This is Video of the Week from Wales Arts Review. We’ll be showcasing some of the best art in Wales with a new video shared every week. From music to drama and everything in between, videos will not be limited by medium. Today’s video is a little different as we share the launch interview for Eloise Williams’ latest children’s book, Honesty and Lies.
For this week’s Video of the Week we’re featuring an interview with the former Childrens’ Laureate Wales, Eloise Williams. In the video, filmed by Firefly Press, Williams discusses her seventh book, Honesty and Lies. Firefly Press is an award-winning independent children’s and YA publisher based in Wales, publishing fiction in all genres for 5-19 years olds.
The plot of Honesty and Lies is set in London in 1601. On her first day in London, storyteller Honesty manages to get a job with Alice as a maid at the court of Elizabeth 1. But while Honesty looks for attention and praise, to make a better life for herself, Alice must stay invisible, hiding a terrible secret. In a world of treason and revenge, their friendship will put them both in danger. Can they even trust each other? The book is an engaging dive into the past to explore the themes of friendship and scheming, against the backdrop of an impressive Elisabethan court.
In this video, filmed as part of the launch for the book, Eloise Williams talks about how she set about researching the book and why Hampton Court turned out to be the perfect inspiration for getting into the mindset of the characters. Williams also discusses her favourite lines from the book and explains why imagination is so central to the process of writing fiction for children.
Honesty and Lies is published by Firefly Press and is available now.
