If you could visit one of your story worlds for a day, which would it be?
Most of my stories are set in contemporary England, so not much of a change. But The Monkey Who Fell from the Future imagines life 400 years ahead—that would be fascinating. Just for a day, though—it’s a tough world!
What’s your advice for aspiring young writers?
Starting is easy—pick a situation and some characters and begin! The hard part is finishing, but that’s the key. Get to the end, even if it’s not perfect—then go back and rewrite so that it all makes sense.
Some curious questions from young readers in the UAE:
What inspired Time Travelling with a Hamster, and if it became a series, what challenges would the characters face? From Salma & Smaya, age 10, Safa Community School
There is already a companion book, Time Travelling with a Tortoise, which you may enjoy. (If I were to make it into a series, I’d have to make the time machine much more reliable so there would be less danger involved!)
How do you make your stories so fun and addictive to read? From Flora, age 10, Jebel Ali School
By keeping the chapters relatively short, encouraging you to read ‘just one more’! Plus, make the ending of each chapter quite exciting so that you are encouraged to turn the page.
Why the hamster? What is wrong with lions and tigers? From Mila, age 9, Jebel Ali School
There’s nothing wrong with lions and tigers; they just don’t make very good pets! Besides, they would not fit into Al’s time machine.
How did you develop the idea for The Kid Who Came from Space? From Ananya, age 9, Jebel Ali School
I had never written a story involving aliens, so that started me thinking about Hellyann and her spaceship. Incidentally, have you noticed ‘Hellyann’ sounds like ‘Ali-en’ – that is where her name came from!
Do you have any animals? Were they the inspiration for some of your books? From Savanna, age 9, Jebel Ali School
I have a much-loved border collie named Jess and an aquarium containing tropical fish. They have not inspired any stories…yet!
How do I become a successful writer like you? From Anay, age 11, Raha International School, KCC
Start by writing – and finishing – a story. Then rewrite it so it is as good as it can be. That is the difference between amateur writers and professionals: most amateurs don’t bother to rewrite.
Which literary character would you take on holiday, and why? From Alice, age 9, Safa Community School
Paddington from A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond. He’s always optimistic and cheerful and would be an excellent guide to darkest Peru.
Are you writing any new books? From Gonzalo, age 10, Jebel Ali School
I’m excited about my next book, The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien, which will be out in the summer. It tells the story of a young prince from a magical land who ends up in England in 2025. It’s funny and quite short!
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