With the summer holidays almost upon us what better time to think about ur ideal schools? Perhaps you are looking back at the best year you have ever had or thinking about how exiting the year to come will be?
School is a wonderful place full of amazing opportunities to shine in many things and School for Stars: First Term at L'Etolie (Orion Children's Books) by Holly and kelly Willoughby is no exception The children here may all have a super talent and be yearning to join the stars but they all still experience lessons, teachers they love and those they like a little less, friendship ups and downs and a variety of other challenges. The love and closeness of sisters is a theme in the book, reflecting the closeness of its authors, but there are many other moments to make you laugh and sharply intake breath at the audacity of the children. This book is fun, it is bright, cheerful and loving. Holly and Kelly seem to have had great fun wiring it and it is the first in a promising series. Here they explain a little more about how and why they wrote it and reveal a few things about themselves too ...
When did you know you first wanted
to write a children’s book together?
Holly: We’ve always wanted to write a story together
ever since we were kids. When we were little
we were always making up plays and every Saturday or Sunday, and if we had
family or friends over, we would all get together and make something up to
perform to them.
Kelly: I can remember having chats together about
maybe one day writing these plays down on paper and then I actually started
writing a book after I left university - I just woke up one night as I couldn’t
sleep and started writing a story and it was one of the ideas Holly and I used
to talk about. I remember phoning Holly
and she was so excited and we promised each other one day would we see if we
could actually get something published.
How did you find
writing together?
Holly: It was great fun, but sometimes we had quite
contrasting ideas and we’d have to fight about which way a story would
turn.
Who would win?
Kelly: It was never one of us who always got our
way - we would end up compromising - it wouldn’t be a straight win – we are
sisters!
Where did you write:
Holly: Usually over dinner with a glass of wine to
get away from the kids! Or in the back
of a car.
Kelly: Often while Holly is cooking dinner in the
kitchen and we just sat and talked about all the ideas and quickly got them all
down. Or my favourite time for writing is when I’ve just got up in the morning,
sitting in bed, in my pyjamas on my laptop with a cup of tea.
Why do you think
reading is so important?
Kelly: I read loads when I was growing up - all the
Enid Blytons – Secret Seven, Famous Five, Mallory towers and Nancy Drew
books, but I think it’s different now – kids watch a lot of TV or they’re on
iPads, computers, the internet. But it is so important to read as your
imagination is used best when you’re sat there with a book inventing the
pictures in your mind, rather than looking at them.
Was your school like
the school in your book, School For Stars?
Holly: No, sadly not! Obviously there will be
elements of similarity because you can’t help but draw on your own experience
when writing, but we certainly weren’t singing and dancing every day!
Kelly: It was particular places we remembered the
most - so writing about the school hall or the dining room we pictured where we
both went to school and used that.
Holly: Do you remember how terrified we were of the
head dinner lady?
Kelly: Yes!
And we used that for a story in the book!
The main characters in
the book are twins, did you ever wish to be twins?
Holly: We’re quite close in age so it’s always felt
like we are practically twins. Our Dad
always called me ‘Rose-White’ and Kelly ‘Rose-Red’ because we’re sort of the
same.
Kelly: But I’m brunette and white skinned whilst
Holly is blonde and tan-skinned.
If you could have one
super-power, what would it be?
Holly: I would be invisible for the day and have a
snoop around Buckingham palace and see what goes on there. I want to go through
the Queen’s wardrobe!
Kelly: To fly.
What’s in your handbag?
Holly: I have two Thomas the tank engines because
they are there to keep Harry and Belle entertained in emergencies. I have my
purse, my phone loads of make-up and loads of unidentifiable objects floating
around at the bottom which have been there probably for about 4 years.
Kelly: Toys! I had a baby just before Christmas so
there’s always something to chew on – and baby bottles.
What’s your best
make-up tip?
Holly: Always curl your eyelashes before putting
mascara on. Heat your eyelash curlers up with a hairdryer (but always be careful
you don’t burn your eyes) as that makes it last longer.
Kelly: I’m never without a black liner on my eyes.
My husband says put your liner on and you’ll feel normal!
What’s your guilty TV
indulgence?
Holly: Made in Chelsea, I’m obsessed with it. I didn’t watch it
right from the beginning but I’ve watched all 4 series on catch up in about 3
months and I love it!
Kelly: Colombo
on a Sunday afternoon. Sad but true. Again, a real treat since having a baby because
you don’t get the chance to watch anything anymore.
 |
| Holly and Kelly in school uniform |
What celeb would you
most like to be stuck in a lift with?
Holly: Rupert Penry-Jones for obvious reasons.
Kelly: Michael Buble for all the wrong reasons.
One piece of advice to
your childhood self
Holly: Practice makes perfect.
Kelly: Be confident.
Holly &
Kelly’s favourite things:
Favourite
children’s book:
Kelly: Matilda by Roald Dahl
Holly: At
the moment it’s the Gruffalo because
both my children absolutely love it. My
favourite adult book is Pamela des Barres Im
with the Band, it’s a really good story set in the 60s about the original
groupie.
Favourite
song:
Holly: Paul Weller’s English Rose – first song at my
wedding
Favourite
musical:
Holly and Kelly: Blood Brothers. The only musical our dad is
obsessed with, and won’t whinge all the way through.
Holly: It’s just a really good story and it makes
me cry every time I see it even though I know what’s going to happen.
Favourite
meal:
Holly: Roast chicken, roast potatoes and tons of
gravy - but it has to be my gravy, because I’m the best at making gravy!
Kelly: I’d say fillet steak or chateaubriand with
mashed potato.
Favourite
holiday:
Holly: My honeymoon to the Maldives. It’s the most
beautiful place on earth. It’s the only place on earth that looks like it does
in the postcards.
Kelly: Sunshine anywhere - I’d love to go to the
Maldives as I haven’t done it yet.
Either /
Or
Home cooked
meal or takeaway
Holly: Home
cooked meal every time
Kelly: Home cooked meal
Film or
theatre
Holly: Can’t choose
Kelly: Film
Corrie or
Eastenders?
Holly: Corrie
Kelly: Corrie, probably
Night owl or morning bird?
Holly: Morning bird - otherwise I’d be in
trouble with my job
Kelly: Morning
Cosmopolitan or Coffee
Holly: Cosmopolitan
Kelly: Cosmo
Personal trainer or yoga
Holly: I’ve been to yoga once but I’m
beginning to quite like it
Kelly: Yoga
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