Interview with Jenny Sullivan

http://www.robsullivan.clara.net/

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

When I was eight years old and my lovely teacher Miss Thomas told me that if I was prepared to work hard, one day I’d be a famous writer. I rushed home from school to tell my Mum but she was totally unimpressed and wanted to go and have words with Miss Thomas about putting silly ideas into my head!

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

Usually either the A470 or through Wales! Seriously, I sent my first children’s book to Pont and they’ve published virtually everything I’ve written since.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

It’s called “A Little Bit of Mischief” and it’s got great illustrations by Graham Howells and it’s set at Techniquest in Cardiff ~ it’s about a little girl in a wheelchair who still manages to misbehave. However at the same time my first adult novel is due out ~ it’s called “Silver Fox” and is about my hero, Owain Gyndŵr. It’s being published by Wuggles Press.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

Probably (a) my Dad, who encouraged me both to read and write and (b) the book “The Once and Future King” which gave me a love of all things Arthurian.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

Lovely, tolerant husband ~ three daughters, Kirsty, Tanith and Stephanie, all now married or in relationships; three gorgeous grand-daughters, Daisy, Tove and Catrin, and another due in February.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

Chocolate. Unfortunately. Look at my waistline. Living in France, with Master Chocolatiers on every corner, it’s very hard to be good.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Stretch, drink a cup of tea ~ then open my eyes.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

Possibly my addiction to dragons. Or maybe how many books I have!

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

Yellow: it’s the colour of sunshine and daffodils and happiness.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Asterix the Gaul

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Possibly Marge Simpson...

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

To the time of Mary Queen of Scots to see if what they said about her and Lord Bothwell was true.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I love all sorts of music: especially Welsh singers like Bryn Terfel, the Fron Male Voice Choir, Bonnie Tyler, Cerys Matthews and Welsh and Irish folk music, but I also love the music of the sixties... Sad, yeah? I never listen to anything while I’m writing because I always sing along and can’t concentrate.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

Favourite TV show is “Gavin and Stacey” which is so Welsh and totally hilarious. Favourite movie is “The Princess Bride“ ~ love the book, too. Can’t remember the last time I went to the cinema!

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Never give up. Follow your dreams and if there’s something you want, go for it. I left school at 15 with no qualifications whatsoever, and was always miserable when I had to put a line through “qualifications” on job application forms. So when my kids had all grown up I went to college and got a Masters degree! Not satisfied with that I got a PhD too ~ when I was quite old. So, don’t say “it’s too late” because unless you’re dead, it ain’t!

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

The next one out is likely to be “Mad as a Box of Frogs” which is about a family with a secret... I think it’s quite funny and I hope it will make people think. Next I have to get part two of “Silver Fox” ready for publication, then I’m going to write something historical. Haven’t decided what yet, but I enjoyed writing my Llancaiach Fawr books so much I want to do some more research.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!