’t need to show it to anyone. Just you.

You can book a virtual visit with James through his website here.