I'm Emma Pullar: Writer, imaginator, lover of words.
I never know quite what to write about myself ( it's much easier to write about fictional characters) so I thought I would just write what I would want to know about other authors. Here goes ... I have three children, a husband and a naughty cat called Rupert.
I was born and raised in London, England then moved to Christchurch, New Zealand when I was sixteen, where I met my Kiwi husband. Like London, Christchurch is very much my home. I currently reside in Kent and although I do love living in 'The Garden of England' I still very much miss 'The Garden City.' I'm both a British and New Zealand citizen and I feel very fortunate to identify with both cultures. I love travelling and hope to visit more countries and meet more people and learn and grow and share stories.
Writing has always been my passion. I have a theory that everyone knows what they want to do in life by the age of seven. I wanted to be a dancer, a writer and Prime Minister. Having checked off the first two, I can tell you that I have no desire to do the last one. I prefer to be ruler of my fictional worlds and even then the characters end up ruling me and doing whatever they like!
I started writing stories as soon as I could pick up a pencil and I've never stopped. The first picture book I ever wrote was called 'Attack of the Killer Wheelie Bins' and was about wheelie bins getting sick of people stuffing them with rubbish and so they started eating people! Another story I remember writing at primary school was about two kids who fell down a pit and were eaten alive by a beast. It was graphic, the teacher was concerned and called my mother in. It was decided I had a wild imagination and no intervention was needed. Phew!
Happy in Whitcoulls Bookshop!
My first published work was a picture book called 'Curly from Shirley.' We sold 3000 copies to raise money for The Red Cross Earthquake Appeal. Curly from Shirley made number four on the bestseller list. There's a good little doggie! And was recognised by New Zealand Post, 'Getting Kiwis Reading,' with the opening lines being picked as a favourite and printed on coffee mugs along with Victoria M Azaro's stunning illustrations.
Emma's first book signing in Christchurch - March 2011.
As a teenager I read a lot of horror, sci-fi, dystopian and fantasy (I still do) and I would often dream about becoming a professional writer but never thought I could because I lacked a basic education. My teachers did the best they could but being in a low social economic area in South East London meant they didn't have much time to nurture students the way they probably would have liked. My spelling, punctuation and grammar wasn't built into my programming and I had to learn it as an adult. I still struggle from time to time.
I write every day and learn from other writers who are gracious enough to give me their time and knowledge for free. If you know in your heart that you are a writer and you don't have much of an education, find a mentor, study books and blogs and suck up the free knowledge available on the net or in the library. It works. I practised from 2011-2015 and now I have my writing style figured out. During this 'apprenticeship' I wrote two novels, (one of them twice) shorts stories and picture books. I now know what needs to be done to complete a well crafted novel. At least I hope I do. Only you, the reader, can be the judge of that.
I'm a little clumsy. Ok, a lot clumsy. So much so my friend bought me a first aid kit for my birthday with a record book so I could record all my 'accidents.' I soon ran out of pages!
Being a writer shouldn't have any occupational hazards, right? Sat inside my safe house, at my safe desk, on my safe (non-swivelling) chair ... I should be safe. Nope! I've fallen off my chair more than I care to admit and I once managed to pull off a type of dorkish 'Killer Instinct' combo. I smacked my head on the lamp, went to sit down, missed the chair, hit my chin on the desk and fell on the floor. I've started using #EmmaQueenOfDork when tweeting something I've done that's nutty or clumsy.
Reading 'Curly from Shirley' to children in Christchurch
I'm represented by Vicki Marsdon of Word|Link and currently have a YA novel on submission.
Watch this space if you're a fan of horror, dystopian, sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal romance.
My favourite authors are CS Lewis, Roald Dahl, Suzanne Collins, Stephen King, Julia Donaldson, Dr Seuss, Phillip K Dick, JK Rowling and Samantha Shannon, to name a few. Not to mention my wonderful mentor and friend John F McDonald.
