Janey Louise Jones Interview

Just in case you missed the Janey Louise Jones author interview which was posted at the release of her new book Cloudberry Castle, here it is again.

Janey Louise Jones has written lots of Princess Poppy books and this month she is launching her newest book Cloudberry Castle with a whole host of new characters.

Q. Cloudberry Castle is all about a little girl who loves ballet? Why did you decide to write a book about ballet?
Janey Louise Jones [JLJ]: Ballet was my favourite hobby in childhood and I still find watching a performance of ballet absolutely magical.

Q. What inspired you to become an author?
JLJ: I have written stories for as long as I can remember and it was natural for me to write as a career.

Q. What was your favourite book and who was your favourite author when you were a child?
JLJ: When I was a child I loved The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Q. Cloudberries are special in this book but not a lot of people have heard of them. What are cloudberries?
JLJ: Cloudberries are a bit like golden coloured raspberries and they are full of vitamin C. They have a sharp taste, which is delicious in jams and juices.

Q. In Cloudberry Castle, Katie’s favourite ballet is Swan Lake. Do you have a favourite ballet?
JLJ: I love Swan Lake too as it is so beautiful on stage, and very emotional. But I also love The Nutcracker, by the same composer, Tchaikovsky.

Q. The Cloudberry estate is near Perth in Scotland. Why did you decide to set your book there?
JLJ: I think that Perthshire is the most beautiful part of the United Kingdom, where real life meets fairy tales.

Q. As well as writing Cloudberry Castle you have also written lots of Princess Poppy books. Do you have a favourite book?
JLJ: No, I am equally proud of all my stories and would never do a book that I don’t love.

Q. Who is your favourite character from Cloudberry Castle?
JLJ: Katie, the heroine, is my favourite character. She is brave and never gives up on her dreams.

Q. Are the characters in Cloudberry Castle based on anyone you know?
JLJ: I named Katie in the book after my niece, also called Katie Mackenzie. However, all the characters are made up, and I tend to avoid using personalities based on friends and family in case anyone feels it’s too personal.

Q. If you hadn’t been an author what do you think you would have been instead?
JLJ: I was a teacher for a while and I enjoyed that too. But I would have loved to be a ballerina.

Q. What is the best part of being an author?
JLJ: The best thing about being an author is inventing new worlds and interesting people to populate them. It’s also lovely to receive letters from people who have enjoyed the books.

Q. If you inherited a castle, like Katie does in Cloudberry Castle, what would you turn it into?
JLJ: I think I would turn my castle into a Writers’ Retreat, where authors can finish their books in peace and quiet without the phone ringing.

Thanks, Janey!

Posted by: Discover Kelpies