Jonathan Meres

The World of Norm: Must End Soon: Book 12
Jonathan Meres

About Author

Jonathan Meres was born in Nottingham, England in 1958. He left school aged 16 and joined the merchant navy as a navigating cadet, and left seven years later to become a rock star but became an ice cream van driver instead. After seeing an advertisement for actors in The Stage newspaper, he auditioned and got the part, which he followed with a stint in a children's theatre company. In 1984, he became a stand up comic and remained one for the next decade, winning awards including a Time Out magazine award for comedy. Since 1994, he has worked as a writer and actor. He is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and is married with three sons.

Author link

www.jonathanmeres.com

Interview

THE WORLD OF NORM: MUST END SOON

ORCHARD BOOKS

JUNE 2017


The much put-upon Norm is back in THE WORLD OF NORM: MUST END SOON - the final book in the series. Norm's bewilderment about the unfairness of the world has brought him many a fan, including confident and reluctant readers aged nine years plus.

In MUST END SOON, Norm is feeling out of sorts when he is left to look after his two younger brothers for the morning. He had had more important things planned, namely, riding his mountain bike. That is his favourite activity while looking after his brothers is his - well, his least favourite. So this is not exactly a good start to his day - and it's about to get a lot worse....

We asked author JONATHAN MERES to tell us more about THE WORLD OF NORM: MUST END SOON.


Q: Must End Soon is the 12th World of Norm book. What is it about Norm that keeps bringing readers back for more?

A: I think it's mainly the fact that he's a universal character - that boys and girls can relate to. I mean, we've all woken up in the middle of the night, to find ourselves about to pee in a wardrobe, right? OK, possibly not the best example. But who hasn't, at one time or another, felt that everything is unfair, been blamed for something they didn't do, or got wound up by an annoying sibling? Exactly.


Q: Why aren't you going to write any more Norm books after this one, then?

A: Well it's certainly not because I've run out of story lines, or I've been finding them difficult to write. I don't know. 12 seemed like a nice round number. We were actually going to stop at 10, but then I was asked to be one of the World Book Day authors, last year. So it seemed silly not to write a couple more.

There's also a sense of wanting to challenge myself to come up with something completely fresh and different. I actually still can't quite believe that there have been this many. I genuinely had no idea there were going to be 3, let alone 12!


Q: How did Norm develop as a character - or did you feel you knew him from the start?

A: Hmmm. I think I basically knew him from the start. My three sons were roughly the same age as Norm and his brothers, when I came up with the idea - in other words, 13, 10 & 7'sh. So I didn't have to do a massive amount of research. Or any research, come to think of it.

And writing from the point of view of a world-weary disgruntled (nearly) 13 year old kid, has basically given me the opportunity to be as cynical as I like. And I've loved every minute of it.

They say 'write what you know'. And that's exactly what I have done.


Q: Do you think Norm and his annoying neighbour Chelsea will ever get together?

A: In Norm 12, do you mean? Surely that would be a plot spoiler, would it not? So, purely from a commercial, marketing point of view, I'm going to have to tow the corporate line and say you'll just have to read it and find out, won't you? After the series ends? Who knows? It's entirely up to them, isn't it?


Q: Much of the happenings in the World of Norm books are told through dialogue. What are your top tips for young writers to write great dialogue?

A: Keep your ears open. And a notebook handy.


Q: What do you feel the illustrations add to Norm's stories?

A: I've just had a quick flick through and the one that leapt out at me, was Norm 'pulling a face like a cat's bottom'. I've no idea why. But actually, I'm glad you've given me this opportunity to pay tribute to my brilliant illustrator throughout the series, the mighty Donough O'Malley.

When I wrote the first book, I had no idea it was even going to be published, let alone that it was going to have illustrations. And it was fascinating to see which bits of text were chosen (by the fantastic design team at Orchard Books) to be illustrated.

And there's no doubt, they've added hugely to the appeal of the series. Given the whole thing a very strong visual identity. I can't now think of Norm without conjuring up Donough's illustrations, in my head.


Q: What will you miss most about writing the Norm books? And what won't you miss at all?

A: I'll miss the two promotional tours that we've done twice a year for the past six years. Been to some lovely places, some brilliant schools and performed to many thousands of kids.

I won't miss the deadlines.


Q: What is the best question you've been asked as an author?

A: 'How many jobs haven't I done?' Which we all calculated together, by subtracting the number of jobs that I have done (for argument's sake, I think I said 7) from the overall number of jobs in the world that the kids thought there were (100) to get a grand total of 93!


Q: Norm has lots of bad habits - what's your worst writing habit?

A: Constantly tweaking and self-editing, as I go along. Which means too much agonising over a couple of sentences, or paragraphs.

