US TV hit show producer and author was in Formby… did you know?
Report by Jane Harrison and photos and audio by Patrick Trollope.

ON the 30 June 2011, at the Guild Hall in Formby, there was an exciting buzz starting to sound as I saw a crowd of excited school children flow in through the doors, all with expectant faces. As they all sat down in front of a projector screen, it wasn’t long before their voices were hushed as John Stephens (author of the new adventurous children’s book called:- ‘The Emerald Atlas’, took front stage. He stood there for a moment looking out at all the expectant eyes in the audience and then started a short story, about himself as a child, as he talked he gripped the audience with each word of his childhood past, of where his sister used to get him in trouble and he planted a dead snake under her pillow to get his own back. But in the end she was the one that needed him after she injured herself, as the story came to the end he asked all to raise hands if they thought the story he just told was non-fiction. Everyone suddenly started to consider whether it was true or not so as people hesitated there was a few hands that faltered on being raised. He then asked whether the audience thought it was fiction some more hands went up, he finally asked whether they thought it was partly true, more hands rose this time. John then went on to address the audience with the facts of the story he just told and the parts, as he put them that was not entirely true. After going through each part of the story and saying how the roles were actually switched between him and his sister; it was he that bullied her and himself that was injured at the end of the story and in need of his sisters company. And as for the snake, that was the one part of the story that was true. The audience laughed at how he had told the story and had not expected any of it to be untrue. I, myself, was so engrossed into the story that I did not think for one second it was fiction. John then explained that those are the most important aspects of any story, to be able to capture and hold attention He gave four key pointers on how to write a story, saying all you need is a start where you set the scene, a main character, a theme throughout the story and something that changes in the end of the story that you would never have thought would turn out that way in the beginning, a twist in the end that surprises you.

John Stephens then went on to read extracts out of his new book 'The Emerald Atlas'. Each extract he read made you imagine the characters and the scenes because of how descriptive he was in his writing Every section made you want to know what happened next. So as soon as he finished, you could hear everyone discussing the book and coming up with their own thoughts of what was going to happen next.

After pictures were taken of John and his fans he went on to sign books purchased and flyers for everyone, whilst answering all the questions that were lined up to be asked by budding writers or expectant readers.

Upon leaving the Guild Hall I felt a sense of overwhelming inspiration from a man who was so talented and who could capture an audience within seconds; a man who has written books that have been published in more than nine countries within the first few weeks of being released I could not pass on the opportunity to meet him when I first found out he was one of the script writers behind the hit shows such as the O.C, Gilmore Girls and Gossip girls. John Stephens is truly talented.

So do not miss the opportunity to read his newest book called, ‘The Emerald Atlas’, which you can purchase from us via our online section area, very soon and from Formby Books (Prichard’s Bookshop) as well as all main book sellers.

I’ve got my signed copy and can’t wait to get stuck in, as it’s for all ages to read not just children; I tip it as the next big thing to hit the screens in the near future. Also, we will have a review very soon.

Please click on the player below to hear our audio interview conducted by our editor, Patrick Trollope, who asked about the author and his background extra.  



Sorry for the Seagulls in the background.

DID YOU KNOW?

John Stephens best known for his work on hit US TV shows like Gossip Girl, The O.C. and Gilmore Girls.

He holds MFA in Creative Writing that he received in 1998 from the University of Virginia.

The book he was promoting at this event is called:- ‘The Emerald Atlas’ and it is his first novel.

Useful links about John Stephens:- Wikipedia | IMDB | DigitalSpy BOOK INFORMATION:- Hardback:- 432 pages Imprint:- Doubleday Children's Books; (14 April 2011) ISBN-13:- 9780857530189 Dimensions:- 24.0 x 16.2 x 3.9cmt BUY NOW