Stephen Potts
Encyclopedia
Stephen Potts is a British author of children’s books, particularly historical adventure novels set at sea.
Potts was born in 1957 in Norwich
, England
, to an English father then serving in the Royal Navy
, and an Irish mother. He started school in northern Scotland
, and continued in various parts of England, before entering Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
to study medical sciences. He subsequently transferred to Magdalen College, Oxford
to study clinical medicine, and while there rowed for Oxford University (Isis) in the 1981 Boat Race.
He continued medical studies in the United States
, before returning to London
and then Edinburgh
to specialise in psychiatry
. He works part-time as a Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
, mainly in the emergency department and renal transplant unit.
He took up writing for children in the 1990s, beginning with a loosely connected trilogy collectively known as The Running Tide. The three books cover the period from the mid 19th century to the present day, and are variously set in Britain
, Greenland
and the Aleutian islands. Described as “good, old-fashioned tales of courage and adventure” (Observer, 2001) they pit child protagonists against the dangers of the ocean and the polar ice, as well as malevolent adults.
His most recent book, Abigail’s Gift, tells intertwined stories of a Highland
lass at the time of the Clearances, and a modern schoolgirl troubled by bullying and an overactive imagination.
In March 2007 he was commissioned by Dynamic Entertainment DEH, a Dutch independent film production company, to adapt Philip Pullman
’s 1992 novel The Butterfly Tattoo (previously published as The White Mercedes
) as a feature film
, due for release in 2008.
Nominated for the Carnegie Medal
2000
Runner-up for the Branford Boase award
2000
Republished in 2004
2001 Compass Murphy
Shortlisted, Askews Children's Book Award 2002
Japanese translation published by Kyuryu-do 2005
Republished in 2004
2004 The Ship Thief
2006 Abigail's Gift
2002 Abigail's Gift (in Love From Dad. ed M. Hodgson)
Radio
Grandmother’s Footsteps (Island Blue) broadcast on BBC Radio
4 in June 2006.
, and euthanasia
. He has contributed to the Edinburgh
textbooks of psychiatry
and medicine
:
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Psychiatry (with JHM Crichton) in Companion to Psychiatric Studies, 7th edition, eds Eve C Johnstone et al., Churchill Livingston Edinburgh 2004
Medical Psychiatry (with MC Sharpe) in Davidson’s Principles & Practice of Medicine, 20th edition, ed NA Boon et al., Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh 2006
IMDb page: http://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2654642/
Film: The Butterfly Tattoo
Website: http://www.stephenpotts.net
Potts was born in 1957 in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to an English father then serving in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and an Irish mother. He started school in northern Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and continued in various parts of England, before entering Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
to study medical sciences. He subsequently transferred to Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
to study clinical medicine, and while there rowed for Oxford University (Isis) in the 1981 Boat Race.
He continued medical studies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, before returning to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and then Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to specialise in psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. He works part-time as a Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh or RIE, sometimes mistakenly referred to as Edinburgh Royal Infirmary or ERI, was established in 1729 and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest voluntary hospital in the United Kingdom, and later on...
, mainly in the emergency department and renal transplant unit.
He took up writing for children in the 1990s, beginning with a loosely connected trilogy collectively known as The Running Tide. The three books cover the period from the mid 19th century to the present day, and are variously set in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and the Aleutian islands. Described as “good, old-fashioned tales of courage and adventure” (Observer, 2001) they pit child protagonists against the dangers of the ocean and the polar ice, as well as malevolent adults.
His most recent book, Abigail’s Gift, tells intertwined stories of a Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
lass at the time of the Clearances, and a modern schoolgirl troubled by bullying and an overactive imagination.
In March 2007 he was commissioned by Dynamic Entertainment DEH, a Dutch independent film production company, to adapt Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman CBE, FRSL is an English writer from Norwich. He is the best-selling author of several books, most notably his trilogy of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials, and his fictionalised biography of Jesus, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ...
’s 1992 novel The Butterfly Tattoo (previously published as The White Mercedes
The White Mercedes
The White Mercedes, published in 1992 and now known as The Butterfly Tattoo, is about one character who falls passionately in love, and suffers horribly from then on, as his innocent love is embroiled in a long cycle of revenge and hatred. It was Philip Pullman's first book for younger audiences,...
) as a feature film
The Butterfly Tattoo (film)
The Butterfly Tattoo is a 2008 feature film, based on Philip Pullman's novel of the same name . The film is particularly notable given that despite being a commercial production it actively sought to provide training and experience for young film-makers...
, due for release in 2008.
Novels
1999 Hunting GumnorNominated for the Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
2000
Runner-up for the Branford Boase award
Branford Boase Award
The Branford Boase Award is a British literary award presented annually to an outstanding novel for young people by a first-time writer.Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books and Henrietta Branford worked together previously to produce a great number of books. Both Wendy Boase and...
2000
Republished in 2004
2001 Compass Murphy
Shortlisted, Askews Children's Book Award 2002
Japanese translation published by Kyuryu-do 2005
Republished in 2004
2004 The Ship Thief
2006 Abigail's Gift
Short Stories
1999 On the Bench (in Family Tree, ed. M Hodgson )2002 Abigail's Gift (in Love From Dad. ed M. Hodgson)
Radio
Grandmother’s Footsteps (Island Blue) broadcast on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
4 in June 2006.
Medical
Potts has written or co-written scientific papers, books, book chapters, and editorials in the fields of non-cardiac chest pain, psychiatryPsychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
, and euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
. He has contributed to the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
textbooks of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
:
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Psychiatry (with JHM Crichton) in Companion to Psychiatric Studies, 7th edition, eds Eve C Johnstone et al., Churchill Livingston Edinburgh 2004
Medical Psychiatry (with MC Sharpe) in Davidson’s Principles & Practice of Medicine, 20th edition, ed NA Boon et al., Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh 2006
External links
Publisher: EgmontIMDb page: http://pro.imdb.com/name/nm2654642/
Film: The Butterfly Tattoo
Website: http://www.stephenpotts.net