FAQs
What is your next book?
In 2012, I shall be publishing The Boy With Hawk-like Eyes and writing The Earth Stories.
How many Sprite Sister books will there be?
There are six stories so far and I plan one more after that.
Where do you get your ideas?
I like watching people and am very observant. It’s the small things that intrigue me, the little details. I think a lot about human relationships.
I get ideas all the time – things flash in to my mind. It might be the idea for a whole new story or a small detail for one of the characters.
Ideas come when I am quiet. I do a lot of thinking when I am walking in the countryside or sitting by myself, looking at a view. I keep a notebook handy at all times. It’s really important to write ideas down. You think you will remember them, but it’s easy to forget things.
If I am trying to work out a bit of plot, I walk along talking in to a digital voice recorder. That way, I can let my mind roam freely, without having to worry about stopping to write things down. I copy the bits I need into my notebook later.
Where did you get the idea for the Sprite Sister stories?
The idea popped into my mind as I was sitting in bed writing my diary, at 1.30am on 22nd January 2007. I wrote down one sentence, ‘Four girls with magic powers - east, south, north and west’. From that, the idea grew very quickly. I realised I could base the stories, in part, on my own childhood as one of four sisters growing up in a big country house.
Which Sprite Sister are you most like?
Each of the Sprite Sisters is, in part, some aspect of me. I have Flame’s passion and quick, firey nature. I am empathetic and lively, like Marina. I love being outside and thinking deeply about things, like Ash. And I was incredibly naughty as a little girl, just like Ariel!
When I do the Sprite Sister quiz, I come out as Flame.
Do you believe in magic?
Absolutely!
Where were you born?
In Norfolk, on the east of England. I love the county and have lived here most of my life. It is a big, rural area with a lot of wide spaces and forests. I also enjoy that fact that we are close to the sea.
Where do you live now?
In Norwich, Norfolk. Norwich is a walled, medieval city, rich in history. It has some wonderful architecture, including many interesting churches. I like the fact that the city has a human scale and that you can walk across it in half an hour.
Do you have children?
My son, Alex is 28 and a land agent. My daughter, Rosie, is 25 and an artist. They read my manuscripts before I send them to the publisher and are very encouraging.
What were your favourite books as a child?
I absolutely loved Alan Garner’s ‘The Weirdstone of Brisingamen’, which is very creepy. I also loved stories about ponies. Monica Edward’s ‘The White Riders’ was another favourite. Ursula le Guin’s ‘Wizard of Earthsea’ trilogy became favourite books when I was a little older.
What did you like doing most as a child?
Reading, when I was inside the house – and watching old films.
Most of the time, I was outside with the animals. We were very lucky to have a big garden and had ponies, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and a pig. At one point, we had 63 guinea pigs!
I also spent a lot of time observing the natural world around me - wild animals, birds, plants, trees and fungi. In my teens, I was a keen photographer.
Words of advice to would-be writers
- Take note of your dreams and daydreams.
- Give time and space to thinking quietly. Ideas need reflection.
- Trust your instinct, however odd your idea may seem. If it feels good, it probably is good.
- Have a story running in your head as you watch people, ‘I wonder what would happen if …’
- Write because you enjoy it.
- A good story starts at a point of change.
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