New2theScene

Emma Beswetherick

I’m the mother of two young children, a boy and a girl, and set out to write exciting, inspirational and enabling adventure stories to read to them as they grew older. I’ve worked as a publisher of adult novels for more than twenty years and live in South West London with my family and menagerie of animals: two Ragdoll cats (one of whom is the inspiration for Thunder the cat), two guinea pigs and a rather mischievous puppy called Obi.

When they spoke to New2theScene

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1. Why do you write novels?

I’ve worked in publishing all my adult life and have been surrounded by books for as long as I can remember, so, for me, reading and books feel as important as the air that we breathe. I think I learned how to write novels through osmosis, however, having edited so many other incredible author’s novels for many years. Writing became the natural next step after editing, and I’m so glad I made the jump. I love the creativity and freedom of writing – the getting lost in someone else’s world, which is a world you have the privilege to know better than anyone.

2. Who inspired you?

My main inspiration has come from my children. When my son started devouring books at around the age of five, it got me thinking about the types of books his younger sister might read when she reached a similar age. When I began looking, I realised I couldn’t find much at the time that really suited her personality – which is why I had the idea of writing something for her myself. She’s always had loads of friends, enjoyed playdates, had a vivid imagination and had big dreams of saving the world one day. I wondered about combining all these themes, which is how The Playdate Adventures was born.

3. What’s the essence of your style? The part, if removed, is not your voice anymore?

I try and capture what it means to be a child in my stories. I think hard about what inspires children, what they care about, what dreams they have, what excites them but also what worries them. I hope this comes across in my stories. It’s certainly something my readers pick up on when they write to me.

4. What was your dance-around-the-kitchen moment in writing?

Definitely when I got my first book deal – but, even more than that, I think it was when I got my second book deal, because it was then that I realised it wasn’t luck that had taken me there. I also always have a little dance when I get to the end of the first draft of a story. That’s when the hard work has finished and the fun can begin, because I really truly love the editing process.

5. What do you want to accomplish in your writing career?

I’d like to continue writing stories that children care about, that they share with their friends, that have some kind of impact on them. It would also be a dream to see one of my stories turned into something that can be watched on the TV.

6. Can you ever envisage not writing novels - running out of ideas or energy?

I hope not! But I’ve been working in publishing for long enough to know that every author experiences a dip now and then.

7. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Probably never to give up trying. I’ve always been lucky in that I got good grades at school, went to a great university and worked in a profession that I love. But getting my first book deal wasn’t easy. If I’d given up at the first hurdle, I wouldn’t be here today as a published author. I’d also tell myself that I’m more creative than I ever gave myself credit for as a kid.

8. Away from writing, what are your passions, and what do they mean to you?

My biggest passion is my family. I have a wonderful husband and two incredible children. Everything I do, I do for them, and they fill me with pride and joy every day. I do have a lot of hobbies as well, though. I’ve taken up playing the piano and saxophone again, and I enjoy exercise and the outdoors. Seeing friends also makes me very happy.

9. How would your best friend describe you?

I think they’d say that I’m optimistic. I’ve always been a glass half full person!

10. What’s a significant question to ask you, that no other interview has to date, and what’s the answer, only for New2theScene?

If you didn’t write, and didn’t work in publishing, what would you do?

I think I’d enjoy being a teacher. I spend a lot of time now going into primary schools and teaching creative writing. There’s something about working with children that gives me so much energy. I love how honest they are, how untethered their ideas are, how excited they are to learn and talk about new things. I really do get such a buzz from standing at the front of a classroom.

new2thescene says

Books by

Emma

Distributed by Gardeners

The Secret Jungle Hideaway: Playdate Adventures

Join Katy, Cassie, Zia and their new friend Luca on an amazing adventure as they work together to save the planet…

Katy has adopted a Sumatran tiger – the most endangered tiger in the world- and she’d love to go on an adventure to meet her. While on a playdate, Luca’s garden magically transforms into the Sumatran jungle. But no matter how hard they all look, there’s no sign of the tiger anywhere. As they navigate river rapids and have a close encounter with a venomous snake, Luca and the girls discover the threats to endangered species. Can the four friends and Thunder help find the last female Sumatran tiger?

