Did you want to become a writer when you were a child?
Yes - I started writing stories when I was about 6
Who inspired you growing up?
Tons of fictional heroes and heroines, 3 inspirational teachers, and my mother (who's MUCH lovelier than Arabella)
What are your favourite children's books?
I have loads of favourites. Here's just a few for now:
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series (of course), The Boy in Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, Bumface by Morris Gleitzman, I am David by Ann Holm, Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce, Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian, The Narnia books by C.S Lewis, The Odyssey by Homer
What are your favourite teenage/YA books
The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers
Maus 1 & ll by Art Spiegelman
Any book by John Wyndham
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
1984 by George Orwell
The Gormanghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
Where did you go to school?
In London. Then I did a degree in English at York University followed by a degree in Art (illustration) at Harrow School of Art.
What is your favourite ice-cream flavour?
Cherry Garcia though certain toffee, chocolate and coconut flavours occasionally compete.
If you weren't an author/illustrator what would you be?
NOT a tightrope walker (I hate heights). A part of me always wished I was a doctor like my sister, because I really wanted people to take me seriously. But it was a doomed notion since I can't stand the sight of blood. So - hmmm... maybe an actor? The great thing about being an actor is that you get to try out being someone else. Which is one of the things you do when you're writing a story.
Where do you write your books?
I mostly write in my studio, or on trains. But I get ideas in odd places: out shopping; in bed; in the shower. So I carry a notebook around with me (this doesn't work in the shower).
When is your birthday?
July 8th
Have you got a husband and children? Can you tell me about them?
Yes and yes. My husband's called Chris, and my two children, Addison and Max wouldn't really want me to call them children any more.
Do you have any pets?
Can you count fish as pets? My son has a huge tank filled with tropical fish. The thing I love about the tank is the colour... And the excitement when all the babies hatch. The thing I hate about fish is that when one of them gets sick, the others all gang up on it. We used to have 3 beautiful, naughty cats, but when we moved to a flat on a very busy road (with no garden) my sister adopted them.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am just finishing the drawings for Polly's 3rd Secret Diary MUM IN LOVE . You won't believe what horrors Polly has to face in this one! I am also writing the second book (Delirium) for my epic teenage trilogy.
When did you first start writing books for children?
When my own children were small, but despite a diet of gummy bears and sherbet fountains they have insisted on growing up - so most of my characters have had to grow up with them.
ABOUT POLLY AND THE SECRET DIARIES
Why did you choose to write a novel in the format of a diary?
I was doodling on a piece of paper one day, and Polly just appeared. She was clearly demanding to tell her story in her own way. So I decided to let her.
Is Arabella based on anyone you know?
Yes - several people all merged into one - but their identity has to remain secret (for obvious reasons).
Were you similar to Polly when you were growing up?
Yes, but luckily I didn't have Arabella as a mother.
Where did you get the idea for Polly's Totally Secret Diary ?
The idea grew. Polly was sitting there on my desk waiting to tell her story. I had the beginings of the American adventure in my head. So I just put the two of them together! Then I had to try and persuade the lovely editors at Random House that 128 pages of badly spelt diary in full colour was a good idea. It took me over a year!
Did any of the story actually happen or did you make it up?
A little bit is true, but Im not saying which bit!
Did you do the drawings yourself?
Yes.
How long does it take to write one of the Polly diaries?
It's impossible to separate the writing from the drawing so I'd have to say each diary takes at least a year.
ABOUT FEVER
Where did the idea for Fever come from?
Weirdly I was thinking about ghosts long before I was thinking about time travel.
So - did Fever start out as a ghost story then?
I suppose so. But it ended up being a love story. An epic sci-fi love story.
Do you call it epic because of the huge time-span?
Partly. And partly because the themes: death, time, love, immortality are pretty epic.
Sci-fi love story. Is that a first?
Possibly. But it won't be the last! I am currently writing the second in the series!
Is Fever the first book you've written for teenagers?
Yes. Which is surprising considering I live on a campus with 750 of them!
