Yesterday author Belinda Murrell dropped by to answer some questions about her new book, and about her sister, Kate Forsyth, who is also an author. As promised, Belinda’s sister, Kate, is here today. I posed the same questions to her, to see how they differed from Belinda’s answers. See for yourself.
Welcome Kate Forsyth.
1. Can you tell us a bit about your new book?
The Wildkin’s Curse is a book I’ve been wanting to write for a very long time. It’s the sequel to my first children’s book, ‘The Starthorn Tree’, and it was such a joy to return to the magical world of Estelliana, a place of magical beasts and frightening monsters, a place where a boy can talk to birds and a girl can whistle the wind … it’s the first pure fantasy I’ve written for a while and it was wonderful to be able to just let my imagination soar.
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.
We both learnt to read at a very early age, before we even went to school, and so we always loved reading. We used to write books too, all the time – I remember getting upset one day because Belinda was always trying to help me fix up my books and telling me what should happen next. I went crying to our grandmother who told me it was only because Belinda loved me and that she was trying to help. I don’t want her help! I said. I want to write my OWN stories. Nonnie must have had a word to Belinda because she stopped writing all over my books with her big red pen!
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?
It’s wonderful having a sister to share in all the ups and downs of a writer’s life. I’ve actually dedicated The Wildkin’s Curse to Belinda because she’s sharing this amazing journey with me and has helped me in so many ways – sometimes just having someone to talk to can really help you see what you’re doing wrong. I was quite stuck at one point, at the end of the writing of ‘The Wildkin’s Curse’, and talked to Belinda about it. She made a suggestion which really helped, and sent me scrambling for a pen and paper. And I remember when she gave me her first novel manuscript to read, and I was a little apprehensive– what would I say if it wasn’t any good? But then I read it and was just flooded with joy and relief. It was brilliant! And I rang her straightaway and she came round with champagne and we talked about the book for hours, and since then it’s been a very easy, beautiful, natural thing to do – to trust each other and be able to talk things over, and sometimes help each other out by providing a sounding board – a listening ear that knows as much about the craft of writing as you do.
4. What’s the best thing about your sister’s new book?
It’s a really thrilling adventure set during the French Revolution – Belinda’s writing is so vivid, you can really see the glittering court and smell the rubbish in the streets, and you feel a real sense of danger during their escape from Paris. It’s brilliant!
5. What’s the best thing about your own book?
The Wildkin’s Curse is filled with magic and adventure and mystery and romance. There are so many twists and turns you are never sure what’s going to happen next. It’s the kind of book that will (hopefully) keep you up late at night, reading under your bedclothes with a torch!
6. Now, if I was in a bookstore and could only buy ONE book, should I buy yours or your sister’s? Why?
I have never been able to go to a bookstore and only buy one book! I always buy at least 5. I’d rather have only vegetable soup for dinner and spend my hard-earned coins on books. So I would suggest buying all of our books – only I’ve written 23 books & Belinda’s written 10 and walking out of a bookstore with 33 books may be just a little excessive. How about you buy two of each? Belinda’s ‘Locket of Dreams’ and ‘The Ruby Talisman’ and ‘The Starthorn Tree’ and The Wildkin’s Curse by me.
7. Okay, last question. What else should I know about you, your sister and/or your books?
It may interest you to know our great-great-great-great-great-grandmother, Charlotte Waring, published the first children’s book published in Australia. Called ‘A Mother’s Offering To Her Children by a Lady Long Resident in New South Wales’, it was published in 1841 and was an instant bestseller. First editions are now worth $50,000 (and, no, I don’t have one!)
Wow. THAT is an amazing fact. Shame no one saved a copy for a future great-great-great-great-great granddaughter (or two).
Thanks so much for dropping by Kate. I have really enjoyed having you and Belinda here.
You can buy The Wildkin’s Curse online and in any good bookstore.
