Jacqueline Wilson: It’s ok not to be perfect

Characters such as Tracy Beaker might find themselves in difficult family situations, but that sense of reality is part of the appeal for Jacqueline Wilson’s millions of young readers as she gets set to publish her new novel, Wave Me Goodbye, writes Esther McCarthy.

Jacqueline Wilson has a very early childhood memory of secretly creating stories for her own entertainment, only to be caught out by her parents. It taught her a lesson that she’s kept throughout her professional life, she reveals.

“We lived in a very small flat, I’m an only child so it was just my parents and me. I remember I locked myself in the loo, and was having some long involved imaginary game.