Benches and books have things in common beyond the fact that they're generally to do with sitting. Both are forms of public privacy, intimate spaces widely shared. Mal Peet benchbookcommon Change image and share on social
I was a bit odd. I read books and wanted to draw and go to art school. Mal Peet artbitebook Change image and share on social
I feel able to steal from Emily Dickinson because she's both wonderful and dead. Mal Peet deaddickinsonemily Change image and share on social
I never knew that Americans would take up soccer, and it's a gender-free sport in high school there. Mal Peet americanfreegender Change image and share on social
'Keeper' is about fathers, ultimately. and also conservation, commitment and ambition. Mal Peet ambitioncommitmentconservation Change image and share on social
I'm not a great reader of historical fiction; it's not my favourite genre. Mal Peet favouritefictiongenre Change image and share on social
It's extremely difficult to describe interestingly what happens on the pitch. Thousands of journalists write millions of words every week trying to do it, so your chances of avoiding cliche are very slim. And you're trying to write fiction, not a match report. Mal Peet avoidchancecliche share on social
I'm not sure that when I read 'Treasure Island' for the first time, when I was about 10, I understood all the words or what was going on. But that didn't stop me reading it, and I certainly didn't forget it. Mal Peet forgetislandread share on social
I was taking my first uncertain steps towards writing for children when my own were young. Reading aloud to them taught me a great deal when I had a great deal to learn. It taught me elementary things about rhythm and pace, the necessary musicality of text. Mal Peet aloudchilddeal share on social
Normally, I'm a grumpy old man - whenever I read about celebrity, I start to grind my teeth and pull my hair; it seems synonymous with idiocy. Mal Peet celebritygrindgrumpy Change image and share on social
