Books Monthly interview – Michelle Harrison

 

BM: Hi Michelle, thanks for your time. I'd just like to say how much I enjoyed THE THIRTEEN TREASURES, and I'm really looking forward to your next book. First question:

 

BM: Do you actually believe in what you write about? Hidden worlds of faeries, spirits etc., or is it all from your imagination?

 

MH: I’d like to believe in it. The idea of faeries has appealed to me ever since I was little. I’m often drawn to things that present a mystery or the unknown. I’ve never actually seen anything otherworldly, but I’ve experienced one or two odd things so I like to keep an open mind, just in case.

 

BM: I saw a small similarity between Spiderwick and THIRTEEN TREASURES, but your book is much darker, more of a thriller – there's a real sense of danger surrounding Tanya as she unravels her grandmother's dark secret. Would you ever consider writing for adults or are you thoroughly committed to writing for children?

 

MH: For the time being I’m focused on writing for children – all the stories I have in my head are geared towards children or young adults. But I wouldn’t rule out writing for adults further down the line – one family member has been encouraging me to write a ‘grown up’ book for years!

 

BM: At what point in your career did you come up with the idea that you wanted to write?

 

MH: I began writing short stories (and one failed novel) around the age of fourteen. By the time I left school it was an ambition of mine to write a novel and to illustrate it, but it felt more like a dream at the time than a ‘real’ ambition. I’ve always been a big reader, but more so in my teens, which is what I think encouraged me to want to write.

 

BM: You talk of Dougray Scott and Vanessa Redgrave as your ideals for Warwick and Florence, but what about Tanya and Red? And Fabian, for that matter? You must have given them some thought too, surely?

 

MH: I suppose it must seem strange that I’ve mentioned film ideals for the adult characters and not the children, but there are a couple of reasons for this. The character of Tanya is based on my niece, and apart from the seeing fairies aspect, they’re very alike so it’s hard for me to visualise anyone but my niece when I’m writing about Tanya. Also, there are fewer young actors around who aren’t already established as extremely well known characters - Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, for instance. If The Thirteen Treasures was ever made into a film, I’d love to see some new talent given a chance to shine, but still having the support of older, established actors.

 

BM: Which activity (writing or illustrating) gives you the most satisfaction?

 

MH: Truthfully, I get equal pleasure and satisfaction from both writing and illustrating. To now be doing both the things I love feels amazing, and I feel very lucky. The balance of them is good too – I tend to work for long periods on writing, and then do the same with illustration. This enables me to get fully absorbed in whichever one I’m working on, and has the bonus of giving me a break from the other.

 

BM: Did you study illustration at Uni or are you self-taught?

 

MH: I have a degree in Illustration from Wolverhampton University. During my last two years I focused my projects on children’s book illustration.

 

BM: Do you have a favourite children's book illustrator?

 

MH: I have lots of favourites: Edmund Dulac, Brian Froud, P.J. Lynch, Alan Lee and Tony DiTerlizzi to name a few. But if I have to choose one, then it’s Arthur Rackham.

 

BM: Did you design your own website? The illustrations look very much like the sort of things you do – very stylised, very reminiscent of children's books

 

MH: The website has been built by my partner, Darren, and most of the design concepts are his, such as the bookshelf that pings out when you click on it! But yes, all the illustrations on the website – the foliage background, fairy, goblin, and mini self-portrait - are mine.

 

BM: Can you say what your all-time favourite five books (or book series) are? Do you still have any of your favourite books from your childhood?

 

MH: My top five books/series are:

 

1. The Witches by Roald Dahl
2. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
3. The Famous Five by Enid Blyton
4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
5. Harry Potter

 

I have a few books from my childhood: a couple of battered old Famous Five books and an almost pristine edition of The Mirrorstone by Michael Palin, Richard Seymour and Alan Lee, which was the inspiration behind my illustrated letters in The Thirteen Treasures. I also have a book of fairy tales, which is by a mixture of authors and illustrators. I’ve always loved heavily illustrated books.

 

BM: Do you read anything other than children's books? If so, what authors do you like now?

 

MH: Nearly all the books I read are for children, especially now that I’m working for a children’s publisher as well. But I do enjoy a mixture of adult fiction too, by writers such as Philippa Gregory, Martina Cole, Charles de Lint and James Herbert.

 

BM: Thanks Michelle, a fantastic first novel – thanks for sharing it with us! Don't keep us waiting too long for your next book – thanks for answering my questions and good luck with whatever you do.

 

(Thank you, I’m really pleased you enjoyed it!)