I’m really, ridiculously good at Scrabble. Stupidly good. It balances out though. I’m horrible at Monopoly!
2. Do you have a nickname and if so, what is it?
My friend Rachel calls me Flameboy. It’s because of Friends. It makes no sense. And so I love it.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Losing my little girl. Also, slugs.
4. Can you describe your writing style for us in ten words?
Erratic, unplanned, unstructured, chaotic, silly … a bit like me.
5. Can you give us five positive words that describe you as a writer?
Dedicated, open, experimental, always learning.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Does this mean which character would I like to be, or which I actually am? I always wanted to be Claudia from The Babysitter’s Club – artistic and individual. In reality I’m more like Mildred Hubble from The Worst Witch – a bit of a flop at most things, but with a good heart!
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
1964. Because BEATLES.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Yay. You got everything you wanted, plus some things you didn’t know you wanted but now you love. You may do a happy dance.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My daughter. For her joy in life and her creativity. Writing-wise, Nick Earls, Tamora Pierce, Steven Herrick and Maureen McCarthy.
10. What or who made you start writing?
I don’t remember starting. I just always did it, as soon as I could. Before that, I told stories orally. It’s the only thing I’ve ever been good at or loved doing. But it was Steven Herrick who inspired me to pursue it. He came and spoke at my high school and made me believe both that regular people could be writers and that it was an admirable pursuit.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Can I have two? One is “befuddled”, because I almost always am. The other is “gruntled”, which I’m never sure is a proper word, but should be. It’s the opposite of “disgruntled” and, in my house, just means happy.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life what would it be?
The Catcher in the Rye. Because it’s perfect.
Kate Gordon is an Australian writer of young adult fiction living in Tasmania. Her latest book, Writing Clementine, is published by Allen & Unwin and is now available. Visit Kate's website and Facebook page to keep up to date with her latest book and writing news.
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