The Kidlit Interview Series
Children's literature encompasses some of the most imaginative, entertaining, well-written fiction out there, so every Tuesday I shine a spotlight on it by interviewing a different middle-grade author. Come back regularly to find writers answering crucial questions like who they'd want riding alongside come the zombie apocalypse...
This week's dragon is the very talented Emma Carroll. Emma is a graduate of Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People. Frost Hollow Hall, her debut novel for Faber, won the North East Book Award.
Emma’s second novel, The Girl Who Walked On Air, is set in a Victorian circus. Tightrope walker Louie is desperate to become a ‘showstopper’. When a mysterious stranger offers her that chance, she grabs it with both hands. Yet nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie's bravery is tested not just on the highwire, but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus ...
Emma’s second novel, The Girl Who Walked On Air, is set in a Victorian circus. Tightrope walker Louie is desperate to become a ‘showstopper’. When a mysterious stranger offers her that chance, she grabs it with both hands. Yet nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie's bravery is tested not just on the highwire, but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus ...
THE HERE BE DRAGONS 8 KILLER QUESTIONS
1) Uh oh, it’s the zombie apocalypse. Which author (living or dead) do you want riding shotgun?
Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, because she was incredibly intelligent and brave. In Frankenstein she makes us feel sympathy for the monster. So with her on side maybe we could make friends with the zombies.
2) Look, I got a time machine on eBay! Where do you want to go? (Said time machine may possibly malfunction and leave you there. Possibly. It was *very* cheap.)
Brilliant question! I’d love to have gone to a Frost Fair on the Thames. Imagine the atmosphere-magicians, musicians, pie sellers, fortune tellers whole oxen roasting on spits – and all this happening ON the ice. Sadly the last Frost Fair on the Thames was in 1814, reason enough to not fancy hanging around in that era.
3) What’s your favourite thing about writing for kids?
‘Thing’? You mean I’m only allowed one? Ok, then I’d say it’s meeting people who’ve read and enjoyed my books, or any books, come to think of it. Being around that buzz for reading is completely awesome.
4) A witch has cast a spell on you (sorry about that) and you’ve woken up as a character in a children’s book – what’s your special talent or power?
Ha ha! Rubs hands with glee. As my special power I’d be able to make animals talk. Certain people’s pets could reveal pretty juicy secrets. Imagine what the Queen’s corgis know!
5) What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Going to work (I’m also a teacher) on World Book Day as the poodle from The Curious Incident, wearing a giant black afro and with a plastic fork pinned to my chest. There are plenty of other examples to choose from, but we’ll leave it there...
6) What’s something you wish you’d known about writing when you started out? What’s something you wish you’d known about publishing?
About writing? I wish I’d known it’s ok to write a rubbish first draft, that it’s just the first step in a long process.
About publishing? That no-one really knows how Amazon rankings work
7) What would your daemon be?
A dog. Always a dog.
8) My books don’t have dragons, but they do have... feisty girl characters that, if required, could take on a dragon any day of the week!
Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, because she was incredibly intelligent and brave. In Frankenstein she makes us feel sympathy for the monster. So with her on side maybe we could make friends with the zombies.
2) Look, I got a time machine on eBay! Where do you want to go? (Said time machine may possibly malfunction and leave you there. Possibly. It was *very* cheap.)
Brilliant question! I’d love to have gone to a Frost Fair on the Thames. Imagine the atmosphere-magicians, musicians, pie sellers, fortune tellers whole oxen roasting on spits – and all this happening ON the ice. Sadly the last Frost Fair on the Thames was in 1814, reason enough to not fancy hanging around in that era.
3) What’s your favourite thing about writing for kids?
‘Thing’? You mean I’m only allowed one? Ok, then I’d say it’s meeting people who’ve read and enjoyed my books, or any books, come to think of it. Being around that buzz for reading is completely awesome.
4) A witch has cast a spell on you (sorry about that) and you’ve woken up as a character in a children’s book – what’s your special talent or power?
Ha ha! Rubs hands with glee. As my special power I’d be able to make animals talk. Certain people’s pets could reveal pretty juicy secrets. Imagine what the Queen’s corgis know!
5) What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Going to work (I’m also a teacher) on World Book Day as the poodle from The Curious Incident, wearing a giant black afro and with a plastic fork pinned to my chest. There are plenty of other examples to choose from, but we’ll leave it there...
6) What’s something you wish you’d known about writing when you started out? What’s something you wish you’d known about publishing?
About writing? I wish I’d known it’s ok to write a rubbish first draft, that it’s just the first step in a long process.
About publishing? That no-one really knows how Amazon rankings work
7) What would your daemon be?
A dog. Always a dog.
8) My books don’t have dragons, but they do have... feisty girl characters that, if required, could take on a dragon any day of the week!
Ooh, the Frost Fairs sound completely magical. Find out more about Emma and her books on her website and Goodreads page, and buy The Girl Who Walked On Air here.
Come back Tuesday 12th for the Here Be Dragons interview with
Lauren Magaziner, author of The Only Thing Worse Than Witches!
Lauren Magaziner, author of The Only Thing Worse Than Witches!
