Cressida Cowell: It wasn’t cool to be enthusiastic about books!

Cressida Cowell: It wasn’t cool to be enthusiastic about books!

Author: Global June 19, 2026 Duration: 1:06:08

Cressida Cowell is on of the most beloved children's authors, selling millions and millions of books worldwide, including 'How to train your dragon' which is now a global film franchise too.

In this episode of Full Disclosure with James O'Brien, Cressida tells us about her loving childhood with summers spent on Little Colonsay in the Inner Hebridies - a small, inhabited island that her environmentalist dad bought. From boarding school to sixth form, she charts back through her love or reading and illustrating to the struggles, and sometimes lack of, that she faced to become a successful author.

A self-proclaimed misfit at school who struggle with concentration and organisation, Cressida tells james how she felt powerless as a child and loved reading stories with strong female heroes - something she strives for in her writing.

But school never held her back, and with some good fortune of meeting the right people at the right time, Cressida discusses how she got her big break, 'How To Train Your Dragon' didn't become an instant hit, but a cult one and how Hiccup came to be.

Find out more about Cressida Cowell and her new book How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike here.

Full Disclosure is a Global Production

Listen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.


You know that feeling when a conversation goes deeper than you expected, moving past the headlines and soundbites into something more real? That’s the space where Full Disclosure with James O'Brien lives. Hosted by the award-winning LBC presenter and author, this podcast is built on a simple but powerful premise: a genuinely curious interviewer meeting fascinating people from politics, news, and entertainment. James O’Brien brings his thoughtful perspective to each discussion, not to debate, but to understand. The result is a series of compelling dialogues that feel more like eavesdropping on a great chat between insightful minds than a formal interview. You’ll hear guests reveal layers of their experiences and opinions in a way that only happens when the questions are interested, not just interesting. It’s a refreshing take in a crowded field, focusing on the substance and the story behind the public persona. For anyone interested in the forces shaping our society, arts, and culture, this podcast offers a nuanced and engaging listen. Each episode is a chance to step away from the noise and into a conversation that prioritizes depth and disclosure, all delivered with the intelligence and clarity listeners have come to expect from James O’Brien.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
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