I have an accidental tattoo on my elbow as a result of impaling myself on a drawing pen (filled with black ink) many years ago.
2. What is your nickname?
My father called me Arabella Slapcabbage when I was a child. (Ed: Lynley - please write a book about Arabella Slapcabbage!)
3. What is your greatest fear?
Earthquakes.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Rhyme, rhythm, humour, surprise story endings (sometimes), mischief (Hairy Maclary).
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
(6 words) Having fun with words and pictures.
6. What book character would you want to be, and why?
Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet, especially for her ability to think on her feet and put into clear, concise and pertinent words what she wants to say (especially to someone like Lady Catherine de Burgh). And she gets Mr Darcy!
7. lf you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d love to be a fly on the wall at the times of great discoveries in history, but I think I’ll read about them and stay put instead!
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Good Heavens – you, picture books?!
9. Who is your greatest influence?
As an illustrator already, I decided rather greedily that I’d love to have the whole book to myself! Easier said than done!
10. What/who made you start writing?
(Was, not is.) The discovery as a child of Dr Seuss and his madcap humour, which showed that it was possible to take liberties with word and picture and give enormous pleasure to legions of children in doing so.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
‘Yes,’ as long as it’s followed by ‘and,’ not ‘but.’
12. If you could read only one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A collected edition of Jane Austen.
Lynley is celebrating 30 Years of her iconic and most beloved Hairy Maclary books - a series we adore here at KBR. Don't miss your chance to win a Hairy Maclary book pack this week on KBR. Head here to enter.
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