I love having visitors here on my blog, but am especially excited about my next two visitors. See, Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell are not just authors – they are authors who are also sisters. And, on top of that, they both had a book released on May 1. What a celebration!
I thought I would invite them to be interviewed on my blog, and wondered would happen if I asked them both the same questions. Will their answers match – or will they contradict each other?
So, first up, here’s what Belinda had to say. Welcome, Belinda Murrell
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1. Can you tell us a bit about your new book?
The Ruby Talisman is an exciting time slip adventure where my modern day heroine, Tilly, falls asleep wearing an old ruby pendant and is magically transported back in time to the glittering and opulent court of Queen Marie-Antoinette and King Louis XVI. Tilly wakes up in Versailles on July 14th, 1789, the day the peasants storm the Bastille, sparking violent uprisings against the aristocrats all over the country. Tilly sets off on a series of terrifying adventures throughout France to help her aristocratic ancestor Amelie-Mathilde escape the dangers and chaos of the French Revolution. Two girls – Tilly and Amelie, born more than two hundred years and a world apart, until the day the Ruby Talisman brings them together to fight side by side. It’s exciting stuff!
2. It’s pretty special to have two sisters having new books published on the same day. Were books a big part of your childhood and youth? Tell us about it.
Our childhood was filled with stories and books, and we always had very rich imaginations (some would say over-active imaginations!). We were always voracious readers – devouring a wide range of books – fantasy, adventure, history, mysteries, folklore and animal tales. Our mum encouraged us to write stories, plays and poems which we ‘published’ with hand drawn illustrations. It was one of our favourite things to do – that is if we weren’t curled up somewhere reading a book, or playing some fantastic game based on whatever we were reading at the time!
3. What’s it like having a sister who is also an author? Do you give each other feedback on works in progress? Help each other in other ways?
Kate and I love being authors, and it is a wonderful experience to share. It’s nice because now, we are often invited to literary festivals and functions together, and do spend a lot of time together. It’s nice to have someone to share the ups and downs with, because as a writer you spend so much time alone locked in your office inside your own head. Kate and I tend not to read each other’s manuscripts until they are finished – we find it’s better that way. Kate and I both have strong opinions on how things should be done, and there are already enough similarities between our work. We do help each other in so many other ways, whether talking through a sticky plot problem that is bothering us, helping to look after each other’s children or giving each other a stern talking-to, when we are doing too much, or getting stressed from juggling the many demands of motherhood, career, family and writing.
4. What’s the best thing about your sister’s new book?
Kate’s writing is so vivid and real, that you find yourself completely transported to another world – a magical, fantastical world where all things are possible. Her characters are rich and funny and lovably flawed. Like me – Kate loves a great, exciting adventure!
5. What’s the best thing about your own book?
I love the setting of The Ruby Talisman in eighteenth century France during the French Revolution. There is the contrast between the opulence of Queen Marie-Antoinette’s court at Versailles, with the starvation and misery of the peasants. The history of the revolution is fascinating with so many opportunities for danger and adventure, and I love my characters – modern day Tilly who is feisty and independent, with aristocratic Amelie, who is torn from her luxurious lifestyle and loses everything she knows and loves.
6. Now, if I was in a bookstore and could only buy ONE book, should I buy yours or your sister’s? Why?
Oh – that’s too hard!! Of course I want you to buy Kate’s book because she is such a brilliant and enthralling writer – but please buy my book too!
7. Okay, last question. What else should I know about you, your sister and/or your books?
Both Kate and I would love a pet monkey. When we were growing up, our dad was a vet so we lived in a house filled with animals – dogs, cats, lambs, calves, ducks, piglets, horses, snakes, rats, possums even a baby wallaby who lived in a sack on the kitchen door. Consequently both our books are filled with many wonderful animal characters. But both of us particularly love monkeys – perhaps because they are so cheeky, mischievous and funny, and as children we would always ask our parents for a pet monkey. The answer, sadly was always no! In our latest books, we both (by total coincidence) have cheeky monkey characters – mine is a naughty, sulky pet called Mimi, while Kate has a fantastical monkey-like creature called an omen-imp who can talk, and change shape into other creatures.
Thanks so much for visiting, Belinda.
That was fun. Drop back tomorrow to see Belinda’s sister Kate answer the same questions – let’s see just how in synch these sisters are.
In the meantime, you can buy Belinda’s latest book, The Ruby Talisman, online or in any good bookstore.
Thanks for that post, Sally. I heard Belinda speak at the Somerset Festival. I enjoyed her book 'The Locket of Dreams' and look forward to reading the Ruby Talisman. These were the sorts of stories I loved reading as a kid.