- Stardoll Admin
One day I was just sitting around killing time on Stardoll when I saw a Cathy Cassidy ad, I never usually enter Stardoll competitions, but I thought that Cathy Cassidy is my favourite author ever so I gave it a try, what if I did win?
Oh, I did win! I couldn’t get over it! My mum got a call from Stardoll when I was at school, telling her that I had won. I was so exited; I couldn’t sleep! It was all too exiting for words!
That was when I almost keeled over backwards when a huge white limo drew up outside my house! The next thing I knew was I was in Waterstones’ bookshop, Regent Street, London interviewing Cathy Cassidy! Unreal…
The Interview:
Why did you choose to be a writer? - I didn’t choose writing, writing chose me!
Do you need a high school degree to get into books industry? Or is it enough to just love writing? – You don’t need a degree; you just have to love it and want to write.
Is it difficult to write a book? – Yes! It takes a very long time and you have to make everything fit and make it relevant, even if you write a picture book it will take time to make it perfect.
What do some writers do before becoming writers? – Well I was an art teacher, I worked for a magazine, and I was a waitress, a petrol pump attendant and an agony aunt!
Who is your favourite illustrator? – Sara Flavel; because she does all the covers on my books
What is your favourite book? – Seriously Sassy- Maggie Gibson or Love Aubrey- Susan Lafluer
What is your favourite field to write about? – My favourite field to write about is real life from a young persons’ point of view.
What 1 piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start a writing career? – Always keep believing in yourself, write about what you care about and write a bit every day.
Where do you get your inspiration from? – Just life, and some things have happened to me, so - life.
What’s the best thing about being a writer? – Daydreaming and being payed for it!
What are the best things about your career? – Hearing from the readers.
What sacrifices did you have to make to have this career? – Being away from home too much, when I go on book tours and things like that I really miss my family!
What are the main duties in your job? – Obviously writing and keeping in touch with readers. Get up early, write then go visit a school, something like that.
Stardoll is all about Fame, Fashion and friends; how would you describe your style? – Chaotic, Quirky, all about friendships and dreams.
Who is your best friend? – I have 2- Helen and Sheena
Who were your best friends when you were young? – Kerry, Celia and Siobhan
What does friendship mean to you? – Friends keep you sane! Friends understand the most complicated things in life, even if no-one else in the world does.
What finishes a friendship for good? – When friends grow apart by going to other schools, jobs, even countries.
What is your favourite cake? – Chocolate cake from a café 20 minuets down the road from my house!
What do your kids think of your books? – They really like them! They are like my editors! They read them before anyone else!
Do you read your books? – Yes, to see if there are any changes to be made.
Have your kids inspired you for any of your books? – Yes, mostly without realising!
What is your favorite book you have written and why? – Angel Cake is my favourite at the moment, when I write a new book it is usually my favourite.
Have you ever written about any characters that resemble any real-life people? – A few times, Leggit, (the dog in Dizzy) , resembles my dog Kelpie and Miss Quinn in Driftwood resembled me, I don’t put people in my stories like that on purpose, it just happens!
Who is your favourite author? – JD Salinger- he really understood being a teenager.
Who was your favourite author when you were a child? – Arthur Ranson, C.S Lewis, Richard Adams.
Who is your favourite character you have written about? – Mouse, because he’s really troublesome and fun.
Has anything you’ve written about in your books ever happened to you? – Only little things, like my Grandma died like in Sundae Girl
When did you start writing? – When I was at school, around 11 or 12, I would write story’s to send to magazines.
Who or what inspired you? – I get inspiration from day-dreaming and my dad always used to inspire me.
Are you a member of Stardoll? – No, I would like to but I wouldn’t have time to get hooked on a game like Stardoll!
Have you stayed best-friends with your best friends you whole life after you met them? – No, I’ve had interesting friendships, and I’ve met new people.
At what point in your life did you start reading for fun? – Forever! I’ve always loved reading, by the time I was 9 or 10 I was 100% hooked on reading!
5 years ago in 2004 my first book Dizzy was published, I’m still getting over the thought!
Where did you get your idea for indigo blue? – My friends, Day-dreaming and life.
I’m a BIG fan of camper vans, how old is your camper? – Not very, it was made in Brazil, and it’s a copy of an old one!