Authors [ F ]
Lorraine Francis,
Author of A Giant Never Dies
I was born in Athlone, Co Westmeath on 5th November 1958. After leaving school in June 1976 I attended the National College of Art and Design in Kildare Street, Dublin. I left it in 1978 and spent the next two years travelling and working in Europe.
When I returned to Ireland in 1980, I began working as a Library Assistant in Roscommon County Library. I took a career break in 1984 and went to New York for a year where I worked as a waitress, and a dog walker (Canine Ambulator?) to the East Side’s pampered pooches. Back in Ireland I continued working as a Library Assistant until becoming a fulltime mother to my first son, Graham, in 1989, and David in 1992.
One of the highlights of being a parent is getting the chance to read wonderful stories to your children. Even though I had developed an interest in Children’s Literature while working in libraries this probably acted as a catalyst and in 1998 I wrote my first story, ‘Lulu’s Tutu’ and sent it to Poolbeg Press. To my surprise and delight, they accepted it and I’ve been writing ever since.
My only regret is that I didn’t start doing it earlier instead of ‘gallivanting around the world’ as my long-suffering mother used to say when she’d see me packing my rucksack again! Still, it’s said there’s a story in everything, and those New York dogs might be surprised to see themselves immortalised in print some day.
One of the perks of being a children’s writer is getting the chance to visit schools and bookshops to meet your readers, a very discerning bunch who will tell you exactly what they think of your stories – I always come away feeling inspired, encouraged and, above all, very privileged to be doing something that I enjoy so much and that others seem to appreciate. When I’m not writing, I work part-time in Athlone Library as Branch Librarian.
Books
A Giant Never Dies ,
ISBN: 184-223-062-X PRICE: €4.99 Pub. Date: April 2002
“This book really shines” Books Ireland on Save Our Sweetshop
Pandora is so bored with school lunches!
Then her Aunt Narcissa (who only wears black and has a black cat) sends her a magic lunch box,
always full of the most scrumptious, galumptious, tasty treats!
“Hmmmm,” says Pandora’s Mum. “The trouble with your aunt’s schemes is that they get a bit
muddled sometimes . . . “
Then “four and twenty blackbirds” come flying out of the box and Pandora finds herself in big trouble!
