Woodall, Clive 1957(?)-

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Woodall, Clive 1957(?)-

PERSONAL: Born c. 1957; married; second wife's name, Trisha (a bank cashier); children: Chris, Dave. Hobbies and other interests: Bird watching, playing the guitar.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Ace Books, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

CAREER: Writer. Sainsbury' (grocery store), supermarket manager, 1989-2004; also worked for W. H. Smith (book seller).

WRITINGS:

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Gerald Duckworth (London, England), 2004, Ace Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Seven for a Secret, Gerald Duckworth (London, England), 2005.

ADAPTATIONS: One for Sorrow, Two for Joy was optioned for a film by Disney.

SIDELIGHTS: Clive Woodwall was working as a supermarket manager when be began to make up a story in 1993 to tell his children at bedtime. His children loved the story and wanted more, which inspired Woodall to write One for Sorrow, Two for Joy. The manuscript was rejected by numerous publishers before finally being published in 2004. Since then, as a School Library Journal contributor noted, it has "taken England by storm." The novel revolves around an epic battle in the bird kingdom. The magpies, under orders from their leader, Slyekin, are killing all the smaller birds with the help of the crows and have already wiped out the robins, except for Kirrick and another whom Kirrick discovers later. The smaller bird seeks the help of a wise old owl named Tomar to find out what he can do to stop the genocide. Following Tomar's instructions, Kirrick seeks out the leaders of the Falcons, Eagles, and Seabirds to enlist their help in battling the magpies. An epic battle ensues.

In a review for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sarah Bryan Miller felt that the story "is a good idea," but is poorly rendered." Many other reviewers viewed One for Sorrow, Two for Joy more favorably. Writing in the Library Journal, Jackie Cassada noted that the "epic tale of great deeds and small creatures offers a bird's-eye view of courage of sacrifice." A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that while the book would inevitably be compared to Richard Adams' classic novel Watership Down, Woodwall's tale is "a highly original animal fantasy." Reviewer's Bookwatch contributor Robyn Gioia concluded, "Heart felt scenes and deep emotions guarantee the reader will feel the intensity of the hunt; understand how deep the evil and the extent to which it can flourish."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Chronicle, January, 2005, Michael M. Jones, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, p. 32.

Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2004, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, p. 1116.

Library Bookwatch, February, 2005, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy.

Library Journal, December 1, 2004, Jackie Cassada, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, p. 105.

M2 Best Books, March 16, 2004, "Disney Buys Supermarket Worker's Fairytale."

MBR Bookwatch, January, 2005, Harriet Klausner, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy.

Philadelphia Inquirer, February 9, 2005, Kathie Haegele, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy.

Publishers Weekly, December 20, 2004, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, p. 41.

Reviewer's Bookwatch, February, 2005, Robyn Gioia, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 16, 2005, Sarah Bryan Miller, review of One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, p. F10.

School Library Journal, May, 2004, "New Author Goes from Market to Millionaire: Supermarket Manager Clive Woodall's Debut Novel Creates Stir in the United Kingdom," p. 24.

Variety, March 15, 2004, Archie Thomas, "U.K. Grocer Rings Up Novel Deal with H'wood," p. 6.