Elianne and Izzy
My niece, Elianne, is 8.
As far as I am aware, she is the first person in the whole world to read a print copy of Izzy’s Unexpected Week.
She is also the first person to take time out from trampolining to have a chat with me about the book.
Here’s some of our conversation.:
Me: Hello!
E: Hi, Aunty Memem!
E: I’ve got a lollipop (she holds it up to the screen to show me).
Me: I’ve got chocolate buttons (I hold them up to the screen to show her).
Snacks sorted, she launches in:
E: How long did it take you to write Izzy’s Unexpected Week?
Me: A few months, I think, to get the first draft. But I’m not really sure. I just wrote as and when.
Me: How long did it take you to read?
E: Five hours.
My niece is far more precise than me.
E: What inspired you to write the book?
Me: I thought why not have a go at fiction. I’ve not tried fiction before (apart from the silly stories I make up for you!).
E: *Giggles
E: What is your favourite part of the book?
Me: When Izzy has the ice cream.
Me: What is your favourite part of the book?
E: Izzy.
E: Why did you call Izzy Izzy?
The question takes me by surprise! It’s a great question, and I don’t have a great answer.
Me: Um, because I did…?? Do you like the name?
E: Yeah.
Phew!
At this point, the captions on my phone stop working, so I ring off and call her back.
She waits patiently.
She’s very good at dealing with my deafness.
Me: Hi again!
E waves, then back to business:
E: Why did you call the book Izzy’s Unexpected Week?
Me: Why do you think?
E: Because it’s about Izzy’s week that’s unexpected.
Me: Spot on.
I decide to leave it there, rather than break it to her that her aunty is terrible at thinking of titles, and did not actually come up with the title (thanks to Authentic Media, who did!).
E: Why is the car two seated?
Me: Because Izzy’s aunty doesn’t have a family.
E: Why is the car yellow?
Me: It’s blue?
Her: It says in the book it is yellow!
I check. Turns it out is blue. I’m impressed that she threw in a trick question.
E: Who is your favourite character?
Me: Katy.
Me: Who did you feel most sorry for?
E: Suzy, the bully.
Me: Did you read the ‘Izzy and Me’ bits?
E: Yeah.
Me: What did you think of them?
E: They were good.
I sense the trampoline is beckoning….
One more question:
Me: If I wrote another book in the series, which character should it be about?
E: Katy.
Me: Why?
E: Just cos I think so……
And with that, and a wave of her lollipop stick, she’s off.
Thank you for talking to me, Elianne!