It took me a long time to work out what FAQ stood for – I thought at first it was something boring to do with tax. But of course it means Frequently Asked Questions… so here are some of the FAQs that come my way most often – plus a few of the oddest ones! – and my answers to ‘em. Click on any question to get to an answer!

How did I start writing?
I was a magazine journalist first, which I guess taught me to write quickly and make things interesting (I hope). But writing quizzes for magazines is a lot different from writing a full-length novel, so I was very nervous when I first started, and wasn’t sure if I could do it! But once I got an idea for a story, and characters, and then took my time planning it all out chapter-by-chapter, I felt much more confident. I still got a lot of ‘no’s from publishers before I got a ‘yes’, though! (For more on how I got started, check out About Me)
When did I start writing?
I think I was about 34… But that’s the great thing about writing books – you can be any age.
How many books have I written?
OK, I hope I’ve got my sums right… 14 Allys, 4 Ally Specials, 7 Stellas, 8 Indie Kidds, 3 Indie Kidd specials, 4 Sadie Rocks, 1 Marshmallow Magic & the Wild Rose Rouge, 1 Urgent Message of Wowness, 1 Seventeen Secrets of the Karma Club, 6 older teen novels and 12 books in an old series for 'Sugar' magazine, which I wrote under a pseudonym. So 60-something, give or take one or two that I’ve written but aren’t in the shops quite yet.
How do I think up my characters?
My diaries from school have given me lots of ideas for characters, as well as friends, relatives and people I’ve worked with. The trick is to take a bit of one person, mix in a few different quirks, and make them look like someone else. Hey, presto!, you’re got an individual character, and your friend can’t recognise herself reading the book and beat you up.
How do you get a book published?
In the reference section of libraries, there’s a big book called the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. It lists every book agent in the country (and the kind of books they’re interested in), as well as every publisher, and what they’re into. Some authors get agents right from the start, who try to sell the book to publishers for them. But when I was starting out, I couldn’t get an agent interested in me, so I send my book off straight to publishers. It’s not easy to get published – every agent and book publisher has a teetering pile of ‘manuscripts’ to read through, and they can’t all get turned into books, sadly!
Do I have any advice about writing?
Check out my writing tips.
How much money do I earn?
Enough that I can write books as a full-time job, which is great. With the help of my royalties (the few pence authors get from the sale of each book), we could afford to convert our loft into an office (with a fab view of Alexandra Palace!). But unfortunately, I’m WAY short of being able to buy ruby-encrusted cat collars or personal crisp factories just yet.
Do I know JK Rowling/Jacqueline Wilson etc?
I’ve never met JK Rowling, but I once shook hands with Jacqueline Wilson. It was a bit embarrassing – she didn’t have a clue who I was (why should she?), so I just got a bit tongue-tied and ran away! The thing is, you have to remember that most of the time, a writer is stuck indoors looking at a computer screen, so it’s not exactly the sort of job where you sit having tea and biscuits with lots of writer chums. Though you do meet up with some at book festivals, which is fun.
Do I have any kids?
Yes – I have a fantastically cute and funny seven-year-old daughter called Milly, who gives the best cuddles. Sadly, she prefers Jacqueline Wilson books to mine!
What job would I do if I wasn’t a writer?
Oh, something to do with animals, I reckon. Is there such a job as a professional cat stroker?
Do you live in a mansion?
Er, nope. Until a couple of years ago, we lived in a very nice two-bed roomed flat – then we moved round the corner to a three-bed roomed terraced house, which we added a loft room office to (see above). We’ve got a swimming pool, though. (OK, it’s a metre-wide blow-up paddling pool, decorated with freaky looking dolphins that our daughter Milly loves!)
Are you Scottish?
Well, I have a very Scottish last name and a Scottish accent, so, I guess, yes – I AM pretty Scottish! But I’ve lived in London since 1990, so I consider myself very much British(ish).
What's your favourite football team?
Er, don’t have one. If there’s such a thing at football dyslexia, I think I may have it. When I try and watch a match on TV, all I see is a jumble of legs running and can’t figure out who’s who, or where they’re headed.
What’s your favourite colour?
Yellow to look at, green to wear. But I’m pretty addicted to looking at colours: from the pink of cherry blossoms to the peach of sunsets to the weird rainbow swirls of oil in a puddle.
What’s your favourite biscuit?
ALL biscuits are good biscuits. Especially if they’re chocolate-y. And oat-y. But if you held up a packet of biscuits and a packet of crisps, I’d pick the crisps every time. (And hope you gave me the biscuits too...)



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