David Orme

David Orme is a children's writer and poet from England. He has written or edited more than 250 books. His recent work has been specifically aimed at reluctant readers or children with Learning difficulties and includes the Boffin Boy series of Manga style graphic novels. Orme lives in Winchester, Hampshire, England and is the chair of the Education Writers Group of the Society of Authors. With Helen Orme he has volunteered to assist in literacy programs. He was director of the Schools Poetry Association (SPA).

Early life and education
"I was born in Stoke, Staffordshire, in 1948, but I moved south with my family when I was two so I am an adopted southerner. I went to school in Oxford and London, then trained as a teacher and taught for seventeen years in boarding schools."

Writing career
"Since becoming a full time writer twenty years ago I have written over three hundred books. I get easily bored so I like to write a wide range of things – poetry, novels including graphic novels, non-fiction – even school books!

What I enjoy writing most is poetry, and science fiction. (Yes, I've written some science fiction poetry!) I was a great reader of sci-fi when I was younger and still love it. I've written around fifty short science fiction novels, with titles like Invasion of the Killer Robots and Planet of the Vampires. My silliest title (on a short story) was Barry Manilow from Outer Space. Can you guess what happened in the story?

I also enjoy writing stories from History, especially the history of London, which is a hobby of mine. I have just published a new London History story, The Bodysnatcher's Apprentice, as an ebook."

Personal life
"I am married with two grown up sons (and three grandchildren.) I live in Winchester, Hampshire. When I am not visiting schools or writing I like travelling around Europe, listening to music, looking at art, walking up mountains (easy ones) and exploring London, especially its graveyards. I run a website on this cheery subject
 * www.londonburials.co.uk

And a website on art at
 * www.art-threads.co.uk"

Questions and Answers
What made you start to write?

"Strangely enough, I was poor at writing in my junior school as I had learning problems. In fact, my teacher told my parents that I would never achieve anything, as I couldn't get anything down on paper! A little later on another teacher made my class enter a story writing competition and I won a prize – six shillings and sixpence! (32½p.) That made me want to be a writer. Perhaps I thought it would make me rich! (Big mistake.)"

Where do you write?

"I usually write on a computer, but when I'm out and about I use old envelopes, parking tickets, even once the back of a cheque book. I often write on trains, but I try not to do this when I'm driving a car."

Editor's Notice
The above quoted information was obtained from the author personally through e-mail and appear in its original order. My nephew had a presentation on the book title "Plague" of David Orme, and found so little on Wikipedia about the author. As a result, I've contacted David Orme himself and he was very kind to send the detailed biography. In fact, he also gave me the permission to submit such detailed information for Wikipedia. He also is very fond of children and donated books to the library of Freedom International School, Bangalore in India on the requests of students Arun Kumar and Bharath Ajith.