QUESTION

How important is the build-up of atmosphere to the story ? Thanks. MELANIE.

Hi, Melanie. Atmosphere is one of the most important 'ingredients' of the ghost story. The story aims to make the reader alarmed, to chill them, to make them anxious and the build-up of atmosphere is an essential part of this. Think of it as like the music to a frightening film - it builds slowly and surely by clever use of chords and keys (I`m not a musician !) and the writer of the ghost story is only doing the same thing with words. Some ofthe atmosphere of TWIB has to do with the weather - sudden fog, winds, a dreary dark dismal day, all of this. It is hard to define what atmosphere is - but it has to vary too. Think of the scene inside the Crithin Arms at lunch on market day; it`s cheerful, bustling, full of chat and good food. Nothing at all worrying or scary there. Then think of the atmosphere as Kipps stands in side the empty house on his own after the door has clanged behind him. Quite different. You are made more worried by contrast and the writer can`t turn the screw all the time, there has to be a release, then a bit more, and so on.

If you follow the book through making a list of scenes which have atmosphere which you find frightening you`ll see how it works - then list the other sort of atmosphere, cheerful, unalarming, ordinary, that goes between. It`s like a series of ascending steps.

Good question. Thanks. Susan

QUESTION.  Do you mind us doing your books for exams and course work ?  Cheers. Jake.

Hello Jake. First most obvioius answer I suppose is that it wouldn`t matter whether I did or I didn`t - they don`t ask my permission!

But more sensible answer is no. And then again yes. Let`s take the 'Yes' first. I mind in that I do wonder if the novels set for GCSE and A Level have enough substance ? I know times have changed and I never say 'when I was your age we had to read this or that Classic' because it is a pointless observation.

But otherwise, no, because someone has to be a 'set book' so it might as well be me. No, because I want young people to enjoy literature and a lot do seem to enjoy studying my books enough not to be put off by also having to dissect them and answer questions. I had to dissect frogs but it didn`t put me off them - I love frogs.

All the books we studied were by dead writers so we had no way of asking them questions about their work. I get hundreds of questions and many of them indicate that the senders are lazy and want me to do their work. But the rest show real intelligence and perception and it gives me feedback. Also, though I can`t and won`t do your work, I will always try and help clarify something and generally be a guide if I can.

One thing you need to remember - literature is not like maths. There is not one right answer which the author knows and may reveal so that the students will all get As. My opinion is not important. I can correct any actual mistakes but what you need to have is your own view based on a careful reading of the text. Your opinion is what counts not mine.

The other thing to remember is that all the novels of mine studied in school were written for the usual adult market, not for young people, even if young people now read them. I`m glad they do but they were not written with 12-18 year olds in mind.