I used to write stories when I was a child that were published in the Sunday News children’s pages. They were pretty awful stories in hindsight, but I got paid when they were published, so you could argue I had my first job when I was nine!
2. What is your nickname?
My mum used to call me ‘Flossie’ which still makes me smile when I think about it.
3. What is your greatest fear?
3. What is your greatest fear?
Apart from big hairy spiders? Being stuck at the top of a large mountain covered in snow, having to make my way down. I have vertigo, so that would be scary. By the way, I just added in about the snow as I don’t like the cold – but I hasten to add, I’m not actually scared of the cold!
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Full of warmth, positivity, emotion, humour, adventure, friendship and love.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Passionate. Hardworking. Creative. Collaborative. Generous.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Lucy Pevensie from C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. I admire her curiosity and spirit, and she has a kind and generous heart.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d like to go back to the year my parents got married. It would be amazing to see first-hand this special day in their lives. It would be an emotional experience, especially as they died young and I haven’t seen them for a long time. Although I would need to be hidden – it would be too strange for them to meet a future daughter on their wedding day!
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
My 10-year-old self would say to me, ‘Wow! You are living the dream of being a writer! Go, girl! And I’m impressed you used the characters I created when I was 10, Big Wig and Wee Wig Knockulous in Elastic Island Adventures: Jewel Lagoon. It’s amazing to see them in a published book!’
9. Who is your greatest influence?
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My parents when I was younger. Now it’s my husband, family and friends.
10. What/who made you start writing?
10. What/who made you start writing?
The love of reading at an early age translated into the love of writing stories when I was a girl. So it is books themselves that started me on this madcap journey.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Mischievous – such a fun word – a little bit naughty, but playful and fun.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I think it would have to be the book I first fell in love with when I was young, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I’ve since reread it as an adult, and it still moves me with its characters and themes. It’s not a classic without reason.
Karen McMillan is the author of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. She has a diverse portfolio of books, from bestselling novels, to books that inspire and help others. Elastic Island Adventures is an exciting new series for children, an action-adventure set in the South Pacific. Movie rights have been optioned! See www.karenm.co.nz for more information.
