.Jacqueline Wilson Biography Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE FRSL (née Aitken; born December 17, 1945) is an English novelist best recognized for her work in children’s literature. Her works are famous for taking on serious issues like adoption and divorce without alienating her vast fanbase. Wilson has authored more than a hundred books since her debut novel in 1969.
Jacqueline Wilson Biography 2024
Jacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945 and grew up in Kingston-on-Thames, where she is still a full-time writer today. She attended Coombe Girls School in Surrey before moving to Dundee to work as a teenage journalist for D C Thomson, writing for Jackie Teenage Magazine, which was named after her. She has written numerous children’s books, and her sensitive understanding of modern children, their way of life, and the problems they face, combined with her sense of humour, has made her a very popular author, particularly among children aged nine to eleven. She has sold more than ten million books, which have been translated into over thirty languages, and at one point in 2000, six of her books. Her books include The Story of Tracy Beaker (1991) and its sequel, The Dare Game (2000), which tell the story of a child who lives in residential and foster care.
Jacqueline Wilson Biography 2024 Details
| Born | Jacqueline Aitken
17 December 1945 (age 78)
Bath, Somerset, England |
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| Occupation | Writer |
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| Period | 1969–present |
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| Genre | Realist |
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| Notable works | - Cookie
- Candyfloss
- Double Act
- The Story of Tracy Beaker
- Hetty Feather
- Love Frankie
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| Notable awards | Guardian Prize
2000
British Book Award
2000, 2003 |
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| Spouse | William Millar Wilson (m. 1965; div. 2004) |
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| Partner | Trish Beswick (2002–present) |
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| Children | Emma Wilson |
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| Category | Lifestyle |
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Jacqueline Wilson
Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE FRSL is an English novelist known for her popular children’s literature. Her novels have been notable for tackling realistic topics such as adoption and divorce without alienating her large readership. Since her debut novel in 1969, Wilson has written over 100 books.
Born: 17 December 1945 (age 78 years), Bath, United Kingdom
Children: Emma Wilson
Spouse: William Millar Wilson (m. 1965–2004)
Partner: Trish Beswick (2002–)
Parents: Margaret Aitken, Harry Aitken
Early life
Jacqueline Aitken was born on 17 December 1945 in Bath, Somerset. Her father, Harry, worked in the civil service, while her mother, Biddy, was an antiques trader. She really appreciated Noel Streatfeild’s writings, as well as American classics like Little Women and What Katy Did. She wrote her first “book,” “Meet the Maggots,” when she was nine years old. It was 21 pages long. Wilson was given the moniker Jacky Daydream at school, which she later used as the title of her book, which relates the story of her childhood in primary school. Wilson attended Carshalton Technical College and Coombe Girls’ School in Surrey. After leaving school at the age of 16, she began training as a secretary but then applied to work with the Dundee-based publishing firm.
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About
Award-winning English children’s author whose work deals with controversial themes, such as divorce, adoption, and mental illness. Her best-known books include Hetty Feather (2009), Dustbin Baby (2001) and Double Act (1995).
Before Fame
She read voraciously and wrote prolifically during her childhood years in Kingston-upon-Thames, England. She was an excellent student at Coombe Girls’ School, but she ended her studies in her late teens and was soon offered a job at the DC Thomson publishing company.
Trivia
Her Tracy Beaker novel series, which she began releasing in 1991, became extremely popular, and CBBC adapted multiple installments into TV specials.
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Family Life
She was born in Bath, Somerset, England to Harry and Margaret Aitken. She was married to printer-turned-policeman Millar Wilson from 1965 to 2004. She and Millar had one daughter, Emma. She came out publicly as gay in 2020.
Associated With
Dani Harmer starred as Tracy Beaker in the CBBC series The Story of Tracy Beaker.
Jacqueline Wilson Net Worth
As of the latest available information, Jacqueline Wilson’s net worth is estimate to be around $10 million.
