Moira Butterfield was just seven years old when she began writing stories. She's since gone on to write many children's books, including a popular series about fairies. Clare Carson met up with her at the Cheltenham book festival where she was surrounded by a gaggle of avid young fairies keen to get some tips about how to turn their imagination into books.
Have you got any tips for budding young writers?
When I was asked to write some fairy stories, I sat down and I thought and thought, and gradually a fairy world came into my mind. You need to give the stories time to develop and write down notes of what you imagine. When you have a fairy world or whatever world you want to create then write your story.
What kind of books do you like to read?
I read all the time and I love fantasy and magic books and travel books too. In fact, I love books full stop! I think that reading anything and everything is worthwhile.
Was there an inspirational person that encouraged your writing?
I had a lovely aunty and uncle, who although weren't my real aunty and uncle, were my parent's friends. They used to travel the world and bring me back lovely dolls and books that they had gone and found. Some of the books had beautiful pictures. I especially liked the books from America which at the time nobody else had. Even now I still love those books, and funnily enough, I was only looking at them at my parents' house last week.
Would you like to see more books being made accessible to blind and partially sighted children?
Absolutely. Apart from story books I write non-fiction books including history books and I would love to for these to be made accessible to blind and partially sighted children. I am going to go away and try and arrange to get this done.