King’s CROWNing Authors with Abi Elphinstone

It’s time for the next King’s CROWNing Authors (Cajoling Random Observations Now) interview. Please welcome, Abi Elphinstone.

1. Bare foot or Bear foot?

Bare foot. I didn’t wear shoes until I was about three.

2. Have you ever made your own dream catcher?

Obvs. I made one last week with the Kidsco children, I have another one hanging in my writing shed and my debut children’s book is called THE DREAMSNATCHER. I’m all over this question.

3. I made a bow and arrow once, they didn’t work though, any advice?

You should’ve gone for a catapult. Here, you can borrow mine. I carved it for my main character, Moll Pecksniff, and she rarely goes anywhere without it.

4. I have a small suitcase covered in stickers and packed with a compass, maps, poems, sweets, and an old watch. If it was yours what adventures would you go on?

I’d stuff a big warm jacket and some woolly mittens inside the suitcase then lug it to the Arctic. This year I REALLY want to stay in an igloo with an Inuit, ride dog sleds, canoe through hidden lakes and spy on grizzly bears.

5. If I say the woods then you say –

It’s time to go,

I hate to leave,

I have to, though.

Into the woods-

It’s time, and so

I must begin my journey.

Into the woods

And through the trees

To where I am

Expected ma’am,

Into the woods

To Grandmother’s house-

Into the woods

To Grandmother’s house-

Sorry – just seen the musical…

6(a). Do authors still get homework?

Yup, but it’s way more exciting than algebra sums or timed essays. It involves stuff like:

reading middle grade books and editing in the writing shed.

6(b). When did homework become housework?

If I’m stuck on a tricky edit I sometimes just give up and tidy stuff in the house. Re-arranging my books is my favourite type of housework. Not sure it counts…

7. Best way to sign off an email?

GTGRMDSY (Got to go ride my dragon, see ya)

8. Reading for writing?

Reading definitely. I read a middle grade book every few weeks. I learnt how to write action from Michelle Paver, how to tell stories from Eva Ibbotson and how to create character from Philip Pullman.

9. What is white noise? Answer using only numbers.

5318008 (held upside down on a calculator, it says BOOBIES. Hehe – learnt that when I was 12-years-old).

10. Please make up a question for me.

Would you rather ride a dragon or a unicorn? Why?

A unicorn obvs, I already have a dragon but had to sell him to as his fiery farts set his part of the tower on fire. He’s much happier now as his new owner gives him sulphur-free food.

Thank you so much Abi.

About Abi Elphinstone

Abi Elphinstone grew up in Scotland where she spent most of her childhood building dens, hiding in tree houses and running wild across highland glens. After being coaxed out of her tree house, she studied English at Bristol University and then worked as a teacher in Africa, Berkshire and London. THE DREAMSNATCHER (Read an extract here!) is her debut novel and when she’s not writing about Moll and Gryff, she volunteers for Kidsco, does star jumps on the top of very high mountains and runs her children’s books blog www.moontrug.com.

Links

Author website: www.abielphinstone.com

Twitter: @moontrug

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abi.elphinstone

Instagram: @moontrugger

YouTube of The Dream Catcher’s book trailer

Here’s one I baked earlier – Simon P. Clark and R. F. Long.