Seven Arrows Student Interviews ‘Dinotek Adventures’ Author

By LEO PESCE | Junior Reporter

Palisadian-Post Junior Reporter Leo Pesce, a student at Seven Arrows Elementary School, interviews his favorite author N.S. Blackman, the London-based creator of “The Dinotek Adventures” series for young readers.

Leo Pesce: Why did you first get inspired to make Dinotek books?

N.S. Blackman: Well, I had the idea when I was on holiday. I was going for a long walk beside a river in Spain, and it was a lovely day, and I had my little son next to me. He was younger than you and your brother Renzi, and I started to tell him the story.

The idea just came out of nowhere! I started telling him the story about Protos and all his friends. I believe that you have lots of ideas waiting in your head and you just have to look for them.

Pesce: If you could choose to write about anything, why did you choose to write about dinosaurs and robots?

Blackman: I think dinosaurs are really exciting. I’ve always loved them. Even when I was little I tried writing about them. I remember trying to write my first book when I was in school. I like robots as well. Putting them both into a story seemed really cool—they’re both very exciting.

Pesce: What do you want the readers to think about when they read Dinotek books?

Blackman: I think the most important thing is that I want them to like the characters. And I want them to think the book is exciting. I would also like them to imagine what it’s like to be Marlin Maxton, the main character. And what it’s like to have friends like the Dinoteks. I want them to care about the characters, because I do.

Pesce: How did you get the idea of Marlin Maxton for the main character’s name?

Blackman: That was a tricky one. Initially, I had some other names in mind. Then I did lots of thinking. My publisher Sonya helped me. As soon as she said, ‘What about Marlin?’ I knew right away. That sounded so right.

Pesce: Why did you choose to make the Dinoteks be metal dinosaurs?

Blackman: I wanted them to be a bit special and to look a little bit old-fashioned. Not everyone knows quite how magical they are, except Marlin. I didn’t want them to look too futuristic, so I thought about having them be made out of old metal pieces.

Pesce: If there could be any number of Dinotek books, how many would you probably write?

Blackman: I know that I’m definitely going to write at least two more. We have a book deal with a Korean publisher where the books are being translated into Korean, and the publisher wants at least two more, so definitely two more by next summer. After that I would love to keep going.

I have another story I’m going go write too, maybe for older children, and I’m very excited about that. But I’m sure I’ll keep writing Dinotek stories because there are lots more adventures for them to have.

Pesce: Was Flame, the golden T-Rex character, modeled after the first T-Rex fossil ever found, or did you make it up?

Blackman: That’s a great question. I actually didn’t copy it from the first T-Rex fossil ever discovered, but I looked in some dinosaur encyclopedias and I found one I really liked. It’s hard to draw them when you first start, but then I got the hang of it. I gave him a golden head to be special, and that’s where his name comes from. When I made his head gold, I thought of the name “Flame.”

Pesce: Do you have any advice for kids who like to make art?

Blackman: Keep drawing—the more you draw the better you get!