What was your favourite childhood book and why?
My favourite childhood book was written by Tove Jansson and it’s called Moominsummer Madness. The Moomin books are set in a fantasy world where the most amazing things happen. In this book their valley floods and they have to abandon their home and live on a floating theatre . . . that’s haunted. The Moomin books feel like the best dreams you could possibly have, come to life.
Which of your own books is your favourite and why?
I would choose The Land of Roar because it’s made lots of children happy. I wrote it because I wanted to take children on a wild adventure where they could jump down waterfalls, swim with merfolk, hang out with ninja-wizards and be the heroes of their own story. If you’d like to find out what it’s like to fly a dragon and defeat a wicked scarecrow, you should definitely give it a go!
Why do you choose to read?
I think reading is like magic. Because of books, I’ve visited alien colonies, met Cleopatra and argued with Henry VII; I’ve escaped from zombies and found out what it’s like to be a bee. No matter what has happened during the day, or how grumpy I feel, when I pick up a book I escape to another world. It’s a brilliant feeling, but if reading doesn’t feel like this for you, don’t give up. It can take a while to find that first, magical book . . . and when you do . . . WOW!
