Fictionalising History for young readers

Goldie Alexander

'The past is another country, they do things differently there.'
L P Hartley The Go-Between.

I enjoy writing about other times and places. Writing fantasy, science fiction or history means fewer worries about using contemporary clothes, music, or games. 'Other times' allows the writer to indulge the imagination without having to worry whether a certain colloquialism might be 'old hat' by the time the book is published.

My particular interest in writing history lies in bringing the past to life and comparing it with the present. In my first historical novel for young adults, Mavis Road Medley (Margaret Hamilton Books), two youngsters from the 1990s find themselves in the Melbourne of 1933: Jamie's heart was beating wildly as he saw that he was in the middle of a huge hall, facing a large screen. The tune from On our Selection still lingered in the air as the film rolled on before his startled gaze... only now did he realize that he was seated in a large, filled-to-capacity auditorium. And that everyone was watching a film.

Goldie Alexander writes for all age groups and has published 18 books of fiction and non-fiction, plus various articles and short stories. She particularly enjoys writing about other times and places.

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