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| Caleb Krisp |
Read up, ‘Anyone but Ivy Pocket’ author, Caleb
Krisp’s Interview. From the time, I read the book, I usually expect to laugh…
but in this interview, he has a different take.
He is a lot like Ivy Pocket, he
says. Presenting, the slightly serious Caleb Krisp in this one, Folks…
Read up The Review of here and Buy 'Anyone but Ivy Pocket' Here, as well.
How did ‘Anyone but Ivy Pocket’ happen? Could you describe
the journey?
I was at a crossroads of sorts - and really decided
that the time had come to write the children's book, I had always wanted to
write. In the earlier part of my career, I was often taming my comic instincts
and reining in my characters to make them more appealing or reader-friendly.
When I began writing Ivy Pocket, I
granted myself complete creative freedom and allowed my protagonist to do and
say exactly what she wished. It was the most joyous writing experience, I've
ever had.
How did the story, especially Ivy’s come about? Did you
have a lot of personal experiences to go with it?
I wanted to
write about a girl who was unlike many of the heroines, I read about in
children's fiction. A girl
who was plucky and optimistic, yes, but also incorrigible, delusional, loose
with the truth, infuriating and utterly mad. I suspect she and I have a lot in
common!
Ivy Pocket
turned up fully formed as I started to write the book - I heard her voice in my head and I hurried to
write it all down before she went away.
How did you come up with the core idea and develop it?
The initial
inspiration for ‘Anyone but Ivy Pocket’ was a little book written in 1890
called 'The Danvers Jewels' by Mary Cholmondeley. I set out to write a fairly faithful children's
adaption of this delightful little jewel caper, but then Ivy popped into my
head - and suddenly the story took on a life all of its own. Which is just how
it should be.
What according to you is different about your book?
Ivy Pocket is an unreliable narrator, so she cannot always be
trusted. But even if what she tells the reader isn't strictly true, it's certainly entertaining. Ivy is deluded, self-important,
frequently ill-mannered, has the intuitive sense of a chicken curry, and is
utterly penniless.
In short, she is exactly like every other twelve year old on
the planet. I thought
that would make her a different and refreshing kind of heroine.
How would you relate the lives of characters to the lives
today? Any similarities?
Ivy comes from a time when a person’s social
status and wealth were hugely important - and that is still largely true,
today.
Ivy doesn't care who people
are or how much money they have, she treats everyone like an equal and that
makes her very modern indeed.
What was the most challenging part about writing the book?
The fact that I am writing a trilogy was the
biggest challenge - I had to make the book as self-contained as possible, but
also leave the reader wanting more.
Telling one
large story across three books, and making each one satisfying in and of
itself, was a huge challenge.
What book is coming from your desk, next? When do you see
it released?
I have just
finished the second Ivy Pocket book - 'Somebody Stop Ivy Pocket'. It should be out some time, next
year.
Which book are you currently reading?
I'm currently
reading 'Burial Rites' by Hannah Kent. It's very, very good!
Who are your favourite authors and why?
Most of my
favourite authors are dead. I'm heavily influence by 19th century literature -
everything from Jane Austen to sensation fiction. My favourites
include Wilkie Collins, Anthony Trollope, William Makepeace Thackeray, Charles Dickens, Mary Elizabeth Braddon
and Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu.
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| Jane Austen |
You will find
elements of all of these writers in my stories. I love their books because they combine vivid
characterisations with brilliant plotting. A winning combination.
What else do you do on a daily basis?
I try and carve
a statue of Oprah Winfrey from a block of frozen goose fat at least once a day.
A brisk walk in the park and eight
cups of tea are other daily habits.
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