12 Curly Questions with author Tim Harris

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I only drink coffee in Japan. There’s a story behind why, but I’ll keep you hanging.

2. What is your nickname? 

Timbo or Timmy. In school I sometimes got called ‘Hey’.

3. What is your greatest fear? 

Large spiders. The faster they are, the scarier. My second greatest fear is not getting a direct hit on them with the insect spray. My third greatest fear is not having any insect spray in the house. My fourth greatest fear is the supermarket not stocking any insect spray. My fifth greatest fear is there being no insect spray in the world. My sixth greatest fear is large spiders taking over the world.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words. 

Humorous, quirky, sometimes poignant, and always ending with a surprise.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 

Creative, whimsical, experimental, ever-learning, appreciative.

6. What book character would you be, and why? 

Charlie Bucket – man, that kid had access to large quantities of chocolate!

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why? 

This is so nerdy. I’d travel to the late 1970s so I could see Supertramp and ELO live in concert.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now? 

Dude, you need to start running again. That chocolate is not being kind to you.

9. Who is your greatest influence? 

Paul Jennings. I read his stories to all my classes. Reading his books formed some of my fondest teaching memories, and got me started in writing humorous books.

10. What/who made you start writing? 

Reading books by Paul Jennings, and my enthusiasm for my students – I started out by writing a short story just for them!

11. What is your favourite word and why? 

Home. I think my love of being in the quiet of my own home helps give weight to the word. There’s no place or word like it.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle. It’s so intricate and the characters are timeless. I’ve read it twice already and can’t wait to get to it again. 

Tim Harris is one of the most exciting new children’s authors in Australia. With over 15 years’ experience as a primary school teacher, Tim knows what it takes to get children reading. Having presented at over 30 schools in 2016 alone, Tim is quickly gaining an outstanding reputation as a speaker and workshop leader. His first series, Exploding Endings, has sold over 20,000 copies in Australia, and his laugh-out-loud new series, Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables, is going to be even bigger. Tim lives in Sydney. For more information, see timharrisbooks.com.