Jacqueline Wilson is a busy woman. She shows no sign of slowing down despite, at 64, reaching the age when most might consider retirement.
More than 25 million copies of her books have been sold in the UK alone, where she is one of the top five best-selling authors of the past decade. Her books, aimed primarily at girls aged seven to 12, have been adapted for television, stage and radio and been translated into 34 languages. Tracy Beaker, probably Wilson's best-known character, is about to appear in her sixth series on CBBC.
Her latest book, Little Darlings, released last week, has gone straight to the top of the children's hardback best-sellers. Currently on a tour to promote it, Wilson took time out of her schedule to attend the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai, where I caught up with her.
Wilson's books famously feature children dealing with the challenges of modern life such as divorce, bullying, foster care and domestic violence. However, Wilson explains, she doesn't approach every book with a checklist of issues to write about. "When I was a little girl, I used to make up lots of imaginary friends and now it's still that way. Each time I want to write a book, I think about a child first. Sometimes I deliberately tell myself: 'Come on, we're going to have a happy child and a really sensible, warm, loving family,' but it never works out that way. Generally they've got some kind of problem, but it's as I think more about the child that it develops."
Little Darlings tells the tale of two girls from opposite sides of the tracks. On one side is Sunset, who lives a life of luxury with her ex-rock star father and glamorous ex-model mother. On the other side is Destiny, who lives with her single working mother on the edge of a rundown housing estate. Her mother constantly tells her she is really the daughter of an ageing rock star. The girls meet and discover they have more in common than meets the eye.
Wilson says that she wrote the book in part because celebrities are intriguing to young girls, but also to lay bare some truths. "Many children very much want to grow up rich and famous," says Wilson. "I'm trying to interest children by showing them what it's like to have a dad who's an ageing rock star with pots of money, but I am also showing them that maybe, even though on the surface it all looks glamorous and glossy and wonderful, it's not actually any different from any other slightly dysfunctional family life. Destiny is leading a seemingly impoverished life with her single mum, and yet actually there's a lot more warmth going on between them in their family than there is for Sunset, the rock star's child."
Wilson is keen to point out that the characters are not based on any celebrities in particular and she is not "having a pop at celebrities or their children", but, having noticed that more celebrities seemed to be having families, she found the idea of a family living in the glare of the media rather fascinating.
"It's like a modern fairy tale, the lives some of the children lead, and yet, also, they are children." She adds: "It seems strange to be in the limelight right from when you are little and that if you go out anywhere, to an amusement park, you might well be photographed with your mum and dad, and they will probably have very much an idea of the image that the family is making. So it won't just be a spontaneous 'right let's all go out and have fun somewhere', which must be very strange."
Wilson is certainly thorough in her research and, in an attempt to keep up with the zeitgeist, started watching programmes such as The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. "They are a part of modern culture and are really big family shows. However, I have to admit I got hooked," Wilson confesses. "Once you are sucked in and have your favourites, oh my goodness me, I'm voting along like the next person!"
However, she believes that such shows can contain useful lessons for children, particularly if they are fixated on becoming "rich and famous" - by demystifying the path to fame. "It is a good lesson for children," says Wilson, "that they learn just how much hard work you have to put into something. It shows all the processes of what modern fame is all about."
Wilson's books are unusual in that the parents take a central role in the stories. This, as she explains, reflects the reality for children today whose parents play an increasingly active role in their lives. "When I was young, I walked to school by myself from the age of about seven and you played during the summer holidays with your other school friends. Nowadays in Britain, this doesn't happen at all and parents are very much involved in out-of-school activities, taking their children to Brownies, ballet or judo." This is not always a positive, says Wilson. "Also, we don't tend to keep things from children any more, and sadly a lot of children, certainly in Britain, have to go through the trauma of Mum and Dad splitting up, then joining new families. So it's a very different world for them now."
More often than not, the adults in Wilson's books are portrayed as fallible, disappointing people who don't always make the right decision, leading some parents to criticise her for undermining parental authority. While acknowledging this concern, Wilson comments: "Hopefully Mummy and Daddy generally do [know best], but my books are written from the point of view of the child and sometimes mothers and fathers let them down a bit. I want, basically, to show that even if your parent is human and making mistakes or whatever, they still, in their own way, love you, and you love them back and yet you have somehow to find coping mechanisms to get through."
