When did you start writing and why?

I started writing poems when I was about six, I think, usually about nature and animals. I remember writing one called Don’t Badger the Badger because I was obsessed with badgers and was very excited to find out that you can use their name as a verb! I thought Michael Rosen was brilliant (still do) and pretty much knew his poetry book The Hypnotiser off by heart, so I suspect this had something to do with it.

What is your favourite book that you’ve written?

I always feel wrong answering this, like I’m picking a favourite child! Honestly, different books are special to me for different reasons – for example, Mona Lisa and the Others because I got to work with Sir Quentin Blake, whose work was such a huge, beloved part of my own childhood. Similarly, I have a soft spot for Modern Art Explorer because when I lived in Paris as a student, I loved and visited the Centre Pompidou so much – I never imagined I’d get the chance to write a book about my favourite artworks there. I also have books coming out next year (2026) that I’m wildly excited about – including one that I so loved and missed writing that I got a tattoo inspired by it!

What were you like as a child?

A big reader and nature-lover who was chatty, a bit scatty and very earnest – and loved alternating TV and video games with being really active and outdoorsy. Honestly, not massively different from what I’m like now!

What superpower would you like to have?

I’d like a sort of ‘Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future’ power to make people who are acting cruelly, unjustly and destructively change their ways. Mind control doesn’t feel right and this means it’s still them deciding, just under some spooky pressure! I’d use it on super-powerful people whose self-serving actions have the most impact on the rest of us, and the planet.

Do you have any pets or what imaginary pet would you have?

I have a very silly, cuddly old tabby cat called Luna, who always looks surprised. She likes to curl up next to me while I write, which is lovely.

Where do you write and what do you use?

I usually write in a summer house in my garden, although I like to mix it up so sometimes it’s a café or coworking space – or my sofa, if I’m very tired! I mostly write on my laptop but if I’m getting a load of ideas out of my head or working out a structure for something, I’ll sometimes use a pen and notebook. This feels more romantically writerly but also means I have to later decipher the slightly chaotic notes that I’ve scribbled down while trying to keep pace with my thoughts. 

What happens in your virtual author sessions?

I like my sessions to be as interactive and flexible as possible, so to some extent it depends on what the school or organisation wants, but to make sure there’s a clear structure I’ll usually include certain bits. A hello and introduction, a short reading from one or two of my books, some activities to get kids thinking and creating themselves, and a Q & A session where children can ask me whatever they want to know about being an author. I love answering their questions, and they always make me laugh!

What’s the best thing about being an author?

I feel so lucky that I get to learn and be creative for my job, and I also really love meeting and hearing from children during author sessions! When kids engage with the stories and facts that I’ve shared in my books, and feel inspired to read, write, make art, think about things in a different way and try to help build a better world, that feels like pure magic. I also sometimes get emails from parents, teachers and caregivers letting me know what an impact one of my books has had on a child they know, and that means more to me than they’ll ever know.

What’s your favourite book to read?

Thinking about all the books I’ve loved, from my own childhood right up to today, it’s just too hard to pick a favourite – sorry! So if I can cheat a bit, I’ll tell you about a children’s book that I finished very recently and enjoyed hugely: The Howling Mountain, the third and final book in the Goblyn Wood trilogyby Anna Kemp. It’s a proper adventure story full of magic, twists and turns and inspiring characters, and I didn’t want it to end! 

And finally, what’s your top writing tip?

My top writing tip is to lean into your own curiosity, and to play around with any thoughts and ideas that make your brain feel sparkly and alive! If you enjoy and are interested in what you’re writing about, and you put in the time and effort to express it in a way that feels right to you, I think you’re well on your way to creating something really special.

Book a virtual visit with Alice via her website at https://aliceharman.com/author-visits/