Strictly no pink
17/04/07 Filed in: originals
Late night BBC2 programme Return of the Hero about the reinvention of the adventure-book in the 21st century and how 'books for boys' are best-sellers again. The posh boys interviewed belong to a strange middle-class breed - distinguishing features include huge floppy hair and weird ears.
Interesting that the best/most appealing character in a book for boys is one who is an orphan. The formula for creating a good character:
1 you kill off the parents
2 then put the hero's life in danger
3 and send them on a mission
Don't think this genre should just be boys' own. My girl hero is called Alex. Strictly no pink or mauve, and has never dressed up in a fairy or princess costume. She's a shamanic shape/time-shifter, can become animal, vegetable or mineral. Lord Lipson thinks her familiar is called Black Raven.
Interesting that the best/most appealing character in a book for boys is one who is an orphan. The formula for creating a good character:
1 you kill off the parents
2 then put the hero's life in danger
3 and send them on a mission
Don't think this genre should just be boys' own. My girl hero is called Alex. Strictly no pink or mauve, and has never dressed up in a fairy or princess costume. She's a shamanic shape/time-shifter, can become animal, vegetable or mineral. Lord Lipson thinks her familiar is called Black Raven.