An Interview with Tracey Corderoy

This is our first ever author interview - how exciting! Hopefully it will be the first of many.

We asked Tracey to be our inaugural interviewee because she's been so supportive of us at Waterstones Cirencester - and because we just love her books!

We know YOU love her books too, so we thought we'd find out a bit more about this hugely popular and versatile children's author...

Tracey, tell us about your first ever book and what inspired you to start writing...

I've always loved stories and how they can transport you from the mundane to the magical. I really do believe they have the potential to unlock the imagination. Like many, I've always wanted to write, and then when we moved to an ancient cottage on a hill, instead of picking up a paintbrush, I picked up a pen instead!
It wasn't (just) an attempt to avoid the decorating, but by that point in my life I had so many characters bouncing round in my head, desperate to share their stories, I felt that they'd waited long enough and it was time to give them a voice.

My first story was about a really grumpy (and extremely hygienically challenged) troll called 'The Grunt', who, despite his best intentions NOT to be a friend, finally can't help befriending another troll in many ways very like him. It is through taking this uncharacteristic and emotionally brave step that he ultimately gets to "feel" the magic unleashed through the gentle power of friendship.


This year you have TEN new books coming out! How do you keep getting great ideas?

I'm an avid collector; a magpie. I collect things that captivate me. I might see a character on an illustrator's website which calls to me in some way. And so that character might move in and share my cottage. Given time, they might tell me their story. Then we explore that story together, we go on a journey and see where that leads.I think you need to love your characters if you want others to love them too. And so much of that is getting to know them really well.

The other things I collect are objects (many and varied) that might start me wondering why, where, how or who. Sometimes these questions aren't answered for ages. And sometimes not at all. But sometimes they are and my stories are the vehicle for this.

I do a similar thing with words and phrases I like the sound of and I listen when people are talking because sometimes just everyday conversations really get me thinking. I also get lots of story ideas when I'm hoovering. True fact!

We love it when you visit our store - you always throw really great events. What's been your biggest event challenge?

I really love doing events but probably my biggest challenge was being asked to do a magic show for 'Monty and Milli' (my magical mice) at the Hay Festival last year because - well, in a nutsell - I can't do magic. The show is still being requested all over the place but possibly because it's more funny than technically good!




You have recently started writing for older children. Tell us about the 'Willow Valley' series and 'Baddies, Beasties and a Sprinkling of Crumbs!' (book one is due in April). They look quite different from one another!

Wow, yes - these two series couldn't be more different! I like to experiment with lots of different styles and voices in my stories. It keeps me on my toes and the stories vibrant, I hope.

'Willow Valley' is a series for new readers about a community of little woodland animals who love friendship, fun and adventures. With a backdrop of rolling green hills, buttercup meadows and bluebell woods, childhood issues are gently explored through three main characters who are (usually!) great friends.
Riley the mouse, Starla the badger and Horatio Spark, a roly-poly hedgehog, are always on the lookout for their next big adventure.
This series was inspired by the valley where I live. We have a brook and the Willow Valley animals have a river which they travel along on canal boats. They also live in cave houses on the hills and, when it's rainy, my little cottage becomes as dark as a cave-house too! My editor originally asked me for a hamster story "with a difference" and from that the world of Willow Valley evolved. And is certainly is a hamster story with a difference, for now there isn't a single hamster in it!

'Baddies, Beasties and a Sprinkling of Crumbs!' is wild, wacky and fun. It's got all the elements of a classic goodies/baddies romp with a modern, yet retro feel.
There are children - three- Otto, Martha and Scarlett, there's an inventor - their dad Henrig - and there are robbers (three of them too), called The Unstoppables. So, basically The Unstoppables (boo, hiss!), need to be stopped because they are outrageously bad - I mean they'll steal anything and the children feel they MUST stop them in order to save their Dad's reputation (and avoid ending up living in a field with smelly goats). But is this easier said than done?
I hope you'll enjoy reading the story as much as I've loved writing it...



You've written a lot of picture books. What do you think are the special ingredients that make for a magical book?

As I've said, you have to really love your characters and not be afraid to go with them on their journeys, even if where you go is sometimes very unfamiliar. Sometimes you have to take risks with your writing, but always take your lead from your character - in other words be guided by them, never losing the essence or "heart" of the story; the why and where it all began.
I also think you need to see and feel through the eyes of a child, for children see the impossible as probable, the ordinary as extraordinary and they are always open to the truly magical...



Finally, if you could work some magic of your own and bring one of your characters to life, which one would it be?!

I would love to meet 'The Little White Owl', because he's courageous, thoughtful and fun.
Plus, he'd share his toast with me I'm sure...


Just click on The Little White Owl and you can look at all of Tracey's wonderful books!



Come and meet Tracey! She will be at Waterstones Cirencester on Saturday 23rd March between 11am and 3pm. We will be having lots of Easter crafting fun with 'Oh Dylan!'.