Being the granddaughter of a successful author isn't always easy, as Ottilie Kark knows. Through her grandmother, Nina, Ottilie enjoyed a privileged look into the world of publishing, and saw the on-screen creation of Nina's most famous book - Carrie's War.
Nina and Ottilie on a family holiday.
My granny, Nina Bawden, and I were not always close. When I was six years old I lived with my grandparents in their Islington home while my mother was on tour as a stage manager in Australia and Japan for six months. As I was so close to my mother, being abandoned and left to live with my grandparents made me a very angry little girl.
My granddad would spoil me rotten but my granny was strict and made me brush my teeth and hair. After one big row I stormed upstairs, stomping on each step as I went. I got to my room, which was the very top room, slammed the door and wrote in the biggest writing I could ever do, "Granny is a pig!". I stuck it on my bedroom door and slammed the door extra hard.
A few moments later, granny came up and stood outside my room laughing. I said in a very cross little voice, "What you laughing at?". She then pointed out that the sign I had written actually said "Granny is a pag". Not pig! We laughed a lot about this small mistake and from that moment on we became closer and we started writing a book together called "Granny the Pag". I was very lucky to be so close to my granny in her later years. We only lived twenty minutes away and I would see her nearly every weekend and talk to her every day.
Growing up with an author as a granny you get the privilege, but also the embarrassment, of having them asked to come into your school to talk to your classmates.
Growing up with an author as a granny you get the privilege, but also the embarrassment, of having them asked to come into your school to talk to your classmates. Everyone used to find it exciting that I was related to someone famous, but I would find it embarrassing when she would tell stories about me in assembly... Though looking back on this, it was rather cool! It meant that I was lucky enough to be part of book launches, press nights and, very excitingly, I was able to see the filming of Carrie’s War.
When my mother was growing up she went with my grandparents to see the filming of the 1974 television series and then in 2004 me, my granny and her evacuation friend Jean went to see the filming of the latest version. It was wonderful to be able to see the process and to feel part of this really amazing story has not only lasted for generations, but is also part of my own family history. For Jean and granny to revisit one of the places they were evacuated to, is something I am so pleased to have shared with them.
From Charlotte’s Web to Goodnight Mister Tom, Watership Down to Tarka the Otter, we have a full set of Puffin's 20 beautiful A Puffin Book children's stories to give away, as well as five individual books, all with newly designed covers and previously unseen extras. To enter into the draw, just let us know your favourite childhood books below. Giveaway will end on the 15 July at 5.30pm.
By Ottillie Kark
Twitter: @PuffinBooks
My favourite book was 'Matilda', although I was (& still am!) a massive fan of everything by the wonderful Roald Dahl. Matilda was particularly special though - I used to wish that I could have the power of telekinesis & if I concentrated hard enough, things would move at some point.. they didn't of course, but I had fun trying!
A magical book which will always remain a firm favourite 
My favourites [and read and re-read many times] were The Secret Garden by Frances Hodson Burnett and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.I think that sometimes children enjoy an element of sadness as well as joy in their books. 
Seven Little Australians and The Family at Misrule by Ethel Turner which had belonged to my Grandfather and then my Dad
Heidi by Johanna Spyri - magical
When I was around 12 I read the Cherry Ames series and so wanted to be a nurse until I read books about a policewoman - can't remember the name. (I didn't become either in the end) 
The Orlando books - especially the one when he goes on holiday to Cornwall!
I never took to Enid Blyton or any fairy tale books and Alice in Wonderland freaked me out. I did however love a book about a tiger who went round and round in circles so fast that he turned into butter 
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