Rosie Kent

Q: What were you like at school?

Good academically, especially at English, but hopeless at anything sporty!

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

Happy and healthy. I had no career plan at all when I was at school.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

creative. organised. child-friendly.

Q: What is your favourite word?

serendipity

Q: What makes you cringe?

Being embarrassed in public. Just the thought of finding my knickers tucked into my skirt on the bus makes me go all red.

Q: What are you afraid of?

Big hairy spiders, and dying before I'm ready.

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

Watching a well-known comedian talking about something very ordinary on TV. He made me laugh so much I was crying.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

My two cats. Do they count as possessions?

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Crosswords. At least one cryptic crossword every day to keep my brain active and inquisitive. It's a great way to learn new words and play around with old ones.

Q: What strange habits do you have?

I won't admit to any!

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Chocolate.

Q: What do you day dream about?

My latest writing project. Thinking up stories, characters and playing around with lines of rhyme.

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

I'm just not an outrageous person. Sorry!

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

I would have loved to be a midwife, delivering babies, but don't think I could have coped with the messier, or occasionally sad, aspects.

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

Much younger - and I look it!

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

I have heroes and idols, but I worry that meeting them might destroy my ideas about them and I could be disappointed, so I'd rather not.

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

Patience, tolerance, an easy-going nature - all three tend to go together.

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

Thailand.

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

Don't give up on your dreams.

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

To be twenty years younger and a very successful novelist please!

Q: What has life taught you?

That it's worth hanging on to.

Q: How long have you been a writer?

Ever since school, but only seriously for about twelve years.

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

No. It just crept up on me.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

At home, on my laptop at a small crowded desk, but I prefer to start a poem on scraps of paper, with a pen in my hand, usually in bed.

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

A whole life going on in your head, but it doesn't pay enough!

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Everywhere I look - watching and listening to people.

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

When it comes to children's poetry, I never use the same character twice. The best are the yukky ones like monsters, or the cute ones, like tortoises and cats.

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

Tell myself it doesn't exist.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

The Mr Pinkwhistle books by Enid Blyton.

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

Shark in the Park - it's simple, fun, packed with repeated rhyme and has a surprise ending.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

If you feel you must do it, never ignore that feeling. If you're not sure about it, don't bother. It takes determination, perseverance and passion.