Elizabeth Arnold

Q: What were you like at school?

I lived in my own world mostly. I was called 'stare cat' because I seemed to spend most of my time elsewhere.

Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?

I dreamed of being a Vet, like most little girls. I loved horses but I'm not the world's best mathmatician and that was a requirement then.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

optimistic pragmatic grounded

Q: What is your favourite word?

Does a writer have a favourite word? If so, mine keeps changing. Today it is snow. Crisp white sparkly snow

Q: What makes you cringe?

meanness

Q: What are you afraid of?

I'm afraid of heights and bridges with gaps between the planks. No good reason, but scary never the less. I would die rather than cross a rope bridge across a ravine.

Q: When did you last have a really good laugh?

When I fell over in the ice and snow yesterday. My husband laughed and then fell over in exactly the same spot. Rough justice!

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

My grandfather's clock. I remember coming down to toast and orange juice as it struck eight.

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Where to start? I have dogs to walk, a parrot to talk to. Tropical fish to feed, Seahorses to breed,photos to take and pastels that one day I will learn to use. Hobbies isn't the problem. Time to work, is!

Q: What strange habits do you have?

I think I'm not into strange habits, except checking I've locked the back door too often.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Curry! My husband is the most amazing curry cook.

Q: What do you day dream about?

My dreams are usually simply mixtures of events or of problems to be solved. My brain seems to be a sorting machine, very practical.

Q: What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done?

Probably filling the house with animals so it's a mini zoo.

Q: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

I would have loved to work with primates and language,

Q: Do you feel younger or older than your current age?

Younger. The body might age but the brain stays young for as long as possible.

Q: If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

I'd meet a fictional person. Alice from Alice ion Wonderland. I'd like to know wjat she reall felt, having all those adventures.

Q: What quality do you most admire in a person?

honesty and humour

Q: What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?

Thailand. Such a mix of old and new.

Q: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?

Never close a door.

Q: What would you most like to change about yourself?

I'd like to be more confident, more outgoing and ambitious.

Q: What has life taught you?

Every day ids precious. Friends and family are everything.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

I've been writing just over ten years.

Q: Was there a specific moment in your life when you decide to become a writer?

My husband had been moaning all one wet sunday about the mess made by our dog. He fell asleep. the dog on the settee with him, nose to nose, tail to tail. I took a phot and wrote a piece extracting the Michael. It was published. I was hooked.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

in the garden if possible for a rough draft. At the computer for editing.

Q: What are the best and worst things about being an author?

The best is being free to choose what you do and when. The worst is waiting to see what your editor/agent thinks of your submission.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Odd things you see, old memories, something you read that sticks in your mind

Q: Which of your own characters do you most identify with?

This has to be Freya. My first book was 'The Parsley Parcel' and Freya was the heroine sent to work some special magic. She became like a daughter. I found it really hard to let her walk into danger. The book was shortlisted for The Whitbread Childrens Award, so I must have got something right.

Q: What do you do to combat “writers’ block”?

Walk the dogs,take a break. Live a little.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

The Jungle Book, because it was read to me by my grandfather who loved every word and passed the magic on to me. Sharing a story even as an adult, is great.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

I have learned that I am me. Why should I wish to have written a book by someone else? Fame? Fortune? Inventiveness, Imagination? I can only be me. I can only do my best.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Edit, edit, edit and hang on to hope.