ASK LOIS

I get my ideas from the world around me. I am very fortunate to be living in the beautiful county of Dorset, near to the sea with lovely countryside and villages all around. This environment gives me lots of ideas! Also, I am very observant of people. How they look, how they speak, how they move. All of this gives me a lot to think about and to work with.

Twenty three!

I was with my granddaughter at Moors Valley Country Park in Dorset, and there was a camper van parked there. I said to her, “I’m going to write a story about a camper van one day.” That’s what I mean about noticing the world around me. The world is a rich delicious pot of discovery to acquire ideas!

I wasn’t really aware of being inspired at the time. As I sat in front of my laptop, Mincemeat just appeared on the screen in front of me! I didn’t even stop to think about his name, I simply typed! Thinking about it though, there was a book from my childhood that I really loved, ‘Carbonel’ by Barbara Sleigh. I read that book over and over. It’s the story of a black cat, a broomstick, and a girl called Rosemary. Looking back, it must have been in the back of my mind.

I would love to have been a primary or elementary school teacher.

On one of my many school visits, I was speaking to a class, and I asked them what they thought you need to be an author. One little girl put up her hand and said, “a full stop!” (Some of you may know that as a ‘period’.) It was a very sweet answer. She was only 4 years old!

I have been asked if I’m famous! My reply is, “I’m working on it!”

One question children love to ask is, “How old are you?” We have great fun when I ask the children to guess! Once, one little boy asked me if I was one hundred!