Today, children’s author Jemma Hatt joins Ian Eagleton in The Reading realm to talk about her book KRINGLE’S RETURN, which is illustrated by Andrew Smith!
Before we settle down in The Reading Realm for a chat, what’s your drink and snack of choice?
A cup of tea and Maltesers!
Tell us about your book in three sentences and then three words!
For Kringle’s Return (out on 17th September 2026): One year ago, a secret, magical, travelling toyshop arrived in Six Pines, hiding none other than Kris Kringle himself! Now, a mysterious funfair has appeared, and Laney, Ben and Millie are convinced the emporium has returned. Another globetrotting adventure awaits!
In three words:
- Fun
- Friendship
- Courage
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?
From the Kringle’s Emporium series, it would probably have to be Frosty the Elf. We’d talk about the North Pole and reindeer. He’s funny and not as long-winded as Kris Kringle can be! I’d cook a roast dinner, because it’s one of the only meals I can cook to an OK standard!
What’s the funniest word you know that always makes you laugh? (and why!)
This probably isn’t going to sound funny at all, but I remember a school trip to a castle… the whole class was having a grand old time; we couldn’t stop laughing and being silly. Our history teacher kept repeating, “This is NOT a JOLLY!” I’d never heard ‘jolly’ being used as a noun before, and it still makes me laugh.
What’s the silliest or strangest thing you’ve ever researched for a story?
How to take off a sea plane without any water, for The Adventurers and the Jungle of Jeopardy. If anyone finds themselves in that situation – I know what to do!
Do your characters ever surprise you?
All the time! I don’t plan in great detail before I start writing, so things come as a surprise to me, too.
If your writing desk could speak, what would it say about you?
It would probably say I need to come back! I end up doing a lot of work on my laptop in other spots around the house. It would also say I need to dust more often.
Did you like reading when you were a child? If so, what?
All the time! Anything I could lay my hands on, but more Enid Blyton than anything else. True story: I was made to have a hearing test at school because I stopped listening when I was reading!
What’s your favourite book that isn’t yours?
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
What book do you wish you could read for the first time again?
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. So clever!
What’s the funniest thing a child has said to you?
A child once wrote to me and said, ‘The beginning and end were amazing!’ I guess I still need to work on the middle parts.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be?
A HR Project Manager. It’s the truth, but there’s absolutely nothing interesting to say about it!
What BAD advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?
Aim for as many words as possible!
SPEED ROUND:
Cake or biscuits? Cake
Dinosaurs or unicorns? Dinosaurs
Pirates or astronauts? Pirates
Museums or theme parks? Gaaaah… museums
Cats or dogs? Dogs
Summer or winter? Summer
Aliens or robots? Aliens
THANK YOU Jemma for joining us in The Reading Realm today!
