Author Philip Ardagh Discusses Water Access and His Journey to Writing

Reflecting on his path to becoming an author, Ardagh described writing as an innate talent. He struggled with academic pursuits and sports, finding solace in writing. After numerous rejections, he transitioned from non-fiction to children's fiction, eventually achieving publication success.

Ardagh's passion for writing began at a young age, although he initially didn't consider it a viable career. His first job was as an advertising copywriter in London, where he enjoyed the creative aspects of media production. Notably, Anthony Horowitz later took over his role at the agency, going on to pen the Alex Rider series.

When asked about his choice to write humorous books, Ardagh acknowledged that humor seems to have chosen him. He writes across genres, infusing his non-fiction with a sense of silliness while still addressing serious themes like death and loss in his fiction.

As a child, Ardagh was influenced by a variety of authors, including Enid Blyton and C. S. Lewis. Today, he appreciates the many talented writers creating children's literature.

His humorous book recommendation is *AUGUSTUS CARP, Esq. By Himself*, which he finds comical for its satirical take on autobiography. He believes humor is highly subjective yet universally appreciated among adults.

Inspired by a review from Michael Rosen, Ardagh's popular series features Eddie Dickens, a character from a wealthy Victorian background. This led him to create two messy, eccentric characters, the Grunts, who navigate a less privileged lifestyle.

Ardagh specifically chose Axel Scheffler to illustrate *The Grunts*, admiring his artistic style. While Scheffler’s interpretation diverged from Ardagh's mental image, he valued the collaboration that allowed both visions to shine.

If the Grunts were in charge, they would enact laws emphasizing their freedom to roam and interact with the world as they please. Ardagh humorously noted he might explore a career involving animals, particularly goats, if he were not a writer.

His beard, now nearly twenty years old, grew after he developed a reaction to shaving. He has no plans to dye it, despite it gradually turning white.

When asked about creating an entire meal from gum, he envisioned an Indian feast. He also joked about preferring to be chased by piranhas on land rather than drowning at sea, highlighting his lack of swimming skills.

Concluding with thoughts on wealth, Ardagh stated that money holds little value without a shared system of trade, and if he were wealthy, he would focus on building a museum for knitted art after addressing global water issues.