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Liz Pichon credits timeless childhood themes for Tom Gates’s enduring appeal
Liz Pichon says the lasting appeal of her Tom Gates books comes from focusing on familiar parts of childhood, such as family life and school, rather than current technology. The series has reached its 15th anniversary with a 25th instalment, and continues to find new readers as earlier fans grow up.
Pichon has sold 16.5 million books in 47 languages, with the series adapted for stage and screen. Now 63, she began writing in her mid-40s after working in design and illustration, and says childhood insecurity about her dyslexia contributed to her late start. The latest story draws on an episode involving her husband, who once got into a concert with help from U2.
In short
- Tom Gates marks 15 years with its 25th book.
- The series has sold 16.5 million copies in 47 languages.
- Pichon credits familiar childhood experiences for its appeal.
Explained simply
Tom Gates is a children’s book series by British author and illustrator Liz Pichon. The stories centre on Tom’s family, friends and school life, and are told through his drawings and notes.
Pichon worked in design and illustration before beginning to write books in her forties. She has said that feeling unsure about her dyslexia as a child affected her confidence. The series has been published in many languages and adapted for stage and screen.
The books focus on experiences that can be familiar to children across generations, even as technology changes. This helps explain how they can reach new readers while also appealing to people who first read them as children.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “‘No tech, no texts, just childhood’: author Liz Pichon on the secrets behind her multi-million selling Tom Gates series”.