Words and Pictures with Hannah Gold
Finding success later in life, trusting your instincts and what to do when writing feels lonely
This week we’re joined by award winning author Hannah Gold. We asked her about her whirlwind journey to publication, how she creatively recharges, her writing routine and advice for aspiring authors.
Hannah lives in Lincolnshire with her tortoise and her husband and is passionate about writing stories which share her love of the planet.
Her internationally bestselling debut, THE LAST BEAR won The Blue Peter Book Award & the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2022 and has been translated into 27 languages around the world.
THE LOST WHALE won the Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year. FINDING BEAR - a sequel to THE LAST BEAR - was a top five children’s hardback bestseller and TURTLE MOON, is shortlisted for the FCBG Book Awards & The Week Junior Awards.
THE LONE HUSKY, Hannah’s brand new book, is due for release on Oct 23rd this year.
Why are words and pictures important to you?
Working with my long-term illustrator, Levi Pinfold has been the most incredible experience – the first time I saw the cover for The Last Bear I just could not staring at it. In fact, each time I see a new cover from him or see the final proofs of the interior art, I am continually blown away, as are the children!
His illustrations help bring my text to life in ways I never could have imagined and it elevates my writing to a whole new level.
Pictures carry emotional punch. There’s a picture of April and Bear reuniting in Finding Bear that really does say a thousand words and because my books are always set in beautiful faraway places, they help transport the reader there visually.
This partnership between writer and illustrator is vital - young readers can get lost in the beautiful illustrations while building their reading confidence with the words. When you get the pairing right, it’s magic.
How did you go from having an idea for a story to getting your first book published?
It was a journey! I'd wanted to be a children’s author for years but had never given it a go, instead focussing my energies on YA and not really getting anywhere. Then in my early forties - when I thought my writing dreams were pretty much dead and buried – I decided it was now or never.
I had an idea for a child/animal friendship, since this was the kind of story I loved best, then wrote The Last Bear in a very short space of time. When I wrote it, I knew it was special – that it had something. And I don’t say that to be arrogant, but just to acknowledge our own instincts.
Luckily, my dream agent, Claire Wilson, had the same instincts as me and she offered representation – still one of the greatest days of my life! Then very quickly, we went on sub. The book ended up going to auction, which was the total dream and quite surreal.
I signed with HarperCollins Children’s Books less than one year after first starting the book. Very quickly after that, The Last Bear was published. So, I always say twenty-odd years of dreaming, and then a completely whirlwind where everything came true all at once!
You studied screenwriting at university and previously worked in the theatre and film industries. Did those experiences help you when you started writing children's books and if so, how?
Absolutely! It allows me to see the book visually and picture it on the big screen. I think this gives me the confidence not to fill the page too much and let the story breathe. It also helps with plot points, keeping the pace snappy and making everything feel cinematic.
I visualise my stories on screen and think to myself - would this work as a film? It's like having this extra filter for testing whether scenes really sing.
Is writing your full-time job? Has it always been your full-time job or have you done any other work alongside it?
I'm incredibly lucky to call it my full-time job now, but it hasn't always been this way. I was an aspiring author for a very long time, juggling different jobs, struggling to make ends meet and doubtful I could ever make my dream a reality.
I do feel having success later in life gives me empathy to slightly older authors, particularly female ones who struggle with confidence and who are still looking for their own breakthrough. All I can say is to keep going and to try and believe in yourself. Sometimes the greatest act of courage is just having the guts to go for your dream and do it your way.
In 2022 your debut children's book The Last Bear won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and Blue Peter Award. Do you think winning such prestigious awards made a difference to your writing career and if so, how?
It opened doors - festivals, opportunities, foreign rights, school visits, the works. But also, and perhaps more significantly, it gave me a deep sense of fulfilment.
I always believed I had this potential but I'd never proven it to myself - at least not in external recognition anyway. So in a way, it felt like I’d stepped into a version of myself that had been waiting for me all along.
Your books all have an environmental theme, is this something you're particularly passionate about?
Ironically, I never set out to write about climate change! Being a huge animal lover, I was much more interested in that magical child-animal bond.
However, I soon realised I couldn't write a contemporary story about polar bears or whales without talking about the very real threats they're facing.
But I do absolutely love nature and feel deeply passionate about looking after our animals and wild places.
Do you have a writing routine? If so, can you tell us about it?
If I am drafting, then I try to write something every single day, weekends excluded. For The Lone Husky, my new book, I was on a very tight schedule, so I wrote a minimum of 1,000 words a day, otherwise I would miss my deadline.
For edits, I go through the book chronologically and see each edit as a layering in process. I actually prefer editing to drafting as I find it less daunting than gazing at the blank page. (I am more of a pantser than a plotter.)
I always work in the mornings, with nature music playing in the background and a cup of tea to hand.
I am on a book a year contract. I suspect past me never could have imagined I would be able to commit to such a schedule, but the more books you write, it does get easier.
You trust yourself more, you trust your ability to be able to create consistently and you settle into the rhythm of it all. Although, admittedly, it does help that I don’t have many other commitments at the moment!
What do you do to creatively recharge?
I love plugging into nature, getting away from screens, doing something completely un-writerly! Playing pickleball, hanging out with mates, reading brilliant books, binge-watching comedy series. I also meditate to calm my mind as I can fall into anxiety loops quite easily.
I'm a massive believer in creative resets not just for your writing, but for your soul too. You can always tell when your creative well has run dry so it’s crucial to keep it topped up.
What is your favourite part of being an author? And what do you find hardest about it?
Best bit? Meeting young readers and seeing their faces light up! When a child tells me that they've read my book ten times - that's pure magic. Hardest part is definitely the uncertainty. You never know if your next book will connect the same way, and writing can feel pretty lonely sometimes.
Can you tell us what you're working on now?
Right now, I'm doing the final polish on The Lone Husky before it goes off to copy-edits – it publishes in October. I'm also wrestling with the Author's Note and the acknowledgements. Then I've got a top secret project to finish before diving straight into the next middle-grade.
Can you give us any insights into how you promote yourself and your work?
Social media's been great for connecting with readers, teachers, and parents. I've got a sales background, and even though self-promotion used to make me squirm, I've realised it's not just necessary – it can be quite fun. The secret is staying authentic.
I admit to my frailties and wobbles rather than pretending everything's perfect. People want to see more than just your writing - I share the messy behind-the-scenes stuff, research adventures, genuine enthusiasm for reading. It's all about proper engagement, getting to know the people chatting with you. Building real relationships, basically.
School, bookshop and festival visits are also incredible for making lasting connections, and I love championing other authors too. We're all in this together, trying to get brilliant books into children's hands and encourage a love of reading.
What advice would you give someone who wants to get published?
Read absolutely everything in your genre, write regularly even when it feels rubbish, and don't give up too early! Rejection's just part of the game.
Find your writing tribe, whether online or in real life, because other writers get this journey like nobody else. And most importantly - write the book only YOU can write. Trust your instincts and stay true to you.
A huge thank you to Hannah for answering all of our questions. You can find out more about Hannah and her books on her website and Instagram.
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