CBBC
CBBC Newsround
Jacqueline Wilson
Jacqueline Wilson answers YOUR questions
Children's author Jacqueline Wilson has a new book called Hetty Feather coming out.
The book takes you on a journey with Hetty from her life with a foster family in the countryside and back to the Foundling Hospital where she was left as a baby, in search of her real mother.
We caught up with Jacqueline at the Foundling Museum in London where she answered your questions. But first she explained why she set the book in a foundling hospital in Victorian times.
The Foundling Museum in London is my favourite museum and it's been inspirational for me because I've just written a book about a Victorian foundling child called Hetty Feather.
As I wandered around the museum I couldn't help wondering what on earth it was like to be a foundling. Your mum would hand you in when you were a baby and then you'd never see her again. You'd be fostered out into the country for a while, but then by the time it was your fifth or sixth birthday, you were brought up in this institution.
You had to wear this very strange uniform and obey all the rules, and although they fed the children well and gave them a good education, they were so rigid and so strict!
So I invented a very fierce and feisty little girl who would fight back against all the rules and be very rude and cheeky to the matron and be absolutely determined she would get out of the foundling hospital one day and find her mother.
Why did you set your new book in the Victorian times? - Rachel, 10, from Wokingham
I decided that it would be interesting to write about a Victorian child. I've always loved the Victorians and I wanted to show children that Victorian children weren't that different from children today.
They worried about things, they laughed about silly things, they were just the same inside. But I also think some of the differences are quite interesting.
For instance, if Hetty or any of her friends were naughty, they could get whipped. Or if they were tremendously bad they could get locked in a cupboard. I don't think even the naughtiest child now has to have that happen to them.
Did you do a lot of research to write an historical novel? - Iris, 12, from Bristol
I didn't want to get my facts wrong and I found it so interesting reading lots of books actually set in Victorian times.
I didn't just read history books but I read Victorian children's books. And I actually went to the British Library and looked up other books you can't easily get hold of, and found accounts of real children who had been brought up in the Foundling Hospital.
Did you have any other jobs before becoming a writer? - Rebecca, 8, Walkington
I've only ever be a writer. I was lucky enough to get a job as a very junior journalist when I left school, and by the time I was 22 I published my first novel. I've been writing ever since.
What does it feel like to know you're a best-selling author? - Stephanie, 12, Leigh-on-sea
I don't really think when I wake up in the morning: "Oooh I'm a best selling author!".
I might think about my work, and I might think: "Oh golly I'm stuck in chapter four and what am I going to do now". Or: "Oh dear, the girl in my current book needs to know a lot about whales and I must bone up on my research in whales".
There's all sorts of different worries that go round my head, but I never think: "Oh lucky me I'm a best selling author!". I do very occasionally when I meet lots of children and they say lovely things to me and then it makes it all worthwhile.
What do you do when you get writer's block? - Welwyn Garden City
I try to tell myself very fiercely that there isn't really any such thing as writer's block. It's usually because I feel lazy, tired or I want to do something else.
So I tell myself: "Just carry on writing to the end of the page". Even if it's not very sensible things, you can always go back and change it.
So I carry on writing to the end of the page and by that time hopefully I've got into the story again, and I turn the page and turn the page and write more and more. It works for me.
You write about unfortunate girls. Have you been in those situations? - Matthew, 7, from Worksop
People often think I base my stories on my own personal experience. And when you think of all the really sad things that happen in my books, I would have had the most terrible childhood ever.
Actually I had a reasonably ordinary childhood. I just have a vivid imagination and I like making things up.
Why is Tracy Beaker an orphan and not a glamorous girl living with her mum? Georgette, 9 from Tamworth
Tracy isn't actually an orphan because, well, we never find out about her dad. We know she has a mum, it's just she doesn't want to come and see her.
I think it makes her a more interesting person knowing she's stuck in a children's home, or experiencing what it's like to be fostered when it isn't quite working out.
If Tracy was a life of glamour with her mum, then once we knew what clothes she wears or what sort of toys she has, we'd get a bit fed up with it. I like to have a story with a bit of conflict and a bit of excitement to it.
However I have written a book coming out in 2010 about some very rich celebrity children. This might be just up your street.
Do you write your stories as you go along, or plan them out first? - Claire, 13, from Notts
Teachers often tell you to plan out your stories very carefully and I can see this works for a school essay. But I think it's incredibly boring to plan everything out, because you've gone off the idea before you even get started.
I have a very vague idea in my head and I do play around with the characters. But when I start I don't know what's going to happen, even in the next chapter. And if I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next to the characters, I know my readers will be too.
What advice would you give to wannabe authors? - Vanessa, 10, from Rochdale
I think it's wonderful that so many children want to be authors nowadays. I always tell potential writers to read lots. Not to pinch other people's ideas, but because the more you read the more it enriches your own imagination.
And sometimes it's a good idea to keep a diary because it keeps you in the habit of writing a little bit each day.
Why do you wear so many rings? - Mollie, 12, from the Isle of Wight
Lots of people ask me why I wear all these great big rings and the easy answer is that I just like them!
When I was little I didn't have any jewellery. When I first started to earn money, as soon as the bills were paid, I just spent my money on two things. One was books and the other was jewellery.
And now I'm sort of well known for my great big silver rings and all my bangles and I just love them. So every now and then I take myself off to my favourite jewellery shop and treat myself.
I've heard you buy a new ring every time a book is published - is this true? - Eva, 12, from Bangor
I used to buy a ring for every book I got published, but bearing in mind I have two books published every year I was starting to run out of fingers quite quickly!
How many books have you had published? - Amelia, 11, Colyton
I know I've had more than 90 books published. It's edging towards 100 now but I'm not entirely sure, I've lost count.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer? - Amal, 12, from Ilford
I don't think any one particular person inspired me to be a writer, I just love reading. Right from when I was about six I knew I wanted to try to write my own books.
Who is your favourite character from your stories? - Emily, 9 from Hertford
I have two favourite characters. My favourite girl character is Tracey Beaker inevitably, and my favourite boy character is Biscuits. I've written about him three times and he's such a cheery sweetheart. I wish I could have Biscuits as my friend.
How old were you when you wrote your first book? - Emma, 8 from Bedale
I wrote this thing I called a book when I was nine-years-old but it was only about 14 pages long. I suppose I was writing serious full length work by the time I was 17 or 18, but I had to have several goes before I eventually had a book published when I was about 23.
What do you like about writing children's books? - Hannah, 9 , from Coleraine
I like writing children's books because you can be totally direct because that's the way children see life. You can be funny and as long as you're reasonably sensitive you can write about any subject you want.
Lots of people have asked me if I'm going to start writing for adults but I'm not. I'm going to stick to writing books for children and teenagers.
Which of the books you have written is your favourite? - Charlotte, 10, from Antrim
It's very difficult to choose a favourite. Up until now I would always choose the Illustrated Mum, but now I think Hetty Feather has taken over, so she's my favourite.
Thank you very much for all your questions.
Jacqueline Wilson
Find out how much you know about the famous writer! StartHetty Feather Review: Jacqueline Wilson's new book
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