Tutu Dutta-Yean

Q: What were you like at school?

I was soft-spoken but quite popular at school.

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

I had no clear idea about what I wanted to be as a child.

Q: Which three words describe you best?

accomodating, well-read and tenacious

Q: What is your favourite word?

serendipity

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

My books

Q: What do you do as a hobby?

Travel and collecting children's books and dolls

Q: What’s your favourite food?

Nasi Lemak (literal translation from Malay is 'fatty rice'!)

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?

Agatha Christie

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

Arungabad, India

Q: What has life taught you?

Have confidence in yourself and work hard to achieve your dreams

Q: What makes you cringe?

Public display of bad manners by people I know.

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

Archeology

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

I read this somewhere - If your own work can't keep you awake at night who else will stay awake to read it?

Q: How long have you been a writer?

Over seven years

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

Yes, when I attended a talk by another children's book writer seven years ago in New York.

Q: Where do you do your writing?

On a desktop at home.

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

The best thing is being published and having people tell you how much they enjoyed your book. The worst thing is having your manuscript rejected and the eye strain & backache from writing long hours!

Q: What was your favourite book as a child?

'The Ugly Duckling' because I identified with the character as a child.

Q: Where do you get your greatest ideas from?

From very old books, legends and folktales

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

First of all be sure that you really want to be an author. Then self-edit/revise at least a dozen times before making a submission. If your own work can't keep you awake at night who else will stay awake to read it?