Chris Westwood (author)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Westwood also known as Chris Westwood (born 26 November 1959 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England) is an English author
and journalist
. Born as the son of a coal miner and school teacher, he is best known as the author of young adult fiction and children's books. He began his writing career as a music journalist before studying Film production & TV production at a college in Bournemouth
. After graduating from college, he began a career as a novelist.
, where he worked for three years until 1981 and became the first English rock journalist to cover the work of the Irish
rock band
U2
.
His first novel A Light In The Black
, was published in 1989 by Penguin Books
and became a runner-up for The Guardian
Children's Fiction Prize. His second young adult novel Calling All Monsters
(1990), had film potential and was considered for adaptation by Steven Spielberg
's Amblin Entertainment
and later Dreamworks
,. Westwood's other novels include Brother of Mine
(1993), a study of sibling rivalry
between twins, Becoming Julia
(1995), a taut thriller about a murder victim and her doppelgänger
. These were followed by his cyberspace adventure Virtual World
(1996), which was set set in a world of interactive computer games. This book was in included in the contenders list for the Carnegie Award.
His Internet stalker
psychological thriller, Profile
, was published in 2009. The main influence for this novel was the Alfred Hitchcock
film Shadow Of A Doubt
, one of several Hitchcock films referred to in the novel.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. Born as the son of a coal miner and school teacher, he is best known as the author of young adult fiction and children's books. He began his writing career as a music journalist before studying Film production & TV production at a college in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
. After graduating from college, he began a career as a novelist.
Career
Westwood's first publication was in the weekly English music newspaper Record MirrorRecord Mirror
Record Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
, where he worked for three years until 1981 and became the first English rock journalist to cover the work of the Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
rock band
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
.
His first novel A Light In The Black
A Light In The Black
A Light In The Black is the first novel by Chris Westwood, a British author of children's and young adult fiction. It was first published in the UK in 1989 by Viking Kestrel and in the US in 1991 by HarperCollins Children's Books. Listed in Children's Books Of Year 1990 A Light In The Black is the...
, was published in 1989 by Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
and became a runner-up for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Children's Fiction Prize. His second young adult novel Calling All Monsters
Calling All Monsters
Calling All Monsters is the second novel by Chris Westwood, a British author of children's and young adult fiction. It was first published in the UK in 1990 by Viking Kestrel and in the US in 1993 by HarperCollins Children's Books...
(1990), had film potential and was considered for adaptation by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's Amblin Entertainment
Amblin Entertainment
Amblin Entertainment is an American film and television production company founded by director and producer Steven Spielberg and film producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall in 1981. Amblin is only a production company, and has never distributed its own movies, nor has it fully financed its...
and later Dreamworks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
,. Westwood's other novels include Brother of Mine
Brother of Mine
Brother of Mine is the fourth young adult novel by English writer Chris Westwood. It was first published in the UK by Viking Kestrel Brother of Mine is the fourth young adult novel by English writer Chris Westwood. It was first published in the UK by Viking Kestrel Brother of Mine is the fourth...
(1993), a study of sibling rivalry
Sibling rivalry
Sibling rivalry is a type of competition or animosity among children, blood-related or not.Siblings generally spend more time together during childhood than they do with parents. The sibling bond is often complicated and is influenced by factors such as parental treatment, birth order, personality,...
between twins, Becoming Julia
Becoming Julia
Becoming Julia is the fifth young adult novel by English writer Chris Westwood. It was first published in the UK by Viking in 1995 and became a runner-up in the Sheffield Children's Book Award and the Lancashire Children's Book Award ....
(1995), a taut thriller about a murder victim and her doppelgänger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
. These were followed by his cyberspace adventure Virtual World
Virtual World (novel)
Virtual World is the sixth young adult novel by the English writer Chris Westwood. It was published in the UK and in the US by Viking Penguin. It was long-listed for the Carnegie Award in 1997. - Synopsis :...
(1996), which was set set in a world of interactive computer games. This book was in included in the contenders list for the Carnegie Award.
His Internet stalker
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization. It may include false accusations, monitoring, making threats, identity theft, damage to data or equipment, the solicitation of minors for sex, or...
psychological thriller, Profile
Profile (novel)
Profile is the tenth novel by Chris Westwood, a British author of children's and young adult fiction. It was first published in 2009, in a self-published edition. It is a dark psychological thriller about a stalker....
, was published in 2009. The main influence for this novel was the Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
film Shadow Of A Doubt
Shadow of a Doubt
Shadow of a Doubt is a 1943 American thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten. Written by Thornton Wilder, Sally Benson, and Alma Reville, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Story for Gordon McDonell...
, one of several Hitchcock films referred to in the novel.