More Q&A

Yesterday I visited, in the middle of a rainstorm, Milford School on Auckland's North Shore. I found out that the teachers have been reading my book to everyone - in installments over the loudspeaker system - which is a fabulous idea.
I read from Ocean Without End, and people asked lots of interesting questions. Here are a couple:

Q. What do you like most about being a writer?
A. I start work early, but I get to stay in pyjamas until 11am because nobody can see me. And while I sit at my desk, I can go anywhere in the world, and anywhere in time - in my head. Yesterday I was reading the edited version of the next Swashbuckler book so in my imagination I was in Malta in 1798 - the day before, in my head I was in 17th century Amsterdam, learning about how printing presses work. Next week, it'll be back to London during the Blitz.
Q. Are there any books you wish you had written?
A. I wish I'd written Margaret Mahy's The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate. In fact, I wish I'd written most of her books. (If I'd been thinking straight my answer would have been Harry Potter, but I guess everyone wishes they'd written those books!)
Q. Who are your favourite characters in your book?
Well, Lily is really my deep-down favourite, but mostly I love the Maltese characters Carlo, and the brothers Francesco and Ricardo, because they are honest and funny and brave - and I never know what they'll do next.

Thanks to everyone at Milford for inviting me to your school and making me feel welcome.
I'll be reading at all the North Shore libraries over the July school holidays, so maybe I'll see some of you again then.