Joy Watson
{{Short description|New Zealand writer (1938–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Joy Watson
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| pseudonym =
| birth_name = Valerie Joy Watson
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1938|02|21}}
| birth_place = Gisborne, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2021|10|04|1938|02|21}}
| death_place = Havelock North, New Zealand
| occupation = Author, school dental nurse
| language = English
| education = St Mary's College
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| period = 1980s–2021
| genre = Children's literature
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| movement =
| notableworks = Grandpa's Slippers
| spouse =
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| awards = Gaelyn Gordon Award
New Zealand Post Award
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Valerie Joy Watson (née Evans; 21 February 1938 – 4 October 2021) was a New Zealand author of children's books, many of which were published by Scholastic Corporation. Many of Watson's tales were based on her husband Kevin.{{Cite web |title=The private inspiration behind this iconic Kiwi book |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/career/grandpas-slippers-childrens-book-author-and-daughter-4703 |access-date=7 October 2021 |website=Now To Love|date=18 July 2016 }} Watson had also written lyrics to school musicals and songs. She was the mother of writer/singer/musician Mary-anne Scott.{{cite web |title=Mary-anne Scott |url=https://www.penguin.co.nz/authors/mary-anne-scott |website=Penguin Books (NZ) |accessdate=8 August 2022}}
Early life
Watson was born in Gisborne on 21 February 1938{{cite web |title=Interview with Joy Watson |url=https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-childrens-authors/joy-watson/ |website=Christchurch City Libraries |accessdate=23 March 2019}} to a farming family, she was the second (and only girl) of four children. Largely educated by correspondence, she later attended school at Waipukurau and St Mary's College, Wellington.{{cite web |title=Joy Watson |url=https://www.storylines.org.nz/Profiles/Profiles+T-Z/Joy+Watson.html |website=storylines.org.nz |accessdate=23 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209121030/https://www.storylines.org.nz/Profiles/Profiles+T-Z/Joy+Watson.html |archive-date=9 February 2021}} Although her father left school at a young age, both of her parents were literate. After finishing school, she trained as a dental nurse and worked in the Dannevirke area.{{Cite news |date=23 October 2021 |title=Grandpa's Slippers trod winning path |url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-dominion-post/20211023/282175064318966 |page=7 |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=The Dominion Post |agency=Stuff |via=PressReader}}
Career
Watson began her writing career by penning stories and poems for her family. The inspiration for her book Grandpa's Slippers was her husband's old slippers. It became well-known{{cite news |last1=Monk |first1=Felicity |last2=Page |first2=Emma |title=Spell binders: How Juliette MacIver, Toby Morris, Mary-anne Scott and Lisala Halapua write their acclaimed children's books |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/94475333/spell-binders-how-juliette-maciver-toby-morris-maryanne-scott-and-lisala-halapua-write-their-acclaimed-childrens-books |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Stuff |date=8 July 2017 |language=en}} and won a Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much–Loved book in 2000. Grandpa's Slippers was followed by Grandpa's Cardigan, Grandpa's Shorts, Grandpa's Shed and Grandpa's Cat.
In 2015, Grandpa's Slippers was a fiction nomination for the Great Kiwi Classic,{{cite web |title=The Great Kiwi Classic: On Sacred Cows and Literary Canons |url=https://www.read-nz.org/aotearoa-reads-details/the-great-kiwi-classic-on-sacred-cows-and-literary-canons |website=Read NZ Te Pou Muramura |access-date=8 August 2022 |date=12 February 2015}} adapted into a stage show,{{cite web |title=Polished yet with Warmth, Ease and Playfulness |url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=8296 |website=Theatre Review |access-date=8 August 2022}} and included in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants for 2017/2018.{{cite web|url=https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2018/05/DT_20180515_AGN_7342_AT_files/DT_20180515_AGN_7342_AT_Attachment_60302_2.PDF |title= 2017/2018 Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants, Round Two |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=Auckland Council}} It has been published in foreign language editions.
Watson wrote 15 books and with her husband a musical performed in schools.
In 2012, Watson dedicated preschool story time to the community of Hastings for New Zealand Book Month.{{cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1202/S00392/new-zealand-book-month-2012-get-ready-to-turn-the-page.htm |title= New Zealand Book Month 2012 – get ready to turn the page! |date=21 February 2012 |website=Hastings District Council}}
Personal life
Watson married pharmacist Kevin Watson and they had nine children. Her daughter Mary-anne Scott is a writer of young adult fiction.
Watson died in Havelock North on 4 October 2021, aged 83. Her Requiem Mass was held in the town on 7 October 2021.{{Cite web |date=7 October 2021 |title=Joy Watson, beloved author of 'Grandpa's Slippers', has passed away |url=https://www.mindfood.com/au/article/joy-watson-beloved-author-of-grandpas-slippers-has-passed-away/ |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=MINDFOOD }}
Works
- Pets (1988)
- Mouse In The House (1989)
- Grandpa's Slippers (1989)
- Grandpa's Cardigan (1993)
- No Porridge, Please (1994)
- Just In Case (1996)
- A Wet Day At School (1996)
- Foster Dog (1999)
- Highway Robbery (2000)
- The Birthday Flood (2001)
- Grandpa's Shorts (2001) - Children's Choice Award at the 2002 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
- Grandpa's Shed (2003)
- Zita the Zebra (2006)
- Grandpa's Cat (2006)
- Worms Squirm...and Other Poems (2007){{cite web |title=Watson, Joy |url=https://www.read-nz.org/writer/watson-joy/ |website=Read NZ Te Pou Muramura |access-date=8 August 2022}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1047191.Joy_Watson Joy Watson at Goodreads]
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Category:New Zealand children's writers
Category:People from Gisborne, New Zealand
Category:Scholastic Corporation books
Category:New Zealand women children's writers