Your questions answered
This time we asked five top children's authors our burning question: 'If you could be one of your own characters, who would it be and why?'
Eoin ColferIf I could be any one of my characters I think it would have to be Chix Verbil, the sprite from the Artemis Fowl series. First of all Chix can fly and I have dreamed about being able to fly since I was a boy, so much so that I took a flying lesson and even did a solo parachute jump. But the thing I like most about Chix is his self-delusion. He thinks that all the ladies love him and he is happy in that little world, even if he does not have his facts straight. So, he is happy and he can fly, who could ask for more than that?
Eoin’s book The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World is £4.99 on the Read Alone case.
Betty G Birney
Who else would I be but Humphrey? He’s curious (like me), adventurous (more than I am), as kind and generous as I’d like to be and he enjoys writing in his notebook!
Children often ask if there’s a real Humphrey and they are surprised when I point to myself. But since the Humphrey stories are viewed through the eyes of this clever classroom creature, in order for me to write them, I must think, act, write and even speak as a hamster. Humphrey is truly a part of me and yet he has also taken on a life of his own.
And, although I’ve always been an animal lover, Humphrey has given me a deeper insight into the important role pets play in our lives, how much they have to teach us, and how dependent they are on humans to care for them. THANKS-THANKS-THANKS, Humphrey!
Betty’s book The World According to Humphrey is £4.99 on the Read Alone case.
Julia JarmanOh, that's a hard question. I wouldn't mind being any of the characters in the Big Blue Train. They all have such a lot of fun. Camel is very helpful, and I like being helpful, so it would be great to be him, but Bella has even more adventures. In another book she flies away in a Big Red Bath. Yes really! So, I think I would most like to be her - or Ben of course. They always go together. I like adventures.
Julia’s book Big Blue Train is £5.99 on the Welcome to Reading case.
I think it would have to be the character Cat from my book Don't Worry, Mouse. Cat is extremely laid back and always one step ahead of the game - just like I'd wish to be! He oozes confidence and doesn't let anyone put him off his stride. His best friend Mouse on the other hand is nervous and worries about everything.In the book, Cat takes Mouse on an adventure and their friends; Horse, Dog, Duck and Rabbit point out all the things that could go wrong and spoil their day. Cat reassures Mouse that he has everything under control - even when it looks exactly the opposite, and, of course, being Cat he does!
Claire’s book Aliens Love Underpants! is £3.99 on the Welcome to Reading case.
Georgia ByngIt would have to be Molly Moon. To start with it would be very useful to be able to hypnotise people. Molly doesn’t use hypnotism for herself any more, as she’s learnt that can make her feel like a cheat. But she has an altruistic streak and so uses it to help other people. On top of this, I’d love to try time stopping, which is another of Molly’s talents. And as for time travelling… How exciting to know that a summer holiday to the Middle Ages is possible. But it gets even better. In the latest book Molly has learnt to mind read. How interesting that would be. Molly’s a happy person, with friends, recently found family and a loyal pet pug. She can sometimes be a little abrupt and she certainly gets herself into scrapes, but luckily always gets out of them. So I’d love to be Molly Moon.
Georgia’s book Molly Moon, Micky Minus and the Mind Machine is £5.99 on the Read On case.
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