Ten Terrifying Questions with Fred Watson!

He’s covered the big space questions for adults, now Australia’s very own Astronomer-at-Large Fred Watson embarks on a grand tour of the Universe especially for children. From stargazing to telescopes, space travel to black holes, killer asteroids to aliens, Fred’s new book Spacewarp covers every question kids might ask about space and then some!

Today, Fred Watson is on the blog to take on our Ten Terrifying Questions! Read on …

Fred Watson (Photo by David Malin).

1. To begin with, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?

I was born in a house with a view to die for, in Cemetery Road, Bradford, UK. Despite this grave entry into the world, I was a happy child, and enjoyed my school days. Inspired by space and the Universe, I took myself off to study astronomy at Scotland’s oldest university, where they’d been teaching the subject since 1413. You could tell.

2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?

Twelve: a spaceman.

Eighteen: an astronomer.

Thirty: an astronomer who writes books about astronomy. Maybe there’s a theme here.

3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you don’t have now?

The existence of an afterlife. Perhaps it had something to do with growing up next door to a cemetery.

4. What are three works of art – this could be a book, painting, piece of music, film, etc – that influenced your development as a writer?

Sorry these are generic …

The cartoons of Rowland Emett, Norman Thelwell, and Holte (Trevor Holder). They still make me laugh.

The symphonies of Joseph Haydn, Robert Schumann, Jean Sibelius and Ross Edwards – perfect in structure and form.

The story-telling of Arthur Ransome, English children’s author and all round good bloke.

5. Considering the many artistic forms out there, what appeals to you about writing a children’s book?

Never having grown up myself, it seemed a natural thing to attempt. More seriously, I still love the books I read as a kid, and hope the readers of Spacewarp will feel the same way as they get older.

6. Please tell us about your latest book!

Spacewarp is the book I wish I’d had when I was 10. It’s a complete guide to spaceflight and the Universe, aimed at readers 10 and up (and their parents and grandparents). It tells stories from the frontiers of knowledge, and aims to be the friendliest way for the average young person to stay in tune with today’s Universe. Best of all, there’s a touch of old-fashioned whimsy in its diagrams and cartoons. Just saying.

7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?

A sense of wonder about the cosmos, an appreciation of our fragile environment on Earth, and an enthusiasm for science. Plus a chuckle or two.

8. Who do you most admire in the writing world and why?

This is completely biased, but my elder son James won the 2021 Penguin Literary prize for his novel Denizen, which will be published next year. Knowing how he struggled through his teenage years, I think this is a brilliant achievement. (I thoroughly admire my other three kids, too, but they’re not in the writing world. Yet.)

9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?

Still to be enthusing about the Universe and everything in it when I turn 100. And still being able to make my partner Marnie laugh.

10. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

I’ve only attempted non-fiction, in which the most important thing is to make it to the end of your book. But being able to tell a good story is also important, so my advice would be to look for the drama and romance in whatever you’re writing, and if you can throw in a few cliff-hangers, so much the better. Good luck, folks!

Thank you for playing!

—Spacewarp by Fred Watson (NewSouth Publishing) is out now.

Spacewarp

Colliding Comets and Other Cosmic Catastrophes

by Fred Watson

Why do stars twinkle? How’s the best way to start spotting constellations and comets? Is there life beyond Earth? What’s the chance of a catastrophic collision with a killer asteroid?

He’s covered the big space questions for adults, now Australia’s very own Astronomer-at-Large Fred Watson embarks on a grand tour of the Universe especially for children. From stargazing to telescopes, space travel to black holes, killer asteroids to aliens, Fred covers every question kids might ask about space and then some!...

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