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Career
| Aspect | Details |
| Writing Career | Wilson initially focused on crime fiction but later dedicated herself to children’s literature. |
| Breakthrough | Achieved fame in 1991 with The Story of Tracy Beaker. |
| Themes in Books | Common themes include adoption, divorce, and mental illness, which have attracted controversy but are well-loved. |
| Educational Achievement | Earned an A in A-level English at age 40. |
| Number of Books | Wrote approximately 40 books before gaining widespread fame. |
| University of Roehampton | Appointed Professorial Fellow (2013) and Pro-Chancellor (2014-2020). |
| Chancellor | Became Chancellor of the University of Roehampton in August 2014, reappointed in 2017 until August 2020. |
| Teaching Role | Teaches modules in Children’s Literature and Creative Writing MA programmes. |
| Charity Work | Patron of Momentum, which supports children undergoing cancer treatment, and the Letterbox Club initiative by BookTrust. |
| Other Patron Roles | Former patron of Friends of Richmond Park. |
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Personal life
| Jacqueline Wilson | Details |
| Marriage | Married printer Millar Wilson in 1965 at the age of 19. |
| Children | Had a daughter named Emma two years after marriage. |
| Divorce | Divorced Millar Wilson in 2004 after he left her for another woman. |
| Same-Sex Relationship | Announced in April 2020 that she was in a same-sex relationship with Trish, her partner of 18 years. |
| Dedication | Dedicated a book to her partner Trish, who owns a bookshop. |
| Residence | Lives in Alfriston, East Sussex. |
| Gay Icon | Expressed delight at being seen as a gay icon in September 2024 after publishing Think Again. |
| Health Issues | Has faced heart failure, uses an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, was on renal dialysis, and received a kidney transplant. |
| Recent Publication | Published her first adult novel Think Again in 2024, a sequel to the Girls series, following Ellie Allard and her friends at age 40. |
Honors and Awards
Aspect | Details |
OBE | Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2002) |
Dame Commander | Dame Commander of the British Empire (2008) |
Jacqueline Wilson: Inspiration Behind Her Fiction
Aspect | Details |
Personal Reflection | Jacqueline Wilson considers how her life story could resemble a novel plot but has no plans to write an autobiography. While she published Jacky Daydream (2007) for children, her rise from modest beginnings to fame is well-known. |
Surprises | The final chapters of her life may surprise her fans, as her experiences continue to evolve. |
Current Projects and Latest Work
Aspect | Details |
Upcoming Projects | Jacqueline Wilson is preparing for the release of Love Frankie and a star-studded film adaptation of Four Children and It. Additionally, the stage production of Hetty Feather will be screened in cinemas. |
Health Challenges | Despite health issues, Wilson remains actively involved in her work and upcoming projects. |
Personal Reflections and Controversies
Aspect | Details |
Personal Connection | Love Frankie reflects Wilson’s own life, particularly her relationship with Trish Beswick, which started after her marriage ended in her early 50s. |
Public Perception | Though not intended as a “coming-out novel,” it does share aspects of Wilson’s personal experiences. |
Challenges and Criticisms
Aspect | Details |
Criticisms | Wilson’s books, including Love Frankie, often tackle controversial issues such as mental health and LGBTQ+ themes, leading to varied public reactions. |
Response | She remains committed to exploring these themes honestly, even when they challenge conventional norms. |
Legacy and Future Plans
Aspect | Details |
Relevance | Despite changes in teenage culture, Wilson continues to connect with her audience through contemporary details and emotional depth. |
Upcoming Work | Wilson is working on a new historical novel set during the Great Exhibition, which promises to be rich in historical context and free from controversy. |
Summary
Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE FRSL, born December 17, 1945, is an acclaimed English novelist renowned for her children’s literature, including “The Story of Tracy Beaker” and “Hetty Feather.” Since her debut in 1969, she has written over 100 books, often addressing complex issues like adoption and divorce. Wilson, who has received multiple awards and honors, is also recognized for her charitable work and role as Chancellor of the University of Roehampton.
