Today children’s author J.M McClatchie (Jan McPeake) joins Ian Eagleton in The Reading Realm!
Before we settle down in The Reading Realm for a chat, what’s your drink and snack of choice?
Cup of tea and chocolate Hobnobs!
Tell us about your book in three sentences and then three words!
Michelle, the crab, is unlike any of her peers. Michelle struggles with social and sensory issues which are not fully understood. Can the vicious circle of being excluded for being “difficult”, which in turn, makes Michelle frustrated and branded as “crabbit”, be broken? Can a little awareness and kindness – from both sides – bring them all together as friends?
Kindness, friendship and acceptance.
If one of your characters could come to dinner, who would you invite and what would you cook them? What do you think you’d talk about?
The seagull (he has no name, but I call him Dave). I would cook him spaghetti because it would be funny watching a seagull try to eat spaghetti. We could laugh about it and we can work together to eat it in a way that doesn’t lasso everyone. We could also discuss what it is like to fly and be free.
What’s the funniest word you know that always makes you laugh?
Cattywampus! I just love it, I try to fit it into every conversation!
What’s the silliest or strangest thing you’ve ever researched for a story?
How to make pepper spray!
Do your characters ever surprise you?
Yes! Their general tomfoolery unfolds more than I ever plan when I get in the zone.
If your writing desk could speak, what would it say to you?
Hun, are you doing OK?
Did you like reading when you were a child? If so, what?
I loved reading, I had a little glowworm teddy I used to read when I should have been sleeping. My favourite were the Angelina Ballerina books.
What’s your favourite book that isn’t yours?
Capybara Disco Dreams by Frances Stickley and Nikki Dyson!
What book do you wish you could read for the first time again?
All the books I have read!
What’s the funniest/oddest thing a child has said to you?
“Can we do the Seagull Conga?”
There is a seagull in my book, and we just kind of winged it in the classroom. It was actually really fun!
If you weren’t an author, what would you be?
A singer.
What BAD advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?
To give up and never chase your dream.
SPEED ROUND:
Cake or biscuits? Cake
Dinosaurs or unicorns? Dinosaurs
Pirates or astronauts? Pirates
Museums or theme parks? Theme parks
Cats or dogs? Dogs
Summer or winter? Winter
Aliens or robots? Aliens
Thank you very much Jan for joining us in The Reading Realm today!