To an extent, I've had to do that, because I've been writing two Norm books a year, for the past six years, on very tight deadlines. So we simply haven't had time to write draft after draft. I've pretty much had to get it right first time.

But what I'd like to be able to do from now on, is to just write. And worry about editing and tweaking, later. Much later.


Q: The final Norm book ends just before Norm turns 13 - what would you like to tell your 13 year old self?

A: Never listen to advice.


Q: What are you going to write next?

A: I'm developing - and beginning to write, a brand new series for Orchard/Hachette. But it's all a bit hush-hush, at the moment. In fact it's so hush-hush that even I don't know what it's going to be about, yet.

What I can say though, is that it will be for roughly the same age-group as Norm. And there'll be words in it. And people. And stuff will happen. And it will be funny. Well, hopefully it will be, anyway. We'll see.

 


THE WORLD OF NORM: MUST BE WASHED SEPARATELY

ORCHARD BOOKS

NOVEMBER 2014

An actor, former stand-up comedian and wanna-be rock star, Jonathan Meres is now the author of the bestselling World of Norm books.

In his latest book, THE WORLD OF NORM: MUST BE WASHED SEPARATELY, not only is Norm forced to go on a walk with the dreaded perfect cousins, he thinks he's the only kid on the planet without the brand new Call Of Mortal Combat! Not that he could play it anyway what with being banned from the Xbox due to a curious incident of a stinky dog at bath time. Business as usual for Norm, then? Abso-flipping-lutely!

Jonathan Meres tells us more about THE WORLD OF NORM!


Q: One of your former jobs was being a stand-up comedian. How does being an author compare with that?

A: I was a moderately successful stand-up comedian in the late 80s and early 90s. I called myself Johnny Immaterial, before ditching the stage name and moving from London to Edinburgh - and therefore away from the majority of my audiences at the time. So with hindsight I guess I was telling myself that I didn't want to do it anymore and that I wanted to do something else. Even though I'd just been nominated for The Perrier Award and had my own series on Radio 4. I call it 'my career death wish.'

I've done other jobs as well. I joined the Merchant Navy after I left school. I've also been in a band and then I got into acting and writing. I think I always wanted to be a writer deep down though. I just took the scenic route, that's all.

I'd written quite a few other books before Norm came along. A couple of picture books, several books for Barrington Stoke and a series called Yo! Diary! for Piccadilly Press, which was relatively successful and got turned into a television series, which I also acted in because I'm a complete megalomaniac. Although I use the term 'acted' in the loosest possible sense.

I love my job as an author; it means I make stuff up for a living! How brilliant is that?


Q: Has being a comedian helped you be a writer?

A: Definitely. I think I know how to write a decent joke even if I do say it myself. And I'm especially comfortable when it comes to writing dialogue. Performing-wise? I've visited hundreds of schools over the years and being in front of 300 kids in a school hall doesn't phase me at all. It's grown-ups I'm scared of.


Q: Would you ever write a serious book?

A: It's not on the cards at the moment. But never say never and all that. Any more than it's on the cards for me to write a book for adults. I write funny books for children. That's my job. It's what I do.


Q: Does writing Norm remind you of your own childhood?

A: Not particularly. But then again my childhood was a very long time ago!
I definitely draw on my life now and my own domestic circumstances. I have three sons and it's no coincidence that Norm has two little brothers. I started writing the 1st Norm when my boys were roughly the same age as Norm, Brian & Dave. In other words, about 13, 10 and 7. Any similarity between Norm's dad and me is entirely coincidental by the way. And if you believe that you'll believe anything.


Q: How would you describe Norm?

A: Perfectly normal! Nothing wimpy, or geeky, or dorky about Norm in my opinion! He's a universal kid. With universal stuff going on in his head. Hence the name.

Show me a 13 year old kid (boy or girl) who hasn't at one time or another thought that everything's unfair or who hasn't fallen out with their best friend or desperately wanted something, or who feels they've been wrongly blamed for something.

Yes, they're funny books. Or at least they're supposed to be. But beyond that they're also books that children can relate to. They say write what you know. Well I don't know what it's like to live with wizards or dragons or vampires.


Q: Do you ever worry about running out of ideas for new Norm stories?

A: Not so far. But thanks for planting that seed in my head!

I'm not sure how many Norm books there'll end up being but I'm currently writing number 8 (May Contain Buts) which will be out next June. But because there's no definite series arc and they're pretty much stand-alone books which don't necessarily need to be read in order, there's an infinite amount of potential story lines. And an infinite amount of stuff that can happen. At least that's the theory anyway. Ask me the same question this time next year!


Q: What can we expect next from Norm?

