Diane Foley
Diane Foley began writing classroom resources while working as a teacher and school principal. Now a full-time writer, her publications range from early readers to social studies and science work books for secondary pupils. She is best known for more than 50 published plays for juniors, and three-act plays for senior students. Foley’s work has featured on childrens television and radio, and is published in Australia and the United States.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Foley, Diane (1945 –) began writing classroom resources while still working as a teacher and school principal. Writing became her full-time passion in 1997.
Her publications range from early readers to social studies and science work books for secondary pupils. She is best known for more than 50 published plays for juniors, and three-act plays for seniors.
Her work has featured on children's television and radio and is published in Australia and the USA.
Foley writes ‘I believe passionately that classroom material must reflect modern learning styles with stimulating, well-written information.’
Foley is from Cornwall in England, ‘where piskies live’, and her own range of publications are available under the Piskie Press imprint which she distributes via the web through www.educationdirect.co.nz.
WRITERS IN SCHOOLS INFORMATION
KAPAI: Kids' Authors' Pictures and Information
Where do you live?
I live on a farm in South Canterbury where I can see the mountains and the ocean.
What books do you read?
I read autobiographies and travel books.
Who is your favourite author?
I like any author who writes good English and has a sense of humour.
How do you think up your ideas?
I write about things that happen or have happened around me.
What is the best thing about being an author?
I can work when I like, where I like and for as long as I like.
What sort of pets do you have?
I have a bossy little dog that not only bosses me but tells the big farm dogs what to do, too.
What is your favourite colour?
I like blue and if I buy one more blue jersey my family will scream.
What is the most fun thing about being an author?
I get to write about things that make me laugh.
Some Questions from Primary School Students
How do you make books?
I provide the words and sometimes the photos, too, but someone else puts them together to make the book.
Where do you go for your holidays?
I don’t go anywhere in particular. I have travelled a lot and now I like staying at home.
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I threw everyone’s hat up on to the school roof because I thought we were moving to Australia. We didn’t move and I had to miss playtime for a week.
Some Questions from Secondary School Students
How did you get started?
When I worked in a school I started writing for my own classroom.
Who inspired you when you were getting started?
No one person inspired me. I just knew I could write in a way that helped my pupils.
What advice would you give an aspiring young writer?
Write, write and write some more. Don’t ever consider something is finished — there is always room for improvement.
Is it difficult to make a living writing in New Zealand?
It is very and you have to do a wide range of writing. I write plays, stories, and non-fiction.
What were you like as a teenager?
I was a bit of a loner. I was overweight and didn’t go out much.
Is there anything else you could tell children about yourself?
I love to take a CSI approach to give my stories a ring of truth. I love to look at something and ask myself, why is this here, where did it come from and what is it used for?
A story falls into place when every little detail fits in. You should try it for your stories.
