I can play the didgeridoo.
2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Mr. and Mrs. Twit (from The Twits, by Roald Dahl). They are horrible in every way - especially to each other - but hilarious!
3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Nigella Lawson, Jeanette Winterson. Jumpha Lahiri, Jackie French and BKS Iyengar. The food would be great and the conversation fascinating. Plus, we could all do a little yoga after dinner!
4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree! I would love to have friends like Saucepan, Moon Face and Silky! It would be so exciting to explore the different lands at the top of the tree, and to come down the slippery slide on a cushion afterwards!
5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Inspiration. Imagination. Intuition. Trust. Connection.
6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
She wrote from the heart.
7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
Tea. Licorice allsorts. A comfy chair. Laptop computer. Earplugs.
8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet.
‘With a twitch of his whiskers and a flick of his tail, he was gone.’
9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
Years ago I met my favourite author, Jeanette Winterson. I was so nervous that my mind went blank and I completely forgot all the things I had wanted to ask her. I still can’t remember them!
10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
That’s a bit of a mean question to ask a writer - we can’t live without either! But I guess if I had to choose one it would be to stop writing, because I could never stop reading!
Deborah Kelly is an Australian children's author and poet. She has written picture books, short stories and junior fiction novels, and her work includes The Bouncing Ball, Jam for Nana, and Dinosaur Disco. She has also published a book of haiku, Haiku Journey, inspired by her time living in Japan. Her latest story is the first book of a new junior fiction series, Ruby Wishfingers: Skydancer's Escape, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom and published by Wombat Books. Visit Deborah's website and Facebook page for more information about her books and author events.