EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW….
Wednesday 22nd August 2007
Reader Naomi Smith met and interviewed me at the recent Edinburgh Book Festival… find out what we talked about and ask some nosy questions of your own!
Naomi: You’re a really big author now, but if your books had never been published, what would you be doing?
Cathy: Teaching art, writing short stories, being an agony aunt and bringing up my kids in the Scottish countryside. I’d be dreaming of making it as a children’s author, though!
Naomi: Who is your fave character from the books and why?
Cathy: Mouse, definitely. I loved him in Dizzy, so lost and alone, and was determined to give him a happy ending in Lucky Star. I loved writing about Mouse and his talent for trouble… the world needs more boys like Mouse!
Naomi: What has been your worst job ever?
Cathy: Shredding up roast chickens in a BHS cafe to make chicken sandwiches when I was a teenager. I was a veggie – not good. I was also a spectacularly bad waitress….
Naomi: If you had a magical power, what would it be and why?
Cathy: I’d like to grant wishes… or maybe fly!
Naomi: What was your most embarrassing moment?
Cathy: Getting my swishy skirt trapped in the toilet door on the flight to Sri Lanka this spring. I was stuck, blocking the aisle, and the stewardesses couldn’t get the trolley past me… the whole plane was smirking. When the door opened again and I was released, there was a round of applause, but by then I was too embarrassed to go to the loo anyway!
Naomi: You’ve said you are quite a shy person, how do you overcome that to talk in front of loads at people, like at the Edinburgh Book Festival?
Cathy: I am shy, and I get REALLY nervous, but I’ve learnt that I can survive – and often people don’t even notice that I’m nervous! Shyness is a pain, but never, ever let it beat you… go for it!
Naomi: What’s the best thing about being an author?
Cathy: It’s a dream come true for me, and I get a real buzz from seeing my books in a shop, but the best thing ever is getting feedback from my readers and knowing that they love the stories as much as I love writing them.
OK, your turn now… if you’ve got a question for me, post it below… I’ll answer the best online!
Hi Liv. Not really, but I admit little bits of my kids did go into those characters – the way brothers & sisters wind each other up, and the cloud of Lynx spray Kit likes to adorn himself with… hee hee!
Cathy xxx
Hi Cathy! I’m Sasha, and i wanted to ask you if you based “Dizzy†on anyone friends with you or related to you? Have you ever been to any travellers festivals? do you own a funky patchwork van??? sash x
Hi Sasha. I used to have lots of traveller friends and still have some hippy pals who love the festival trail. Dizzy is not based on any of them, but I wanted to write a book based in that weird & magical world. And yes, I like going to festivals, and I do have a cool Dizzy-type van!
Cathy xxx
Hey,my name is chloe and i live in ireland. My fave book is Lucky Star and I am wondering what makes Mouse your fave character?? xxx
Hi Chloe. Mouse has been a fave character for ages… I liked how he was so lost and lonely in Dizzy, but also quite fierce and independent. In Lucky Star, I was determined to give him a happy ending at last – I think he deserved it!
Cathy xxx
Hi Cathy! I have read all your books, and I loved every single one! I was just wondering have you started writing your next book? If so, when will it be out? Thank you.
From Bethan
Do u think u will be writing more books soon?? cos i love them!!!
Luv Luc xx
Hi Bethan & Luc! Yes, there will be a new book soon. I’m writing a story called Gingersnaps just now that will be out in Summer 2008… and there’s lots more exciting stuff in the pipeline, too!
Cathy xxx
Every time i get the chance, i come online and check out your latest posts. And almost every time it is a post about a fantabulous fastival or something that i wished i lived in the UK to be able to see. I love all of your books, at least all the one’s i have read. (Still awaiting Lucky Star in Aussie Shops) I have also gotten my friends hooked on your books, which they fall head over heels for all the characters, plots and twists just like i and all of your fans do. My question is, do you think you will ever plan a tour around Australia. I know that i and all of your Auzzie fans dream of meeting you, and making an appearance at one of you fab festivals. Awaiting your reply XXXHayleyXXX
It’s fab to hear from my Aussie & New Zealand readers… thanks for the feedback! I’d LOVE to do a tour in Australia & New Zealand one day, it’d be AMAZING. Let’s hope it happens….
Cathy xxx
Lucky Star is my fave book of yours. I love Cat coz she is so confident and then ends up in a pile of tears, lies and kisses. Did you base this character on anyone?