When did you start writing and why?

At primary school first of all, because you had to. I enjoyed writing my own poems in class, and also longer stories too. In fact, I count my first published success as a poem I wrote about Bonfire Night when I was about seven or eight years old, and which ended up on the classroom wall. I was – and still am – proud of it, especially the rhymes, though the illustrations I did for it are a bit less accomplished!

What is your favourite book that you’ve written?

An almost impossible question to answer, like asking a parent or guardian who their favourite child is! But, if you forced me to answer, I’d say my first book, Black Powder, which is set at the time of the Gunpowder Plot (rather spookily given my answer to the question above!). Not because it’s better than the other books I’ve written, but because I worked so hard on it and for so long without ever knowing if it would get published. It’s celebrating it’s tenth anniversary of publication this year too!

What were you like as a child?

I think I was quite a serious little girl, maybe a bit old for my years too. But I also loved stories and once I got the hang of reading, which didn’t come easily to me, I was a real bookworm. And all that reading also gave me a very active imagination. Great for making up games and plays which I acted out with my little sister, though it also made me a bit of a worrier as well. But I was lucky to have a very happy childhood and I loved going to school and learning new things too.

What superpower would you like to have?

Gosh, that’s a tough one! But being able to travel back in time at the click of my heels would be brilliant. It would make researching the life and times of my stories much easier, though maybe also a tad more dangerous too!

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

We always had cats when I was growing up – one or often two. And a pond with goldfish in it, all of who had names. The cats enjoyed watching them too! I don’t have any pets now, but we do have a garden full of wildlife – all sorts of birds, and sometimes foxes, frogs and even the occasional badger, though I’m less keen on them as they do a lot of digging.

Where do you write and what do you use?

I’m lucky enough to have my own room to write in – a spare bedroom overlooking the back garden, though my desk faces the wall so I don’t get too distracted by what’s going on outside.

When I’m researching or brainstorming first ideas, I write in longhand with a Uni-ball Eye fine point pen (in black ink) in a large Black n’ Red notebook. When I’m ready to make a start on the first chapter, I begin in the notebook but then move across to the computer and carry on from there.

What happens in your virtual author sessions?

I start off with my special author treasure-box and fish out various objects inside it to take my audience on a journey from my school days right the way through to getting my books published.

I then share with them a little bit about where I get my ideas from, usually using pictures and photos of places or objects as prompts. And then I’ll do a short reading from the book that’s been picked for the session. After that I like to give the rest of the time over a Q&A but I’m very happy to make adjustments to this if there’s a particular angle you’d like me to explore.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

Using my imagination to travel back into the past and put myself in the shoes of the ordinary and not-so-ordinary people living in those times. The next best thing to having a super-power!

What’s your favourite book to read?

Another tough question! My favourite book of all time is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to do a retelling of it for young people, though in far fewer words. And it even had pictures too – created by the very talented Ria Maria Lee.

I also love reading historical fiction – both for adults and for children. I’m particularly fond of books by writing friends and fellow children’s authors Barbara Henderson, Susan Brownrigg and Catherine Randall.

And finally, what’s your top writing tip?

My top writing tip would be to read, read, read! If you want to take your own writing seriously you have to know how stories work. And if you want to try and get published, you need to know what’s being published at the moment, so make sure you keep up to speed with new titles as well as reading older ones.

But also, make sure you’re really passionate about your idea. Writing is hard work and if you don’t love and believe in your idea, your readers won’t either. Oh, and make sure to have some fun along the way too! It’s what keeps me coming back to my own desk.

You can book a virtual visit with Ally via her website here!