Interview with Vivian Oldaker

Vivian at Random House Australia

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 about eight or nine years old I wrote stories starring my best friend and me. We were both tomboys and loved the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton, so the stories usually involved smugglers and sinister men with dodgy accents. Of course, our real lives were never that exciting! I was, I have to admit, very bad at finishing these fictional adventures, but I loved doing them.

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

I have a fine collection of rejection slips, some dusty with age. Eventually, Elizabeth Maude, a then editor at Andersen Press (Random House) liked my book: “The Killer’s Daughter.” It’s often said that you can’t get a publishing deal without an agent, but I still don’t have one now. I sent the manuscript directly to one of the few publishers who were prepared to look at work not submitted through an agent. In the end, I got lucky!

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?

I’m finishing off the sequel to “The Killer’s Daughter.” It’s called “All Shook Up” and continues the story of Emma Xenos. I hope that readers who liked “The Killer’s Daughter” will want to know what happens to her. Many of the characters in the first book, feature in the second. OK, you said “one thing!” How about: “Emma’s life is “All Shook Up” by an earthquake in Kalos, and soon she discovers a shocking secret about George.”

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

My children, the landscape of Greece, my brother, overheard snatches of conversation, something seen while walking down the street. It’s hard to say, but often I’ve just woken up with a “what if?” thought in my head and taken it from there,

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

I’m married to Rick; he’s just retired as an Environmental Health Officer. He’s super-practical; a talented bass player; keen on off-road motorcycling and wildlife. My eldest child is Chloe; she lives in Wales. Chloe’s due to take part in a TV quiz show “Mastermind.” We’re really excited, as we’ll be traveling as a family to the studios in Manchester to watch her.

Alexander is very into poetry, film and music. He lives in beautiful Bath where there’s a thriving arts scene. Georgia, my youngest, lives at home. She loves wildlife and watching motorbike sport, just like her dad, and has taught herself Finnish, with a view to living by a lake in a forest one day! I’m lucky that all my children are close in age and close to each other. We have a lot of fun together.

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

Salted cashews, fresh strawberries; but not at the same time.

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

Yawn, make tea, greet cats, yawn again. OK, that’s four, but I need a lot of yawning and an industrial quantity of tea to get me going in the mornings!

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

The absence of skeletons. And the ancient shoe collection that I can’t bear to part with.

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?

Aegean Blue; like the sea. (In Greece of course. In England Grey/Brown would usually be more reminiscent!)

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Stewie Griffin. Such erudition and articulacy in one so young! Though his attitude to his mother needs improvement.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

That’s more difficult. Probably Brian Griffin. We share a passion for writing and we both use doggy-paddle to swim. Though sadly, I don’t have a fine singing voice.

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?

Ancient Rome might be fun for a day; great weather and all the grapes you can eat. Togas are flattering to figures like mine, though I’m not so sure about the sandals. I might be able to free a few slaves and fit in a visit to the Circus Maximus before traveling back to the 21st Century.

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 Prince. I saw him in London in 2007 – the best gig ever. I also like Leonard Cohen, Ian Dury, Metallica, Michael Jackson, and show tunes. I grew up listening to The Beatles and rather hoped that Paul McCartney would marry me when I was old enough. Sadly, history records that this was not the case.

I don’t listen to music while I’m writing; I find it far too distracting. I love to sing along to almost anything in the car; the car’s other occupants generally don’t share my enthusiasm

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?

TV shows I enjoy include Family Guy, Doctor Who, House, Mastermind, Outnumbered, and anything by Alan Bennett. I was formerly glued to the Sopranos, Northern Exposure and Twin Peaks.

Movies: Juno; Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead; Rain Man; Little Miss Sunshine; Road to Perdition, Children of Men, anything by the Coen Brothers; nearly all of John Travolta’s work.

When I’m feeling in need of a “comfort movie,” I’ll likely choose: Grease, Singin’ In The Rain, or Mamma Mia!

Our nearest cinema is quite a distance, so I rarely get to go. I think the last movie I saw there was “This Is It”,” the film about Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for what would have been some truly amazing shows in London.

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

Be true to yourself.

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

Apart from the sequel to “The Killer’s Daughter,” I’m working on a thriller about some kids trapped in an unusual school and another set in a post-war future where to be different really is a deadly sin.

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

Thank you very much. I’ve loved doing it!