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Distributed by Gardeners

The Midnight Moon Feast: Playdate Adventures

Join Katy, Cassie, Zia and Luca as they work together to save the planet! The friends are having a sleepover when they discover that the usually fearless Zia always sleeps with the light on. To help her, they plan their first ever magical midnight feast! Soon, they find themselves in a moonlit forest surrounded by nocturnal creatures. But something isn’t right – the animals don’t know if it’s night or day. The four friends and Thunder the cat race to the rescue. Can they save their sleepy forest friends before the clock strikes twelve?

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Distributed by Gardeners

The Honeybee Treasure Hunt: Playdate Adventures

Join Katy, Cassie, Zia and Luca on a series of amazing adventures as they work together to save the planet…

While eating delicious honey on toast in Zia’s garden, the friends decide to go on a hunt for a bees’ nest. They’d love to learn how honey is made and meet the queen bee herself.

Shrinking down to the size of insects, the group come face-to-face with giant garden creatures and learn just how dangerous the world can be – if you’re a bee. Could this miniature adventure turn out to be their biggest yet?

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Distributed by Gardeners

The Great Safari Rescue: Playdate Adventures

Join Katy, Cassie, Zia and their new friend Luca on a series of amazing adventures as they work together to save the planet…

When Cassie's cousin Luca joins the girls' school, they have the perfect idea to make him feel included: invite him to a magical playdate adventure. Together with Thunder the cat, they decide to go on a wild journey to the African savannah in their very own flying safari jeep.

But when they arrive, the animals are in a frenzy. The watering holes are drying up and soon there won’t be anything left for them to drink! Luca has an idea that might just save the day – but will the friends be able to pull it off?

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Distributed by Gardeners

The Giant Conker: Playdate Adventures

Join best friends Katy, Cassie and Zia on a series of amazing adventures as they work together to save the planet…

The friends’ latest adventure takes them to an enchanted forest where they set out in search of the biggest conker in the world. But all is not as it seems.

The trees around them are dying – and where are the animals? As they try to work out a way to help, the girls discover how vital trees are to all life on Earth.

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Distributed by Gardeners

The Magic Ocean Slide: Playdate Adventures

Join best friends Katy, Cassie and Zia on a series of amazing adventures as they work together to save the planet…

On the hottest day of the year, the friends imagine a water slide coming out of Katy’s bedroom window. As they plunge into an underwater world, they can’t wait to explore.

But when they meet a dolphin in distress, they realise the ocean is in big trouble. It’s so full of plastic that the sea creatures have been forced to flee their homes. Can the friends come up with a plan to put things right?

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Distributed by Gardeners

The North Pole Picnic: Playdate Adventures

Join best friends Katy, Cassie and Zia on a series of amazing adventures as they work together to save the planet…

Winter has arrived, and the girls decide to cosy up with a picnic in the North Pole. But to their surprise the Arctic Queen gives them a frosty reception.

Before they can enjoy snowflake-shaped sandwiches and mountains of ice cream, they must first understand how important it is to protect the polar animals’ habitat. But can they figure out how to stop the North Pole from melting?

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Distributed by Gardeners

The Wishing Star: Playdate Adventures

Join best friends Katy, Cassie and Zia on a series of amazing adventures as they work together to save the planet…

Katy, Cassie and Zia find themselves transported into outer space when their rocket made out of recycled waste magically becomes life-sized. With the help of Katy’s cat Thunder, the girls navigate their way to the Wishing Star.

But as they prepare to make their wishes, the friends see the destruction happening back home and realise they have a greater mission: TO SAVE PLANET EARTH.

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New2theScene

Emma Beswetherick

Emma Beswetherick

When they spoke to New2theScene

new2thescene says

Books by

Emma

The Secret Jungle Hideaway: Playdate Adventures

The Midnight Moon Feast: Playdate Adventures

The Honeybee Treasure Hunt: Playdate Adventures

The Great Safari Rescue: Playdate Adventures

The Giant Conker: Playdate Adventures

The Magic Ocean Slide: Playdate Adventures

The North Pole Picnic: Playdate Adventures

The Wishing Star: Playdate Adventures

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