Interview with Emily Gravett
October, 2009
Emily Gravett
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
EG: I can't! That's two...but this makes eight.
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
EG: Why stay between the lines?
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
EG: I have a lot of fears, and my greatest one is far far too scary for me to write about. It involves...nope, Sorry!
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
EG: Here at home in my studio, but with maybe another cup of tea.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
EG: I'd love to be able to sing, but it's never going to happen.
SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
EG: In the Summer I love mowing the lawn. I even got rid an my electric mower because I love the sound my push along makes. In the winter I like to bake cakes.
SS: What’s your fantasy profession?
EG: This is!
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
EG: That would be really really boring! But I do love baked beans on toast, with cheese on the top.
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
EG: For me perfect happiness a day with my family after finishing (and being pleased with) a book, but having had an idea of what to start working on next. It also involves roast potatoes, red wine, well cut lawns and my dog.
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
EG: I would like an hour as my dog. Just to see what it's like to run at 30mph. I like being me though.
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
EG: Hmmm. I dread to think! I wear a lot of stripes, and am often in big boots.
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
EG: Who are you (I'm very bad at recognising people), and am I dreaming?
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
EG: Lateness. I'm the kind of person that's always early to everything. I spend a lot of time hanging around in in the cold being too early for trains/meetings/friends/parties etc. That's one of the reasons I find lateness so irritating. When you're normally half an hour early, and everyone else is half an hour late it means a whole hour of waiting. Grrrr.
SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
EG: Kindness, politeness, and punctuality
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
EG: My daughter.
SS: What do you regret most?
EG: I only regret one thing in my life, but it's a secret!
SS: What is your birthdate?
EG: 8/9
SS: What were your previous occupations?
EG: I haven't really had any. After I left home (too young) I lived in a big green army bus for eight years. I used to busk in the street to earn some money, which was fun but cold. I also spent a few seasons failing to pick apples and potatoes.
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
EG: I think not picking potatoes was good. The potato farm was in a beautiful area, and I spent lots of time drawing whilst my poor partner crawled across potato fields. It also had the bonus of as many free potatoes as we could eat!
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
EG: I went to school in my home town of Brighton. I hated Secondary school (our version of high school) and when I left I swore I'd never go to college. It took me twelve years to change my mind.
Get more on Emily Gravett at SimonandSchuster.com
Emily Gravett
Quick Start
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
EG: I can't! That's two...but this makes eight.
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
EG: Why stay between the lines?
What Readers want to know...
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
EG: I have a lot of fears, and my greatest one is far far too scary for me to write about. It involves...nope, Sorry!
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
EG: Here at home in my studio, but with maybe another cup of tea.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
EG: I'd love to be able to sing, but it's never going to happen.
SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
EG: In the Summer I love mowing the lawn. I even got rid an my electric mower because I love the sound my push along makes. In the winter I like to bake cakes.
SS: What’s your fantasy profession?
EG: This is!
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
EG: That would be really really boring! But I do love baked beans on toast, with cheese on the top.
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
EG: For me perfect happiness a day with my family after finishing (and being pleased with) a book, but having had an idea of what to start working on next. It also involves roast potatoes, red wine, well cut lawns and my dog.
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
EG: I would like an hour as my dog. Just to see what it's like to run at 30mph. I like being me though.
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
EG: Hmmm. I dread to think! I wear a lot of stripes, and am often in big boots.
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
EG: Who are you (I'm very bad at recognising people), and am I dreaming?
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
EG: Lateness. I'm the kind of person that's always early to everything. I spend a lot of time hanging around in in the cold being too early for trains/meetings/friends/parties etc. That's one of the reasons I find lateness so irritating. When you're normally half an hour early, and everyone else is half an hour late it means a whole hour of waiting. Grrrr.
SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
EG: Kindness, politeness, and punctuality
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
EG: My daughter.
SS: What do you regret most?
EG: I only regret one thing in my life, but it's a secret!
General Questions
SS: What is your birthdate?
EG: 8/9
SS: What were your previous occupations?
EG: I haven't really had any. After I left home (too young) I lived in a big green army bus for eight years. I used to busk in the street to earn some money, which was fun but cold. I also spent a few seasons failing to pick apples and potatoes.
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
EG: I think not picking potatoes was good. The potato farm was in a beautiful area, and I spent lots of time drawing whilst my poor partner crawled across potato fields. It also had the bonus of as many free potatoes as we could eat!
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
EG: I went to school in my home town of Brighton. I hated Secondary school (our version of high school) and when I left I swore I'd never go to college. It took me twelve years to change my mind.
Get more on Emily Gravett at SimonandSchuster.com
