IT WILL be all about children’s fiction at the Swindon Literature Festival next weekend and author Sarah Lean has no intention to miss out on the fun. Ahead of her visit to Lower Shaw Farm on Sunday, May 8, where she will debut her new book series Tiger Days: The Secret Cat, the former teacher tells the Adver about her love of animals and the joy of writing children’s books.

What is Tiger Days about and what readers can expect?

Tiger Days is a new series for younger readers that follows the adventures of Tiger and her holiday friend Tom when they go to stay with their grandparents who live next door to each other. Tiger is a reluctant outdoor explorer but soon finds a whole world of unexpected wildlife at Willowgate House and in the large unexplored garden. Their adventures are playful and inventive, with a little peril and a few tugs at the heart along the way.

Tiger's grandmother, May Days, begins the story working in a wildlife reserve in Africa. This type of work appears in many of your books, is there a reason for this and does it require lots of research?

When I was growing up I spent a lot of time with other children playing outdoors – up the fields, in the woods, down the gulley – and we naturally investigated the world around us. My nose was often in a wildlife book, my hands in a pond and my knees dirty, and I seem to have accumulated all sorts of information. It’s important to research animals and their behaviour, even if I think I already know certain things, but I’m also drawing on my own experiences or others that I have heard. I think we may be losing touch with the natural world these days but stories can help make those connections.

Despite being a grandmother, May Days is strong, active and adventurous. Did you set out to write an older character this way and do you think it's important to have this kind of positive representation in children's fiction?

When I imagined Tiger first of all, it was that she would approach the wildlife with trepidation and uncertainty, and would need somebody to call on for help (May Day!). I wanted someone with a wealth of experience who would provide encouragement but not interfere too much, which I think is key to Tiger finding her own confidence. An older generation has much to offer and value as I’ve discovered from people I’ve met. And yes, I do think it is important to have positive role models in fiction because people like May Days do exist.

This series is aimed at a slightly younger audience than your previous books, was it difficult to change your writing or did it come naturally?

My main aim when I was practising writing years ago was to tell stories simply and precisely. It is challenging to keep a younger reader interested and I have to do what I like best which is work hard at being simple! And it is a lovely contrast to writing the more internalised stories for slightly older readers that I’ve been used to.

These days being an author requires you to do events at both schools and festivals, does your former career as a primary school teacher help you with this?

It definitely helped me having qualified as a primary school teacher to face hundreds of children at events. I once did an event for 1000 children for World Book Day! Children have a wonderful sense of humour and are honest, delightful and inspiring to talk to. In some ways it is easier than being a teacher, although I still aim to stir their imaginations, while hopefully enthusing them to read, be engaged in the subjects and having some fun along the way.

Sarah Lean will visit Lower Shaw Farm at 11am on Sunday 8. To book go to swindontheatres.co.uk.