We caught up with bestselling author Hannah Gold ahead of her appearance at Wealden Festival. Find out more about the event and book tickets here.
Thanks for having a chat with us, Hannah! Your books take young readers from the Arctic to the rainforest and introduce them to some unforgettable animals along the way. What first inspired you to start writing these kinds of eco-adventure stories?
I always wanted to be a children’s author, ever since I was little, and the books I loved most were always the ones filled with animals such as The Animals of Farthing Wood, Charlotte’s Web and Mrs Frisby & the Rats of NIMH. As an animal lover, those stories absolutely captured me. So when it came to writing my own books, I simply followed my heart.
The ecological themes were actually a byproduct rather than something I consciously set out to write about. But because my books focus on contemporary animals in realistic settings, it became impossible to write about a polar bear or a whale without also touching on the threats facing their natural habitats. Researching these books has taken me to some utterly beautiful parts of the world and has deepened my appreciation for the wildlife we share this planet with.
Do you have a favourite animal character you’ve written so far, or one you feel especially close to?
I think my favourite character has to be Bear, the majestic polar bear from The Last Bear! He was really the seed of it all. When I first decided to properly pursue my dream of becoming a writer, it was his face that popped into my imagination and simply refused to leave. He has always felt incredibly real and vital to me and has now appeared in four of my books – including the most recent World Book Day title – and it’s been such a joy to see children love him as fiercely as I do. Actually one of my favourite things about being a children’s author is turning up to a book signing or an event and seeing so many children who bring their own cuddly toy “Bear” to show me!
Your books encourage young readers to care about the planet without feeling overwhelmed by it. What small things do you think children can do to become ‘planet superheroes’ in everyday life?
I think it’s really important not to be too didactic in children’s books. My first and foremost goal is always that children simply enjoy the adventure. At a time when reading for pleasure is sadly declining, I want to give readers stories they can completely lose themselves in. If there’s a secondary message in my books, it should grow naturally from the story rather than feel shoehorned in. More than anything, I hope my books encourage children – and adults too – to notice, appreciate and fall in love with the natural world. Because once you love something, you’re far more likely to want to protect it.
What are you most looking forward to about appearing at the festival?
Wealden was actually the very first festival appearance I ever made as an author! It was back in 2021, less than six months after The Last Bear had been published, way before it went on to win the awards it later did. I remember arriving with very little clue what an author event actually involved and feeling very much like the nervous newbie trying to fit in. To come back five years later, after everything that’s happened since in my career, feels incredibly special. It’s a real full-circle moment and I’m so looking forward to returning.
