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Attie Lime - Children's Poet and Author

  • Writer: litkidsmagazine
    litkidsmagazine
  • 6 days ago
  • 4 min read

Attie performs at festivals, and visits schools to spread the joy of poetry. She enjoys sharing poems that children can join in with, and making up nonsense words. Attie’s debut collection for children, Blue Jelly and Strawberries, Poems to Tickle Your Tastebuds, is out now with Otter-Barry Books.


1. What inspires you? 

I'm inspired by all sorts of things. Often a phrase that pops into my head will become a poem, or a beat or rhythm stays with me and eventually grows words and turns into a poem! My children inspire me, especially my lively 7-year-old! There are several poems in Blue Jelly and Strawberries which have connections to my children, and the phrase 'snow throwballs' in the poem Snow Exciting was exactly what my youngest said, in the excitement of the moment, when the snow came!


2. How do you get over 'Writer's Block'? 

I don't like to call it writer's block; even a doodle or making some notes, can be part of writing. Staring out of the window can be incredibly productive — a spot of daydreaming is what we all need, sometimes. Even if actual words in ink aren't flowing from my pen, there is usually something creative ticking over in my brain, even if it doesn't feel like much at the time. If I really need to write poems, for a submission or as part of a book manuscript, and they just aren't happening, that can be more difficult. It's most tricky sitting at a desk with a blank page or an open laptop, waiting expectantly. A walk or some fresh air usually helps, but for me, the absolute best way to get my writing mojo back is to read good poetry by other poets. I have a large collection of children's poetry books, and love to find poems I haven't read before, or rediscover some favourites. The taste, musicality, mood, and creativity of a good poem gets me fired up to write my own! 


3. Do you play music while you write?

It's a dull answer — no — but the reason is perhaps more interesting! Because so much of what I write is rhyming, or at least rhythmical, the music of poetry is already happening in my head. When I first started writing poetry for children, my youngest was still watching TV aimed at under-5s, which often has awfully repetitive and catchy music. I found it almost impossible to write with that kind of background music, especially, although sometimes ideas would come from the content of the programmes!


4. How do you come up with titles for your books?

Both my homemade mini collection and my newly published collection have foodie names! And yet, I have never eaten cornflakes and gravy or blue jelly and strawberries... Both titles came from lines of poetry within the books, which is a common way to choose the title of a children's poetry collection. I tell children that when they read a collection by a single poet, to see if they can find the title 'hidden' in a poem inside!


5. Share something about yourself that readers don't know yet...

The names of my three children are within the poems in Blue Jelly and Strawberries (and I didn't tell them until it was published)!


6. Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?

I am very much a fan of printed books. This is particularly true of poetry books, which I like to keep and go back to again and again. Children's poetry books are colourful, with appealing covers, and I love having them around the house. I read printed novels then pass them on to my mum (she is 87 and only reads books with no technology involved). Recently I was asked to read a book that a friend had written, which wasn't yet published, and there were just too many pages to print out, so I read it on screen. It meant that I had to avoid reading in the bath (my main reading-place!), but I did secretly like being able to make the text larger when my eyes were tired! I don't listen to audio books as they just don't fit in with my lifestyle, but I enjoy listening to children's poetry CDs in the car (my car is quite low-tech).


7. Does anyone in your family read your books?

My 7 y/o is in the target age-range for 'Blue Jelly' and has read it several times! He enjoys the fact that his friends know that I'm an author, and there's a copy in his classroom, thanks to his teacher! My husband has read most of the poems, and has his own copy (which he asked me to sign), and my two teenage sons also asked for their own signed copies. My mum has her copy on the mantelpiece. It feels lovely. The cat hasn't asked me for a copy, yet...


8. If you had to describe yourself in just three words, what would those be?

Creative. Kind. Untidy.


Attie, thank you for the peek into your routine as a children's poet! Please check out Attie's first solo collection of children's poems, Blue Jelly and Strawberries, in our Bookshop and follow her on social media. As always, keep shining!







 
 
 

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