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Malorie Blackman

Kirsty Young talks to author and children's laureate Malorie Blackman.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the writer Malorie Blackman.

A prolific and multi-award winning author she has powered her way to success not just through talent but determination and perseverance. From the careers mistress who told her, "black people don't become teachers," to the 82 rejection letters she received before she was published, significant parts of her life seem to have been spent proving people wrong. A technology wiz, her first career was in computing. As a writer her books have tackled challenging themes: bullying, teenage pregnancy, racism and terrorism.

Currently Children's Laureate, her own formative years were spent in South London where as a little girl she went from thinking everyone was her friend to feeling, as a teenager, that the world was her enemy.

She says, "Good stories made me reassess the world and people as I thought I knew them. Great stories made me reassess myself."

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 22 Nov 2013 09:00

Music Played

  • Ladysmith Black Mambazo

    Abezizwa “Uniting Nations Together”

    • The Very Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
    • Wrasse Records.
  • Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Redemption Song

    • Legend.
    • TUFF GONG.
  • Bernard Cribbins

    Right Said Fred

    • The Very Best Of Bernard Cribbins.
    • EMI GOLD.
  • Léo Delibes

    The Flower Duet - from Lakmé

    Performer: Jennifer Larmore. Performer: Hong Hei-Kyung.
    • Bellezza Vocale: Beautiful Opera Duets.
    • TELDEC.
  • Marvin Gaye

    Whats Going On

    • The Love Collection.
    • UNIVERSAL.
  • Gladys Knight

    Best Thing that ever happened to me

    • Gladys Knight – The Greatest Hits.
    • CAMDEN.
  • My Chemical Romance

    Sing

    • My Chemical Romance - Sing.
    • Reprise Records ?.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Louis Armstrong

      What A Wonderful World

      • The Very Best of Louis Armstrong.
      • VERVE.
  • Book Choice

    • Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

  • Luxury Choice

    • Bicycle

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Malorie Blackman
Producer Cathy Drysdale

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 Nov 2013 11:15
  • Fri 22 Nov 2013 09:00

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