What is your most recent book about?
My new book is Molly Malone & Bram Stoker in Double Trouble at the Dead Zoo. Set in Dublin in 1859, it’s about a young Bram Stoker, future author of Dracula, teaming up with an eleven year old Molly Malone, who, in addition to being a part-time fishmonger, is also a full-time pickpocket and champion sneak thief. Together they befriend a boy in the Natural History Museum of Ireland and go on the trail of an amazing lost gemstone called the Rajapur Ruby, stolen by an Irish pirate and hidden somewhere in Dublin. It’s the second in a series; the first book was The Sackville Street Caper, and there will be two more Molly & Bram books out next year – one will be a World Book Day book or novella entitled The Curious Case of the irish Yeti, and the next, full length book will be called A Tale of Two Dickensand will be released in August 2024.
What is the weirdest or most interesting thing you had to research for your book?
I loved researching Pablo Fanque’s Circus Royal for Double Trouble at the Dead Zoo. It was a travelling circus that toured Europe and, more importantly for the book, Ireland in the 1850s. I had only heard of Pablo Fanque from the song on the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album by The Beatles, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite. The song was mostly written by John Lennon and he got the inspiration from a vintage circus poster he bought from an antique shop. There is an amazing photo of Lennon standing beside the framed poster, and I used this for the design of the circus posters that appear in the book. Pablo Fanque was a fascinating character; he was a renowned equestrian and was one of the first persons of colour in the world to own and tour a circus!
You have written a lot of books, what’s your favorite genre of books to write?
Most definitely historical books! I love adventure books with a good sense of humour, and I was brought up on ghost stories and spooky tales, so I enjoy mixing all of those ideas together!
Which one of your characters was the hardest to write?
The hardest one to write was probably the character known as The Tall Man in Double Trouble at the Dead Zoo. I found him difficult as he has absolutely no redeeming qualities, he’s a bad guy through and through – all he wants is money for money’s sake. The idea was to make him almost completely unrelatable and hopefully I’ve managed that!
If you were stranded on a desert island what 2 books, 2 movies and 2 animals would you bring?
I would bring a Stephen King book, I am a big fan of clever schlock! The Stand is brilliant, and also his longest, so that would last a good while. I would also bring Matilda by Roald Dahl. I love most of Dahl, but I love ALL of Quentin Blake’s amazing illustrations!
My two movies would be The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola – I could watch this every day – and the first Star Wars movie, Episode IV A New Hope. I am pretty mainstream in my movie viewing, Coppola, George Lucas (and Stephen Spielberg) were all friends!
My two animals would be my dog, Lily. She’s a 5-year-old cocker spaniel rescue dog and she’s crazy, but such good company. The other animal would be my childhood budgie, Sindy. I was always trying to teach her to speak but she only was ever able to say one word – ‘KNICKERS!’ – I’d love to spend my time on the desert island having a go at trying to make her say something a little more appropriate!
read about the Sackville Street Caper here
read about Double Trouble at The Dead Zoo here