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!
Hiya Cathy! I love your book Gingersnaps and was wondering why Sam didn’t say much about his old school, his mum sounded ok tho!
Just read Gingersnaps and it was amazing as per usual. It would be great of there was another book involving the characters of Gingersnaps, is there any chance of a sequel? also is sam based on a real person becuase he seems really nice ?
have you got an idea of what your new books gonna be about? is it based on a weird girl with lion mane blonde hair and the name of an animal who daydreams all day for her life to change? Just an idea
=D
Hi, let me first say how great i think it is that your this interested in your fans. I’m 13 and your books have helped me through a lot I’ve read them loads of times, Gingersnaps espicially (i love Sam Taylor). Your always vistiting fans and going to festivals i wish i could meet you. You’ve inspired me to write books about teenagers, and Mouse got me into graffiti ;)Anyway, I’ll stop talking about me there’s to much to say I’ll get on with the questions. Do you know when your next book is coming out, can you give us any clues? Also if you could giveone bit of advice to every teenager in the world what would it be?
Rosie, I haven’t been thru what Ginger & Shannon have, but I did have friendship troubles when I was a teen… we all do! Duck, Sam didn’t say much about his past as I was trying not to get sidetracked from the story – I think it would have been cool, though! Also, I do have an idea for a new book, but I can’t say too much about it just yet…. Claire, no plans for a sequel to Gingersnaps, but it’s fab to know you’re enjoying it! Sam isn’t based on a real person, though I do have a friend who plays sax! Helena & Lizzie…I have just finished writing the first in a new series for younger readers, about a Year 6 girl called Daizy Star, and this will be out in June 2009. Now I’ll go on to my next book for your age group, which will be called Angel Cake…. and will be out in July 2009!!!! Last but not least, my best advice for teens is, be yourself… and always follow your dreams!
CCx
Any tips 4 wannabe writers?
hey cathy, i love english at school it is my fav lesson, we are reading a book called stone cold at the moment and so far it is really good, but my enhglish teachers is always saying that the characters arnt real and we shouldent talk about them like they are real , but the way you write makes them seem so real, how do you do that, because when i try and write stories my characters dont seenm real, , i try to base them on my friends so its easier but it never works and i just end up staring again, i have endless notebooks of story begings, yeh so how do you do it?
by the way i love your and your books so much, i hope you never stop writing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
hiya cathy love all your books . you are to awsome and cool i wish i could write like you
Hi,ur book lucky star is great my favourite bit of the book is when u put in a couple of pages of emm…. Ginger Snaps.and i have just finished reading Scarlett and what a naughty girl scarlett.
Love from Courtney xXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Foulford primary school,cowdenbeath,Fife
My Fav book ever was driftwood. I REALLy want 2 know what happened next!! Will you ever write a driftwood 2 ?
Sarah x