To end this season’s TPP Book Club, we were thrilled to meet with the creator of the Milly McCarthy series, Leona Forde.
TPP: Milly is a real rebel! What inspired you to create her?
LF: I was inspired by my daughter, Asha, who pointed out that a lot of the books she was reading had male protagonists and were set in America. She wanted a book that reflected her life back at her, so I wrote one.
TPP: What do you think are Milly’s best qualities?
LF: Milly sees possibilities before problems. I love how optimistic she is and how she is willing to give things a go. As she says herself, ‘What could possibly go wrong’. And I love that when things don’t go as she planned, she doesn’t dwell on it but picks herself up and tries again.
TPP: Is Milly going to have any more adventures?
LF: I have a few planned, including Milly setting up a dog walking business and a family holiday!
TPP: How do you and Karen Harte (illustrator) work together?
LF: When I finish a story, Gill the publisher sends it to Karen. All three of us suggest possible illustrations, then Karen works her magic.
TPP: What do you love most about writing?
LF: I love that you’re not really sure where a story will take you and that once you get that first draft down, you can edit to make the story sparkle.
TPP: Is it a challenge to come up with new adventures for Milly?
LF: I haven’t got stuck yet. I’m always thinking of new adventures for Milly and I have the most wonderful readers who suggest ideas to me all the time. I think because the world is full of fun things to do, Milly can easily go on and have loads more adventures.
TPP: Do you have a writing routine?
LF: I don’t really have a routine, I can write anywhere, at home, in the library or in the car when I’m waiting to collect someone. My most productive time is in the evenings, once the daily duties of homework, dinner, lunches and drop off to sports and other activities are done, I’ll head upstairs and write for about two hours. I’ll begin by re reading a short paragraph of what I’ve written the last time and continuing from there, or I’ll look at the brainstorm I’ve done for the plot and decide on a scene and start writing that. I try not to edit as I go along as it slows me down. I write everything by hand in an A4 hardback and then when the story is finished I type it out and start changing and rearranging.
TPP: What do you find challenging about writing?
LF: Sometimes we can be our own biggest critic. You can write something and think, this isn’t very good and you are tempted to tear up the page. But showing up every day, writing and rewriting being consistent is what works, that’s how you get you’re finished story. It’s hard, but worth it in the end.
TPP: Have you always been a writer?
LF: I have been an avid reader since I was a kid, but the writing came later. I wrote my first published short story while back packing in Australia and have also had poetry published. I didn’t start writing for children until four years ago. But I’ve also been an English teacher for over twenty years, so I teach writing and write myself every day.
TPP: Do you have an (non-writing) hobbies?
LF: Yes, I love to crochet, I started almost eleven years ago and have slowly gotten better at it. I love to crochet baby clothes and blankets, hats and tea cosies. I don’t really like to follow patterns; I’ll just start crocheting shapes or granny squares and make it up as I go along. Crochet is such a handy hobby as you can carry the wool and hook along with you, so no big kit is needed. This year I also started watercolour painting, I’m not good at it at all, but that doesn’t matter as I’m really enjoying the classes and that’s all that matters.
TPP: What has been the most exciting thing about Milly’s huge appeal and popularity in Ireland and around the world?
LF: It has to be meeting parents and young readers who tell me how much they like the book. I’ve gotten to do lots of book festivals and visit library and schools where I get to chat to readers. It’s also really exciting seeing Milly books outside of Ireland. I’ve had photos sent to me of kids’ reading the Milly books in a school in Australia, on safari in Africa and when I was on holiday in Italy last year, my son met a boy who was holding a Milly book and promptly brought him over so we could get a photo taken together.
TPP: What is your top tip for aspiring writers?
LF: Read, read, read, you soak up lessons on character, plot, pacing and much more from every book you read.
