What a lovely way to start the week! Cath Howe joins Ian Eagleton in The Reading Realm to talk about her new book, TWO IS A CROWD…

Before we settle down in The Reading Realm for a chat, what’s your drink and snack of choice?

Carrot cake. Minty tea

Tell us about your book TWO IS A CROWD in three sentences and then three words!

Hattie’s family gets an extra member when Mum’s goddaughter Seren moves in and Hattie and her brothers have to adjust. Hattie quickly feels pushed out because Seren seems to fit the family better than she does. Then starting secondary school makes everything worse!

Family. Transition. Conflict.

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?

My character would be Ella from my first Nosy Crow book Ella on the Outside. I’d cook ‘pizza jellybeana’ which she invents in my story. We would talk about photography because she loves taking photos.

What’s the funniest word you know that always makes you laugh?

The word umbrella has always made me laugh. No idea why.

What’s the silliest or strangest thing you’ve ever researched for a story?

I had to research puffins’ eyes for my younger series Call the Puffins! so I could make one of the puffins wear glasses because he’s short-sighted. Birds’ eyes are amazing!

Do your characters ever surprise you?

All the time! I have a broad plan, but the characters often do unexpected things that change the story completely.

If your writing desk could speak, what would it say about you?

I have a very old wooden desk from Dundee made in the 1850’s. I stand to write at it. It’s messy and there are images of my characters and plots pinned everywhere. It would say that I’m untidy, chaotic and creative.

Did you like reading when you were a child? If so, what?

I always loved reading. I loved Borka by John Burningham about a goose born with no feathers. I think the illustrations in this book are some of my favourite art works.

What’s your favourite book that isn’t yours?

The Sneetches by Dr Seuss.

What book do you wish you could read for the first time again?

Holes by Lois Sacher.

What’s the funniest thing a child has said to you?

A child asked me if a puffin could get sunstroke. I explained that their homes are in cold places.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be?

I’ve always been a teacher too. I love teaching.

What BAD advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?

Bad advice? Don’t bother reading books other than your own. Books will make you a millionaire.

SPEED ROUND:

Cake or biscuits? Cake

Dinosaurs or unicorns? Dinosaurs

Pirates or astronauts? Astronauts

Museums or theme parks? Museums

Cats or dogs? Cats

Summer or winter? Winter

Aliens or robots? Aliens

THANK YOU Cath for joining us in The Reading Realm today!