Q&A With Gavin Clifton
How does it feel to have books published in your name?
To now have two books published in my name is a dream come true. I've always wanted to be an author, and I've always wanted to write a Children's Book. Unfortunately, it has taken me some years to get around to doing so but now is the right time because of my age and life experience.
Do you plan to write any more books?
Yes, now that my first book 'Max And The Magic Wish' is now a bestseller and the fact I am now a 'BESTSELLING AUTHOR, which is something that hasn't entirely sunken into my head just yet. I most definitely want to write more books now that my second one 'Paddy The Polar Bear Teddy, has been published. I especially want to write more books about disability because if I can use my many life experiences to make a difference and show kids that they can achieve all the things they want in life, great! So there are most definitely more books on the way.
When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?
It was at Primary School. I just loved English lessons and coming up with quirky ideas and stories. At the same time, other things took over my life, being a typical teenager, but as I entered my thirties, my love for writing reignited. Resulting in me writing 'Max And The Magic Wish' and now 'Paddy The Polar Bear Teddy.
Where do you get your information or ideas from for your books?
I write about my personal experiences living with cerebral palsy in ' Max And The Magic Wish'. I always live my life to the best of my abilities, try to smash through barriers that get thrown in the way. Some say that I'm a little too determined for my good, but that's just the way I am. So if I can use this as a catalyst to show others with disabilities that if they put their mind to it, they can also achieve anything, I can hopefully encourage others to do the same and make a difference in other people's lives. When I'm writing my magical adventure books, I like to let my imagination run free and develop stories that take children to another place, different worlds, and planets. This is when I'm at my happiest.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
My life is writing, and when I'm not writing children's books, I'm collaborating on writing songs. I've been songwriting for quite some years.
Do you hear from your readers? What type of feedback do they give?
Yes, I love hearing from our readers. The feedback we've had about my first book, 'Max And The Magic Wish' and its illustrations, has been incredible, and people have been telling us how children have been engaging and asking questions whilst reading the book, which makes me so happy. So be sure to head over to Amazon and check out the amazon reviews people have written.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
As a child, I was always interested in Computer Technology. I've always wanted to work with computers in kind of a round-a-bout way. My interest in computers is still strong because I use my laptop to do my writing.
Which famous writers are you inspired by or appreciate the most?
David Walliams, I think we both have the same sense of humour. He's great.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Have a clear idea of what they want to write about it, make sure it's something they are passionate about, follow your heart and most definitely pitch your story and ideas to the likes of other authors, publishers and literary agents. You never know where this may end up leading you.
Apart from being a disability author, what other things are you involved in that advocate's disability?
I am a patron of Nathalene & Katie's Cerebral Palsy Foundation, a charity based in South Wales that makes and supplies disability aids and apparatus for disabled children. We are supporting them by donating a percentage of any Amazon book sales we get for 'Max And The Magic Wish' for the rest of 2021. I am also a disability blogger and write articles for the media advocating everything about and for all kinds of disabilities.