'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Tuesday 11 December 2018

12 Curly Questions with author Peter Vu


1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I wanted to be a magician when I was growing up

2. What is your nickname? 
 I don't have one. Although, my friends do like to call me by my full name.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Falling off an edge. (A cliff, train tracks, etc.)

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Simple and easy to read, with a touch of sparkle.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Inquisitive, young, curious, inspired, hopeful.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Harry Potter because he’s the chosen one.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d travel to the distant future during a time where space travel and living outside of Earth are normal things. Perhaps the year 3000.

8. Who is your greatest influence?
In life, my mum is my greatest influence. In writing, there are just too many to choose from.

9. What/who made you start writing?
I enjoyed writing short stories when I was about 10 years old. When I was 17, after a long stay in hospital, I couldn’t go to school anymore. So, I had nothing to do. I decided to rekindle my enjoyment of writing to keep myself busy. This led me to write Paper Cranes Don’t Fly.

10. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
“Good on you for getting back into that writing spirit. I'm glad it amounted to something.”

11. What is your favourite word and why? 
 My favourite word is 'nice'. It is so versatile in everyday life. It can be used as a simple compliment. It can be used to describe something that is good but not great. It can even be used sarcastically. I wouldn’t use it in my writing so much though.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Any of the Harry Potter books so I can be transported to another world when I just need some wonder and magic in my life. 


Peter Vu was six years old when he was diagnosed with a brainstem glioma. It was after the life-changing experience of his last surgery in Year 10 that he wrote Paper Cranes Don’t Fly, which was awarded the 2018 Gold Inky Award. He is currently a student, living in Melbourne with his parents and three siblings. For more information, see www.fordstreetpublishing.com.