Shirley Harber

Q: What were you like at school?

I worked hard at school. My favourite subjects were Spanish, French, Religious Studies and History.

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

A teacher. And I was, although there was a brief time when I wanted to be a police woman.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

Loyal, reliable and determined.

Q: What is your favourite word?

There are so many words I like!

Q: What makes you cringe?

People who drop litter and people who spit.

Q: What are you afraid of?

Heights and spiders.

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

Last week when watching the comedian Michael Mcintyre.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

My dad's memoir.

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Reading, writing, learning languages and going to boot sales.

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Roast dinner and vindaloo curry.Not together!

Q: What do you day dream about?

Living in a villa in Spain and writing while looking out over the sea.

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

Younger.

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

John Wayne!

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

Loyalty.

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

The Valley of the Kings.

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

My dad said 'if you don't ask you don't get' so I do.

Q: What has life taught you?

That time is precious and you should make the most of each minute.

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

Lawyer

Q: How long have you been a writer?

Five years properly. I enjoyed writing long stories and poems at school then when I was a teacher I wrote stories and plays for the class. I have written my family history and I edited up my dad's memoir. The last five years I have been more serious about writing and have won several story and poetry competitons and I've had poems published in magazines and anthologies.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

Anywhere I can find that is quiet.

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

Re stories- The best thing is making up the characters and stories. Worst thing is editing. Re poems. The best moment is getting that first nugget of an idea and then watching it grow into a poem.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

Anywhere-newpapers, something someone says, listening to conversations, dreams.

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

Take a break and read a magazine or go for a walk.

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

Shadow the Sheepdog by Enid Blyton

Q: What book do you wish you had written?

Pride and Prejudice

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Read, read and read.