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Rob Stevens
is the Author of the Mapmaker's Monster series of children's fiction
books.
Not only is
Rob an author he is also an Airline Pilot!! So we needed to know
some more about him?
1) What inspired you to write a children's book?
About ten years ago I started writing humorous novels for adults but
after two books failed to find a publisher my agent suggested I try my
hand at children’s fiction. As
soon as I started browsing the Children’s titles in my local bookshop I
realized just how exciting and sophisticated kids’ fiction is these days
– I couldn’t wait to get started on my own children’s book. About six
months later I’d written the first book in my Mapmaker’s Monsters series
– Beware the Buffalogre.
2) Where did you get the idea for Vampanther Attack from?
Everyone loves a great vampire story so I decided to try writing my own
– but hopefully with an original twist.
‘Vampanther Attack’ sees Hugo travel to the snowy Alps
of Transylvania where he encounters a host of vampire creatures
including the most dangerous of them all – the Vampanther himself.
3) Who is your favourite character in Vampanther Attack?
I had great fun dreaming up the various vampire monsters Hugo battles in
the mountains – the Orangufang, the Fangaroos and the Vampanther, of
course.
But I think my favourite character of all is Crystal, the
fortune-telling cat who helps Hugo on his quest.
4) If you could have written any book (by another author)
what would it have been?
‘High Fidelity’ by Nick Hornby is an all-time favourite and was probably
the book that inspired me to try my hand at writing. More recently I was
absorbed by Cormack McCarthy’s moving depiction of a father’s love for
his son in ‘The Road’.
 But
as a children’s author I wish I could achieve the combination of
mystery, humour and excitement of Louis Sachar’s ‘Holes’.
5) What's the best thing about being a pilot?
There are so many great aspects of being a pilot. I love
travelling to countless countries and sampling a huge variety of sights
and cultures.
It’s always a pleasure to fly into Heathrow because the
approach path takes you right over London’s most famous sights from the
London Eye to Buckingham Palace – fabulous views.
The best part, though, has to be the thrill of sitting at
the controls of huge jet airliner as it soars into the air. It’s a
childhood dream
come true!The
Mapmakers Monsters:
Beware the Buffalogre and Vampanther Attack by Rob
Stevens
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