Blazing a Trail
Sarah Webb, whose book Blazing A Trail – Irish Women Who Changed the World is shortlisted in the Senior Children’s Award Category, tells us what it’s like to be nominated:
How does it feel to be on the shortlist (again!) for this year’s Irish Book Awards?
I’m thrilled to be on the shortlist for Blazing a Trail for both myself and Lauren O’Neill (who illustrated it) and also for the O’Brien Press team who put so much hard work into making the book.
Can you tell us about the book you have been shortlisted for? Blazing a Trail features 28 remarkable women, some wellknown like Mary Robinson and
Sonia O’Sullivan, some not so well-known like Aleen Cust, the rst woman vet in Ireland or Britain and Anne O’Brien, who played professional football for 18 years in France and Italy. Does being shortlisted or winning an Irish Book Award help an author’s pro le?
Yes, I think it does. As a former bookseller, I know customers like a little guidance when it comes to selecting the best books for their young readers. Awards like the Irish Book Awards help highlight these books every year. I’m very grateful to have won the Junior Children’s Category last year with
A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea – winning helped highlight the book and gave it a special stamp of approval.
What books and authors did you read when you were young?
I adored Enid Blyton and Judy Blume. I read Judy’s Are You There God, It’s Me,
Margaret? every year. It reminds me what it’s like to be a teenager and her writing is whipsmart and super funny. I read children’s books every day, for work (I review children’s books) and also for pleasure. I LOVE children’s books.
Whose books do you read to your own children? (Apart from your own of course!) My youngest is 12 and I still read to him most nights. He is a big fan of non- ction and recently we’ve
enjoyed Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals by Rob Maguire and Aga Grandowicz. Aga was in one of my writing for children classes in the Irish Writers Centre and it’s brilliant to see her doing so well.
Your books celebrate feisty and clever girls – is it important for girls to read about diverse female personalities?
I think it’s important for ALL children. In Blazing a Trail, we’ve tried to show lots of di erent role models on the pages – from scientist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, to athlete Maeve Kyle, and designer Eileen Gray. I hope both girls and boys enjoy reading this book.