What are your favourite children’s books and why?
Yertle the Turtle and The Sneetches by Dr Seuss.
Who are your favourite children’s authors and why?
Dr Seuss — he’s a genius.
Who or what was your biggest influence in deciding to become a writer?
I have been writing poems since I was at school, and never really stopped. I had teachers who encouraged me to read nonsense — Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll and Spike Milligan — I think they must have had some influence.
What inspired you to write your latest book?
My father-in-law’s relationship with my son.
What’s the best thing you’ve ever written?
A contemporary fable called Millennia the Angel.
Is there any particular ritual involved in your writing process?
I have to clear my in-tray of every piece of admin before I can start to write.
What is your favourite colour?
Purple
What is your favourite food and worst?
Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding etc
There’s nothing I don’t really like beyond sheep’s eyes.
What subject did you enjoy most at school… and least?
English
Least – Maths.
What is your favourite film?
Home videos of my children.
What music do you like?
Songs with beautiful tunes and beautiful words
If you hadn’t been an author, what would you have been?
A housekeeper.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Ages thinking about it — 2 days to write it down.
How long have you been writing books?
12 years
Where do you get your ideas from?
My car and my bed.
Interview produced with thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing.