A: May Contain Buts is shaping up to focus more on friendship and relationships than some of the others -- which have tended to have some kind of central quest, or mission -- whether that's Norm needing money to pimp up his mountain bike, or getting his mitts on the latest Xbox game. So this one's going to be much more about Norm's relationship with his best friend, Mikey and his nemesis from across the fence, Chelsea. Oh and it's also about aftershave. I can't tell you anymore. Well I could. But I'm not going to.


Q: Had you always planned for The World of Norm to be illustrated?

A: Short answer? No. Never even crossed my mind that it might be when I wrote the first one. I had no idea at the time (2010 when I got the deal with Orchard/Hachette) that it was the vogue for middle grade funny books to have occasional line drawings. Now the illustrations and doodles are very much an integral part of the series. Largely down to the brilliance of the guy that does them, Donough O'Malley.


Q: Will we see Norm on television or at the movies?

A: No idea. And to be perfectly honest I'm not losing any sleep thinking about it. Kids at my events always ask me the same question. So I guess they must think it would be a good idea. We'll see.


Q: Where do you do your writing?

A: 99% gets done in my office at the bottom of my garden. Don't even think about calling it a shed by the way. The other 1% gets done on trains and in hotel rooms. But I'm rubbish at writing on the road. Hence the 1%.


Q: Do you have any tips for becoming a writer?

A: Just do it. Don't spend the next 10 years talking about doing it. Do it. And keep on doing it. It's the only way you're ever going to get better. Unless you're incredibly lucky. Or just naturally gifted, of course. And don't be too good either. I don't need the competition. And don't listen to advice. That's my advice.


Q: What's been the best thing for you about the Norm books?

A: Knowing that so many kids read them. And like them. And have connected with them. And can relate to them. Or failing that, knowing that I've simply given a lot of children a flipping good laugh.

Meeting readers at events and festivals and signings is just brilliant too. They're so sweet. And very funny sometimes.

Oh and Norm being in The Beano was pretty cool as well. In fact it was extremely cool. Well, for me it was, anyway. Dunno about anybody else.

THE WORLD OF NORM: MAY CAUSE IRRITATION

ORCHARD BOOKS

JANUARY 2012


Jonathan Meres's World of Norm books have struck a cord with boy as well as girl readers aged nine plus, especially fans of Wimpy Kid, as they follow him through the ups and downs of being an ordinary boy in an ordinary household.


Q. Is being a stand-up comedian as scary as it sounds do you still do that kind of work?

A. It wasn't scary at the time. It was what I did. There was no time to be scared anyway because I was reasonably good at my job and very often had a gig the next night - or even the same night. (I'm not saying I was always good at my job! And anyway, if things went badly it was never, ever my fault.) And no - I haven't done actual stand-up for donkeys years now. Do I still hope to make people laugh? Definitely.

Q. What's the worst joke you've ever told?

A. Worst joke? How dare you? But if you insist. The other day I got hit on the head by a flying prawn cocktail. That was just for starters.


Q. Any similarities in writing and being a comedian?

A. I guess that to a certain extent both jobs rely on the approval of others. When I was a comedian I used to believe every word that was written if I got a good review. If I ever got a bad one I'd go "yeah, well they obviously have no idea what they're talking about." It's the same now come to think of it. I suppose another similarity is that not everyone's going to like - or get what you do. But hey - that's showbiz/bookbiz (delete where not applicable).


Q. Best and worst things about being a writer?

A. Best thing about being a writer? Being my own boss and doing what I want all day. Worst thing about being a writer? Being my own boss and doing what I want all day.

Q. What makes you laugh?

A. Laurel & Hardy. Tom & Jerry. My kids. Penguins. Derby losing.


Q. Would you ever be tempted to write a tragedy / gritty YA book?

A. I don't do gritty. There's nothing wrong with gritty. I like gritty. Some of my best friends are gritty. It's just that anything I write tends to come out funny. Or slightly funny anyway. I have actually written for teens/YAs before - a series of books (and a series on the telly) called Yo! Diary! (Ask your gran). But that wasn't gritty.

Q. Is Norm pretty much you at 13 years old, or someone else you know?

A. I have 3 boys. At the time I started to write Norm they were roughly the same age as Norm, Brian & Dave. Go figure.


Q. Are siblings (like Norm's) to be loved or loathed?

A. Depends who's doing the loving & who's doing the loathing. In other words are you the reader, or are you Norm?


Q. How are you with technology?

A. Not quite as bad as I sometimes make out to be. But not particularly brilliant either. I do all that social networking mullarkey - but I'm not a natural. It's not that I'm anti-technology - or anti-gadgets. Far from it. I'm just not all that interested.

Do I have the latest mobile in my pocket or the cheapest 'pay as you go' option? I have what's known as a bramble here in Scotland. I don't do a fraction of what I probably could do on it though. If only there was an app for making coffee...


Q. If you weren't a writer, what would you be / want to be?

A. A penguin.

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