Martin Waddell

Martin Waddell
Martin Waddell
Born Belfast, Northern Ireland
Occupation Writer
Nationality Irish
Genres Children's literature
Notable award(s)

Hans Christian Andersen Award

Smarties Prize

Martin Waddell[1] (born 1941 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a prolific, award winning [2] children's author. He has lived most of his life in Newcastle, County Down and is most famous for his engaging Big Bear, Little Bear and Little Dracula series.

Early life and career

As a child, Waddell was often told stories in a lively manner. This inspired him and "the love of story" stuck with Waddell ever since. He aspired at a young age to be a football player and signed for Fulham FC youth team - Waddell reflects that he scored a hat-trick on his debut in adult football but wound up as a goalkeeper.

When it became clear to him that his future did not lie as a professional footballer, Waddell turned to his other love and began to write (he would later combine the two in the Napper series of football-centred children's books). Originally writing for adults, his first real success was a comic thriller "Otley", which was made into a film starring Tom Courtney and Romy Schneider. After moving back to Northern Ireland in the late sixties he wrote books that reflected on the changing situation in his native land. Soon his love of storytelling would pull him into the medium of children's literature.

In 1972 he went into a church to stop some vandals and got caught up in an explosion in Donaghadee, Co Down - an experience that took him some years to ovecome. As an author, nearly all of Waddell's stories are inspired by events and/or places in his life at the foot of the Mourne Mountains.[3] As he humorously claimed, "I’ve been blown up, buried alive and had cancer as an adult, and survived all these experiences, so I’m a very lucky man."

In 2004, Waddell was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Children's Literature

References

  1. ^ He also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton.
  2. ^ He has won "The Smarties Prize" twice for Farmer Duck and Can't you sleep, Little Bear?
  3. ^ Martin Waddell Walker.co.uk. Retrieved on 2-21-09.
  • Waddell, M The Alan Review "Writer to Reader" Vol. 26, No. 3 (Spring 1999)

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Martin Waddell — (* 10. April 1941 in Belfast), der auch unter dem Pseudonym Catherine Sefton veröffentlicht, ist ein nordirischer Schriftsteller. Waddell ist verheiratet und lebt im nordirischen Newcastle. Werke Ich will meine Mami! (ISBN 3 7941 4125 3) Kannst… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Martin Waddell — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Waddell. Martin Waddell (10 avril 1941 à Belfast) est un auteur britannique de livres pour enfants. Surtout célèbre pour sa série Petit ours. Œuvres La série Petit ours avec illustration de Barbara Firth Rentrons …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Waddell — may refer to:People*Alan Waddell, a legendary Australian walking enthusiast *Alfred Moore Waddell (1834 1912), American politician *Angus Waddell (born 1964), Australian swimmer *Avery Waddell, American actor *Cheryl Boyd Waddell (? 2002),… …   Wikipedia

  • Waddell — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Chrysogonus Waddell (1930 2008), US amerikanischer Mönch und Theologe Don Waddell (* 1958), US amerikanischer Eishockeyspieler, trainer und funktionär Helen Waddell (1889–1965) nordirische Schriftstellerin …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Waddell — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Le nom de Waddell est porté par plusieurs personnalités (par ordre alphabétique) : Cosslett Herbert Waddell (1858 1919), prêtre et botaniste… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Martin Whitely — Incumbent Assumed office 10 February 2001 Preceded by Clive Brown Constituency Bassendean …   Wikipedia

  • Martín Dihigo — Pitcher/Second baseman Born: May 25, 1906(1906 05 25)[1] Matanzas …   Wikipedia

  • M. S. Waddell — Martin Waddell (* 10. April 1941 in Belfast), der auch unter dem Pseudonym Catherine Sefton veröffentlicht, ist ein britischer Schriftsteller. Waddell ist verheiratet und lebt im nordirischen Newcastle. Werke Ich will meine Mami! (ISBN 3 7941… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Martin Creek — This article is about the Bear Creek that flows into San Francisquito Creek in the San Francisco Bay Area. For other Bear Creeks in California, see Bear Creek (California). Coordinates: 37°24′36″N 122°14′18″W /  …   Wikipedia

  • Martin ministry (1870–1872) — The Martin ministry (1870–1872) or Third Martin ministry was the thirteen ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and the third and final occasion of being led by the Premier, the Honourable Sir James Martin, KCB, QC. Colony of New South Wales …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”