I have an American half sister. I don’t know her name, I’ve never meet her and don’t even know if she still lives in the USA . . . It’s not only soaps that have long lost relatives!
2. What is your nickname?
I’ve several over the years - the weirdest one was Stumpy Lizard. I think it was something to do with me flicking my tongue out a lot.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Surgical gloves send shivers down my spine. Lucky you’re unconscious most of the time they come near your body.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Easy to read action with a bit of brain too.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Engaging, excitable, thoughtful, imaginative, on-time (my editors appreciate that one!)
6. What book character would you be, and why?
In I,Wolf it would be Julian. He’s well dressed, cool and mysterious (unlike me).
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d definitely go to ancient Rome - probably AD70 when the Colosseum was completed and witness a gladiator fight. I’d travel back to now feeling pretty sick at the sight, but I could blame it on the time travel, not the gory massacre.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
I think he would ask questions: What have you done to my body? How come you like eating liver when I hate it? Does spelling get any easier?
9. Who is your greatest influence?
I had an amazing English teacher at high school, but also four great aunts who were all like grandmothers. They had really sharp minds and wicked senses of humour.
10. What/who made you start writing?
My year 5 teacher. Every Monday morning she made us write a page on ‘What I did on the weekend’. I hated it! I never did anything interesting so I used to make things up.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Don’t laugh but it’s ‘cow’. I love the big rolling vowel. Also it’s a really ancient word that’s been used constantly (give or take a few slight variations) for thousands of years. It’s so simple, I can see ancient Britons pointing to a cow and saying it. To me it speaks of the vary start of language. Every time you say it, you connect to people from ancient history. It reminds me how words are the best form of time travel we have.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Torture! I guess The Monk by Matthew Lewis. It’s old gothic novel set in Spain and has lots of stories within stories so it’s like several books in one.
Learn more about Matt right here.
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