Wilson is measured, though, about how much social realism she reflects in her books. "I try to write them in as accessible a style as I can and as comforting a way," she explains. "I try and open the world up to children, but I also try to be protective. I would never have a book with gratuitous violence or anything too explicit."
The morning is Wilson's preferred time to write, lying out on her chaise longue, leaving her afternoons free for revisions and her other multifarious roles. From 2005 to 2007, she was the UK's Children's Laureate, appointed by a panel drawn from the world of books and literature to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field. In 2008, she became the first children's author to be made a dame.
Wilson is also the president of the Book Trade Benevolent Society, and a year ago she was invited to be the visiting Professor of Children's Literature at Roehampton University in the UK, a role she describes as "delightful". She teaches classes to master's students in children's literature and creative writing. She writes a monthly diary for her fun and interactive website, and last month saw the launch of her magazine for young girls, The Official Jacqueline Wilson Mag - published by DC Thomson, the company that gave her her first break in journalism when she was a teenager. (There has been some interest in making her books Vicky Angel and Lola Rose into films. Meanwhile, Hetty Feather may be adapted for the stage, and The Suitcase Kid is currently in development for television.)
Her collection of chunky silver rings is legendary. A prolific writer, with a back catalogue of nearly 100 books with about two new titles penned a year, she once explained she bought a ring for every book she published. When we met, I noted that she was only wearing three. "I love rings, I think they are a most exciting thing to wear, but, because it's hot in Dubai, I am being restrained. At home, I quite frequently have a ring on every finger," she explains.
Those avid fans who have already devoured Little Darlings need not worry, because Wilson has just finished her next book, The 22 Hour Love Song, which will be out in October. "It's about a child whose mum is in a coma after having a baby, and the child has to cope just with her stepfather, who is actually a lovely stepfather but she resents him. It's about whether her mum will get better, whether the child will bond with her stepfather, how they will get on with the new baby," she says. The child in the book is also passionately interested in whales and the book's title derives from the longest recorded time a humpback whale has been heard singing.
Wilson's latest work is typical of her writing - a combination of sad and sensitive issues told with humour and imagination. This mix is sometimes controversial, but, as she explains: "This is the world that many children experience, and I am trying to reflect that."
Read lots of books that are currently popular, rather than looking back nostalgically to books you read when you were young. Remember that publishing tastes change (don't try and do any Harry Potter-type books - there's only one Harry Potter - or vampire books - we've done that). Publishers look for something new but that will fit in with what we are currently interested in. Reading is important for children as it enriches their imagination.
Even if your children love your bedtime stories, take it with a pinch of salt. Anything that prolongs going to sleep they will like and obviously if you are their mum, dad, granny, auntie, etc, they will like it simply because it is you reading.
Do your research. There are specific ways of doing it. For example, most picture books are 32 pages. If you have a book that you feel is perfect and it is 47 pages, unless it is a work of shining genius it won't get published. Read lots, look in libraries, see what is out there.
Keep a diary, because this gets you into the habit of writing. So many adults say "I love to write", but never put pen to paper. Particularly for children this is a great idea (and it's fun to look back over them when you are older)!
Little Darlings is available in hardback at Magrudy's for Dh55. For more information about the author, visit www.jacquelinewilson.co.uk
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The%20specs
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Result
UAE (S. Tagliabue 90 1') 1-2 Uzbekistan (Shokhruz Norkhonov 48', 86')
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Leaderboard
15 under: Paul Casey (ENG)
-14: Robert MacIntyre (SCO)
-13 Brandon Stone (SA)
-10 Laurie Canter (ENG) , Sergio Garcia (ESP)
-9 Kalle Samooja (FIN)
-8 Thomas Detry (BEL), Justin Harding (SA), Justin Rose (ENG)
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
WIDE%20VIEW
%3Cp%3EThe%20benefits%20of%20HoloLens%202%2C%20according%20to%20Microsoft%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EManufacturing%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Reduces%20downtime%20and%20speeds%20up%20onboarding%20and%20upskilling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngineering%20and%20construction%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Accelerates%20the%20pace%20of%20construction%20and%20mitigates%20risks%20earlier%20in%20the%20construction%20cycle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHealth%20care%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Enhances%20the%20delivery%20of%20patient%20treatment%20at%20the%20point%20of%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Improves%20student%20outcomes%20and%20teaches%20from%20anywhere%20with%20experiential%20learning%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
