Northern Highlights - Julian Beresford

NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

Julian Beresford 




Where do you live, and how would you sum up the place in three words

I live in south Yorkshire, Doncaster, Newfound city status


What is special to you about creating children's books, and what is your favourite part of the process?

What’s special to me about creating children's books is the ability to tell stories that I would have loved to read as a kid and reflect the world I grew up in. My favourite part of the process is character creation and world-building, designing the look and style of the characters and the setting of the worlds they dwell in.


Tell us about your upcoming/most recent book

Having recently illustrated the Gadgeteers for the Summer Reading Challenge, I am also currently illustrating a fantastical picture book with Hachette, Title and publishing date to be announced.



Gadgeteers, The Reading Agency


If you could be transported to anywhere in the North/Scotland right now, where would it be?

St Kilda, part of the outer Hebrides of Scotland would be a cool and unique place in the north to visit.


What literary events have you attended or been involved with recently (in the North/Scotland)?

The last events I went to was before Covid lockdowns, one was the Northern Writers’ Awards: Hachette Writing for Children Roadshow and the other was with Booktrust shadowing Author-illustrator Yasmeen Ismail around schools in Leeds.


What advice would you give to aspiring writers/illustrators/publishers in the North/Scotland?

This goes for writers and illustrators, to try to expand their “imagination/research bank” by experiencing as much as possible outside your norm; which will allow you to infuse your stories and illustrations with the diversity of reality even if you are creating something fantastical.

Who for you are the great Northern/Scottish children's writers/illustrators?

Ross Welford is a great northern writer his Middle-grade book the 1000-year-old boy is a great read and as for an illustrator/ artist, it would be Leonora Carrington; her surrealist fantastical work is amazing!

What's next on your TBR pile by a Northern/Scottish creative?

As I'm currently writing a middle-grade book full of hijinks, I was recently recommended I Never Liked Wednesdays by Roger McGough so looking forward to reading that.





Twitter: @jgberes
Instagram: @jbfantasticalemporium

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