Who says children don’t read books any more? Author Jacqueline Wilson’s phenomenally successful books are still read and loved by millions – and being adapted for the screen and stage.

What inspired you to write Hetty Feather?

I became involved with the Foundling Museum in London and the director asked me if I’d like to write a story about a foundling child. I thought this was a brilliant idea!

Hetty Feather is now a hit West End show and has been adapted for CBBC – did you envisage how successful it was going to be when you were writing it?

I never dreamt that Hetty would be a big success. I just knew I had to write her story. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed writing a novel so much. I didn’t even think about the possibility of adaptations. The stage version of Hetty is quite magical – and I’m loving watching the television series too. This is definitely a very special Hetty year.

Why do you think your audience has responded so well to Hetty?

I think it’s because it’s such an emotional story – you laugh, you cry and get totally involved. The stage show also uses circus tricks and aerial skills, which brings a whole new dimension. The first time I saw the show I was blown away.

You’re prolific to say the least having written 103 books. How do you come up with the ideas?

I meet many children at events and receive hundreds of letters and emails, so I hope I keep in touch. I’m still getting lots of ideas for future books. I’ve always tried to make my stories immediately involving, with interesting lively characters – and it helps that my books look so colourful and attractive with Nick Sharratt’s distinctive illustrations.

You’ve published three books in the last year – The Butterfly Club, Katy and Little Stars. Tell us about them.

The Butterfly Club is about seven-year-old triplets. It’s a story about starting in the juniors, learning to stand on your own two feet and making friends with your No.1 enemy. You also learn quite a lot about butterflies! Katy is a modern reworking of the Victorian classic What Katy Did and my Katy is a naughty tomboy, an imaginative and impulsive heroine. She has a terrible accident, just like the Katy in the original book, but then I try to show what it’s really like to have a serious spinal injury. There isn’t a fairy tale solution for my Katy – but I promise the book has a happy ending. Little Stars is the fifth book about Hetty Feather. She is now 16 and a music hall star with her younger friend Diamond. We meet up with many characters from the previous books – and Hetty becomes romantically involved!

Your books are usually set in the present, but in Opal Plumstead, published last year, you wrote about a 14-year-old factory worker involved in the suffragette movement just before the First World War. Why did you pick a different time period?

I thought they were interesting times – and I wanted to show modern girls that they’re lucky to have a good education and the chance to vote. The story has a bitter-sweet ending, but it’s shown a lot of my readers that the war had a devastating effect on families.

What else do you have coming up?

I shall be very happily going to many performances of Hetty Feather on the stage! I’ll also be going to the set of the television Hetty Feather to meet the cast filming the second series. I’m also a patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home so I’ll be working with their lovely team, even judging doggy fancy dress on special fun days. Plus of course I’ll be answering all my letters and emails... and hopefully starting a brand new novel!

THE SHOW

Jacqueline Wilson is one of the UK’s most popular authors – she’s sold more than 38m books.

She introduced the world to The Story of Tracy Beaker in 1991, which became an award-winning CBBC series, the Story of Tracy Beaker and Tracy Beaker Returns.
In her stories, Jacqueline covers some tough topics in ways children can relate to including divorce, adoption and mental illness.

The stage adaptation of her 2009 story Hetty Feather has been put together with scriptwriter Emma Reaves, who worked on Tracy Beaker.

Directed by Sally Cookson, it tells the story of Hetty as she escapes from the Foundling Hospital, looking for her real mother and a family of her own.

Phoebe Thomas stars at Hetty. She is best known for playing nurse Maria Kendall in the BBC medical drama Holby City.

THE DETAILS

The stage show of Hetty Feather will be at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford, from Wednesday, March 23, to Sunday, March 27. For tickets from £15 call 01322 220000 or visit orchardtheatre.co.uk