ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
August 6, 2008
A Backstage Chat with Eoin Colfer
TFK Kid Reporter Hannah Spicijaric catches up with the author of the Artemis Fowl books
 |  After making stops in nine cities, Colfer's tour ended on August 3. |
It's hard to imagine how Eoin Colfer finds time to write his best-selling Artemis Fowl books. The sixth title in the series, The Time Paradox, was released July 15, just six months after Airman, a non-Artemis book, hit stores. Like many authors, Colfer travels around, meeting fans and promoting new books. But unlike the others, Colfer rides in a long green tour bus and performs stand-up comedy for families. In his one-man show, "Fairies, Fiends & Flatulence," the former teacher keeps kids laughing with stories from his Irish childhood that connect his relatives to characters from his books.
When the U.S. tour made its third-to-last stop in Bay Shore, New York, last Thursday, TFK Kid Reporter Hannah Spicijaric caught up with Colfer backstage. They spoke about where he gets his ideas for writing, what got him started with comedy and how he spends his (very limited) spare time.
TFK:Before you were a writer, I understand you were a teacher. What grade did you teach?
Eoin Colfer:I taught every grade. I went from kindergarten all the way up to adult education. I spent most of my time in fifth and sixth grade, because in fifth and sixth grade, they can have full conversations with me and they're not too tall!
TFK:What did you do to make your classroom interesting?
Eoin Colfer:Well, that's tough because everyday when you're a teacher, it's like being up on stage for the whole day. When you see kids getting bored, you have to try and invent stuff and give special sessions. I liked to do a lot of drama so we'd do Shakespeare plays and make costumes and sets. We'd make models of the galaxy with footballs. And I liked to tell jokes and stories.
TFK:I read that you liked reading Viking stories in grammar school. Have any particular authors inspired you?
Eoin Colfer:Oh, yes. I learned a lot from the old Viking stories, and especially from the Irish legends and myths. And there was a guy called Jim Fitzpatrick, who was a graphic artist and a storyteller, who was a huge inspiration to me. He was the one who started me on fairy stories.
TFK:What inspired you to create the Artemis Fowl series?
Eoin Colfer:The Artemis Fowl books are different from other books because (Artemis) was originally the bad guy. He was based on my little brother. But when I began to write, it's almost as if the character himself said, "I'm a bigger character than this. People will really like me if you give me the chance." And I said, "No, no. You have to die." And he responded, "Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I want to be in the second book. They're going to love me." It is almost as if the character grew himself. I've heard people say before that the character takes over, and I never believed it until Artemis.
TFK:Are any other characters based on people you know?
Eoin Colfer:Yeah, all the characters if you look underneath the fairies' wings. One of the main characters is based on my best friend, who is a teacher. And the character of Holly the fairy is based on a couple of girls I used to teach. Almost all of the characters are based on people that I know. I don't give their names, though, because they might be happy or might not.
TFK:How long does it typically take you to write one of your books?
Eoin Colfer:I suppose the average would be about ten months. But in those ten months, I do a lot of touring. I love this tour because we have the big bus, and I get a lot of work done in there. It's fun on the bus. We have six TV's and an iPod dock. I make everyone listen to Irish music.
TFK:Out of all the books you have written, do you have a favorite?
Eoin Colfer:I really like Airman. I think it's because it's so different. It's a complete change for me. There are no fairies and no magic. I had fun researching it. I spent a lot of time reading up on the nineteenth century. I really have a soft spot for that one.
TFK:The sixth Artemis Fowl book, The Time Paradox, hit stores on July 15th. Do you plan to continue the series?
Eoin Colfer:I do. I don't know exactly when. I may take a break from Artemis and then go back to it after a few books. It allows me to spend a year to write little tiny books, which is great.
TFK:How did you come up with your one-man show, "Fairies, Fiends & Flatulence?"
Eoin Colfer:It was kind of an accident. I used to do book readings. Then one year, I was at a book festival where there was also a comedy festival. I did a reading, but somehow I won the award from the comedy festival. They said, "You should do something with this big award," so I toured (Britain). Disney said they would love to bring it to America. I said "Well, okay, but that's it!" Then London called and wanted me to come back. So now after this, I'm going to London again. Then I'm retiring to Jamaica! (I'm not, but I wish I was!)
TFK:You have toured the U.K. and now the U.S. How has it been?
Eoin Colfer:It's been great. It's very tiring. I've met some amazing people—amazing young interviewers and journalists and other kids and fans. Even some of the grownups are nice! I think as you get older, you realize that you only get so many lifetime memories. I realize now that this is a really important time for me. I just wish that my family was here.
TFK:Have you noticed any differences between the American and British audiences?
Eoin Colfer:I find that kids are kids everywhere. American kids have a bit more confidence and happiness about them. This is a very joyful nation. And people are happy to see you. They tell you you're welcome here. They laugh at your jokes. In the other countries, people will be happy to see you, but they're shy. They just sit there and give you a little wave. They won't come up and say hello. In places like Texas, they call you "ma'am" and "sir" which is very respectful, and that's really nice to see.
TFK:I heard that there are plans to make an Artemis Fowl movie. Can you tell me anything about that?
Eoin Colfer:Yes, the plans are to make Artemis and Airman movies. I was just down in Los Angeles talking to the director. And I hope they'll put it all together by this year and start filming the beginning of next year. That's the plan. But that was the plan last year, so I'm not counting on it.
TFK:What do you like to do when you're not writing or performing?
Eoin Colfer:I like to play with my kids a bit, although they're really good sportsmen and I'm terrible. The five-year-old boy is already better than me in soccer. My wife and I, when I'm home, go for lunch everyday. That is our big luxury. Not to a fancy restaurant, but to a cute little café. It's important to spend time with family.
