When I was younger, I was in a BBC TV drama, called Harpur and Iles. If you Google my maiden name (Vikki Meakin), you’ll see I have an IMDb profile.
2. What is your nickname?
At school, a few friends used to call me Borris Bean. Luckily that didn’t stick and now I’m Vik, Vix, or sometimes, Vikster.
3. What is your greatest fear?
I’m terrified of going to jail. Not that there’s a reason I might, I should add. I just know I would not do well in that environment!
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Stories about everything and nothing, written to make you smile.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Passionate, imaginative, playful, warm, hopeful.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Paddington. We’re both polite, can both give ‘hard-stares’ and both love sandwiches (although I’ll have cheese instead of marmalade). He’s also had some wonderful adventures and surrounds himself with people he loves.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d go back to 1970 for the first Glastonbury festival. Tickets only cost £1 and you got free camping and milk included. I’d love to write a picture book about a music festival one day.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
“Oh wow – you wrote a book! Very cool. Now let’s go watch Neighbours.”
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Anyone who pushes themselves out of their comfort zone to achieve something a little less ordinary. In life that’s most of my friends. In children’s literature I love Davina Bell, Vikki Conley, Zanni Louise, Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl.
10. What/who made you start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing but I only took it seriously when my first son was born. I wanted to give him something that would last forever, so I wrote him a story. It sparked something inside me, and I have been writing ever since.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Cwtch. It means ‘cuddle’ in Welsh and makes me feel warm and safe.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is such a hard question, but I think it would be the final Harry Potter book – The Deathly Hallows. I’ve read all the books a couple of times, but there are still a few parts of the story that confuse me. This way I could figure it all out once and for all. Plus, it’s got more than 600 pages so would last me a while.
Vikki Marmaras is a children’s author, whose stories are largely inspired by life with her two young boys. Characters she has created include a hiccup, a bookworm and an over-enthusiastic dog. Poppy, The Queen and The Seat is Vikki’s debut picture book. For more information visit www.vikkimarmaras.com
