Holly Webb Author Interview ~ JeanBookNerd

Book Nerd Interview

Holly was born and grew up in southeast London but spent a lot of time on the Suffolk coast. As a child, she had two dogs, a cat, and at one point, nine gerbils (an accident). At about ten, Holly fell in love with stories from Ancient Greek myths, which led to studying university. She worked for five years as a children’s fiction editor before deciding that writing was more fun and easier to do from a sofa. Now living in Reading with her husband, three sons, and two cats, Holly runs a Guide unit. The Rose books stem from a childhood love of historical novels and the wish that animals really could talk.

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What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?

I'm terrified of spiders. Actually, they probably wouldn't be that surprised, most of my characters are too, including Rose. Although she would be much, much braver about dealing with them than me. (I get my ten year old to put them outside...)

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I was 28 - before then all I'd written was plays for my Guide unit to put on (Guides are the same as US Girl Scouts). But I worked as an editor, and without realising I wanted to write myself, I was learning so much about crafting stories. I came up with an idea that I was supposed to suggest to an author - but I loved it too much to give it away!

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?

I had a brilliant Classical Studies teacher when I was eleven - she enthralled our whole class with stories from Greek myths. She taught us the enduring power of those stories.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Actually quite shy!

In your new book; Rose and the Lost Princess, can you tell my Book Nerd Kids Community a little about it and why they should read your novel?

Rose has discovered that she too can create the magic that fascinates her. Mr Fountain has invited her to be an apprentice, as well as a servant girl, and Rose is desperately trying to her magic lessons in around her work. How can she do both, especially when all the other servants are suddenly terrified of her powers? But then an invitation to visit the palace changes everything...

I couldn't resist writing more about Rose - I wanted to know more about her, and I hope the readers will too!

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

I would love to introduce Gus, the magician's cat, to some of the animal characters from the Narnia books. They had such a huge effect on me as a child, and they've really influenced the way I write.

When was the last time you cried?

This is a bit embarrassing - watching The Sound of Music. It always makes me cry!

Now an apprentice magician, Rose is asked to help find a very special missing person

Turning the worn pages of her spell book, Rose can't believe how much her life has changed. Once a poor orphan, she is now an apprentice to the king's chief magician. But when the country's beloved princess vanishes, everything changes. As rumors of dark magic fly through the city, the king asks Rose for help. She must find the missing princess, before all is lost.