Authors Hotline - Where authors and their readers connect

The Author Hotline

is being developed by CW4K, or Creative Writing 4 Kids. They are the company behind a website that enables children to create and publish their own stories online. In its first year it has signed up over 2000 members and has been enthusiastically received by children, parents and teachers. In fact the response has been so encouraging that they are planning a huge expansion of its services. Embedding The Author Hotline into the site is part of that expansion...
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Helen Bailey

http://www.helenbaileybooks.com
helen@helenbaileybooks.com
To download this profile page, click HERE

Q: What were you like at school?

Little Miss Average, although I excelled at being very bad at sport and languages. Even now the phrase: "Catch!" particularly if said in French, sends me into a panic.

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

A pony-riding, story-writing forensic scientist who worked part-time as a vet.

Q: What is your favourite word?

Snack, as in: Do you fancy a quick snack? I always do.

Q: What are you afraid of?

Potholing and getting my head stuck in my clothes.

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

Last night when I was watching our dog, Boris, killing a soft toy. Poor tiger never stood a chance after Boris ripped his eyes out.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

The aforementioned dog, Boris, a red smooth-haired miniature dachshund.

Q: What strange habits do you have?

If I drop something, I automatically try to pick it up with my toes. This can be embarrassing if I've got shoes on - I start pawing the ground as if I'm a horse.

Q: What�s your favourite food?

Shepherd's Pie. I once accepted a job with a firm because their works canteen served the most delicious Shepherd's Pie. I ate it every day for two weeks before disaster struck; the firm relocated the office and took Shepherd's Pie off the menu. I fell into deep depression for months until they bought me a microwave so I could zap M&S pies in it at lunchtime.

Q: What do you day dream about?

I don't know about day dreaming, but I still have nightmares that I've either failed my school exams, turned up late or revised for the wrong exam. Thirty years on and I still wake up in a sweat panicking about equations.

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

I still hanker after forensic science or the police force. I've read so many books and watched so many programmes on the subject, I'm positive if they just let me near the crime scene dressed in a fetching white boiler suit and gloves, I'd soon work out whether it was Colonel Mustard with the dagger in the library, or Mrs Peacock with the rope in the ballroom.

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

Younger, much younger. The face in the mirror is a shock to me, but then it always has been.

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

If someone has a good sense of direction. I get lost even with a map, the Sat Nav and someone pointing out the way. I know people who say casually: "It's over there", and manage to navigate across foreign cities with unreadable road signs, just by using the sun and their instinct. I can get lost going to the loo in a restaurant, and have often ended up in the kitchen peering at pots and pans.

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

Australia. I thought people wearing suits and carrying surfboards in the city was a myth, until I visited Sydney.

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

If there's a loo, use it, even if you don't think you need to. The moment there isn't a toilet for miles, your bladder will spring into life.

Q: What has life taught you?

That it never goes according to plan.

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

John Lennon. I was in the sixth form when he was shot; I walked around wearing a black armband for weeks.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

I've always written. Even my shopping lists were great works of fiction.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

The better question would be: Where DON'T you do your writing? Under anaesthetic might be difficult, otherwise it's on the bus, in the supermarket queue, on the beach with a laptop etc.

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

The best is finding out what happens to my characters before anyone else. The worst is the loneliness, especially if you are a sociable person like me. I've been known to actually have a conversation with someone trying to sell me double glazing, just for the sheer pleasure of speaking to another human being.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Everyday life. One of the best ideas I ever had came from pooper scooping up after my dog outside my front gate.

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

Electra Brown. Sometimes shallow but always with a good heart.

Q: What do you do to combat �writers� block�?

I either use Mindmaps and coloured pens to unblock me, or take the dog for a walk. For an animal that doesn't say much (unless there's a cat about) he's remarkably helpful with my writing.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

All of the books published by Puffin. The moment I saw that little black and white bird on the spine I knew I was in for a treat.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Plough on.

Search Other Profiles

My Books

Life at the Shallow End - The Crazy World of Electra Brown

ISBN
9780340945384
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Out of My Depth - The Crazy World of Electra Brown

ISBN
9780340950296
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Swimming Against The Tide - The Crazy World of Electra Brown

ISBN
9780340950302
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Taking the Plunge - The Crazy World of Electra Brown

ISBN
9780340989227
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Willow of the Woods: From Litter to Glitter

ISBN
9780340957080
Status
Coming Soon
Falling Hook, Line And Sinker - The Crazy World of Electra Brown

ISBN
9780340989234
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Willow of the Woods: From Mud to Magic

ISBN
9780340989951
Status
Coming Soon
Topaz Steals the Show

ISBN
034089346X
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Topaz Takes a Chance

ISBN
0340893478
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Topaz in the Limelight

ISBN
0340893486
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Topaz Takes a Break

ISBN
0340917334
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Topaz on Ice

ISBN
0340917342
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Topaz Takes the Stage

ISBN
0340917350
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Felicity Wishes: Fashion Fiasco (with Emma Thomson)

ISBN
0340902965
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Felicity Wishes: Spooky Sleepover (with Emma Thomson)

ISBN
0340902981
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Felicity Wishes: Dancing Dreams (with Emma Thomson)

ISBN
034090299X
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Felicity Wishes: Friendship & Fairy school (with Emma Thomson)

ISBN
0340844000
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Felicity Wishes: Secrets & Surprises (with Emma Thomson)

ISBN
0340844094
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Felicity Wishes: Snowflakes & Sparkledust (with Emma Thomson)

ISBN
0340873582
Published By
Hodder Children's Books
Status
In Print
Felicity Wishes: Big Book of Magical Mishaps (with Emma Thomson)

ISBN
0340882239
Status
Out of Print