author interview

How do you write?
My first chapter is usually drafted in pencil and only when I'm reasonably happy with the text do I move over to my laptop. I do this for each and every chapter. I write best either very late at night or early morning. I think routine and deadlines are crucial to finishing any project. Setting a target of writing/editing or even doing some illustrations everyday works best for me as it keeps my motivation going and I have a sense of achievement when I've finished a bit of the jigsaw.

Where do you write?
Usually at my desk in the spare bedroom. The room has a large sash window and light floods into the room. My desk overlooks a terrace garden of Mediterranean herbs, lavender, lovage, seasonal flowers, and saplings of apple, cherry, Victoria plum, damson, Japanese maple, silver birch Norwegien spruce, sorbus and willow. I seem to spend most of my time watching the birds feeding and squabbling over food.

How do you think up your characters?
I don’t, they come to me. The character of Wilma the Herdwick Sheep was conceived in January 2005 before the book even existed. My husband and I were staying in a cottage in the Langdale Valley and a storm broke, the valley basin flooded with rain water from the mountains and then a tornado just happened to go by the cottage. All very, very scary – we lost all electricity and heating! Just after 2am, the worst of the storm arrived and we were unable to sleep so my husband requested a story – don’t know why – and so I told one. We laughed raucously and the outcome was Wilma. Not long after this, we were walking up Stickle Ghyll and there stood a lone sheep, away from the flock, and my husband and I instantly looked at each other and said ‘that’s Wilma’.

Who is your favourite character?
Tilly, of course, closely followed by Mika the Fox. I like all the characters in the book except those involved in poaching animals and cruelty to animals. All the characters have their own traits, which sets them apart from another - Betty for instance is an airhead, whereas her sister Wilma is very logical and organised because she is the elected Sheep Leader.

Are any of the scenes from Tilly based on real life?
Yes! The scene where the sheep and lambs are being taken to the 'Place of No Return' is based upon a horrible experience. On a beautiful sunny July morning I was walking my dogs and became aware of this terrible sound of some creatures in fear/distress. After a few more paces, I saw the farmer and his young son forcefully separating all the lambs from their mothers - the lambs were only 3 or 4 months old. Well, you can imagine the scene - the farmer was forcefully chucking the terrified lambs into a trailer and they were desperately struggling to get back to their mothers and their mothers were trying desperately hard to reach their lambs. The lambs were being taken to the abattoir.

Who has inspired you?
Those in less fortunate circumstances and those who have fought valiantly for their beliefs.

How do you relax?
Sing loudly and badly to Abba, go running, scramble over some mountain, go snorkeling, swim till I’m too tired to walk, dance when no one’s looking.