Renata Piątkowska, author of many books for children, talks about writing books, reading from childhood, love for horses and ways to relax.

She already knew that she would become a writer when she started to write the first sentences on her own, "Ala ma Asa". Books were important to her and captured her imagination already in her childhood. - Of all the books of my childhood, I remember the Moomin adventures best. I loved little Mi, Migotka and Włóczykij and I knew these stories almost by heart. I have such an old edition of this book and I still read it today - sayswriter Renata Piątkowska . - I also liked everything that came out of Astrid Lindgren's pen. From the very first sentence, I loved this little adventurer Pippi Langstrumpf and I wanted to be, if a bit like her. My children also listened to these stories before going to sleep. Then, with time, they themselves reached for Plastuś, Winnie the Pooh or Mikołaj.

With a head full of crazy ideas

So far, she has published 18 books, all of them are very popular among the youngest readers. Many have received awards, incl. awarded by the ABC XXI Foundation - "Cała Polska reads to children" in the literary competition Astrid Lindgren for a contemporary book for children and teenagers in the category of books up to 6 years (for the collection of short stories en titled "There is a way for everything"). - Among my books I do not have a favorite one. It always seems to me that the one I am writing at the moment is the best, the most important. And when it is ready and stands on the shelf, I think that the next one, which I am about to write, will be better - says Renata Piątkowska. - I prefer to describe ordinary, everyday situations that happen here and now. My heroes are actually ordinary children, only with a great sense of humor and a head full of crazy ideas. I want to show that you don't have to fly into space with a rocket to have a fun adventure. And the world seen through the eyes of a child is amazing in itself. Although, of course, a pinch of magic will not stop you. Hence the unusual candies in the book "Candies", the fairy in "Lemonade Tooth, or the strange violin in" Adventure has a blue color ".

Bedtime story will not replace a fairy tale read by mom

The writer knows the world of children perfectly well, because she herself is a mother of two children, now teenagers - Kacper and Marta - but it would be difficult in my booksfind faithfully quoted stories from the lives of my children. But I was definitely looking for inspiration watching them play with their peers, listening to what they were talking about, what they were arguing about and how they agreed. Undoubtedly, they were the inspiration for my stories, especially the series about Tomek - she says. The writer often meets with readers, she is invited to kindergartens and schools for her own meetings. He talks with children, not only about the heroes of his works, but also about everyday, ordinary matters that are important for the youngest. - We are growing a generation of children who switch around with the names of computer games and the names of cartoon characters, children with headphones in their ear and a mobile phone in their pocket . A sign of the times, one might say. But I know perfectly well that despite this, they are waiting for the moment when mom or dad will take them on her lap and open the book. When that parent is all right for them. Because no bedtime story will replace a kiss and a fairy tale read by mother - says Renata Piątkowska. In the latest book "If the egg could speak", the writer explains to children the importance of Christmas customs. they don't know the meaning of the proverbs. They have trouble interpreting the phrases: "to have a snake in your pocket" or "to fall for fire". Later, at the author's meetings, it turned out that children confuse proverbs with superstitions. Then I decided to write fairy tales about superstitions, en titled "Happiness sleeps on your left side." And since superstitions confuse children with habits, in order to finally delimit these areas, I described the origin and meaning of the habits they encounter most often in the book "If an egg could talk" - he says. - Will there be a continuation of this cycle? I do not know. I thought about myths, but they, unlike the three above-mentioned books, have already been described by many authors and brought closer to children.

Thick notebook, a fountain pen and a cup of tea

Readers are always interested in the writer's workshop, because everyone has their own way, habits and rituals. - I don't have my own writing rituals. I write when I am calm and nobody and nothing distract me from my work. I can't write on the run, on my knee, on a scrap of napkin. I must have a thick notebook, a fountain pen and strong tea on the table. And when a good idea comes to mind - you don't need anything else to be happy - says Renata Piątkowska. Apart from her writing, Renata Piątkowska has other passions, the most important one is definitely horses, and for many years. - I used to drive intensively, now only for recreational purposes. Anyway, the mere contact with horses gives me joy. I like the smell of the stables, the clatter of hooves, and angry snorts.I often observe the grace of horses moving on the runway and I think to myself that if they knew what power lies in them, they would never allow us to mount - says the writer. - I am also relaxed by yoga, walking with a dog, a big, biscuit golden retriever - a real miracle !, cooking for friends, and of course reading, reading, reading …

Important

Renata Piątkowska , has published 18 books for children, includingStories for preschoolers, Freckled stories, There are no boring days, Adventure is blue orMaybe it will be like thatand the last oneo If the egg could speak.She graduated in sociology at the Jagiellonian University, lives in Bielsko-Biała, has two children, now teenagers.

Category:

Psychology