What’s the most exciting place you’ve ever been to?
Ladakh, high up in the Himalayan mountains. It is remote, thrilling, like visiting the moon. I had awful altitude sickness on the three-day bus journey from Kashmir, and felt even worse when I looked over the edges of the cliffs and saw crashed cars and buses strewn along the mountainside, looking like papier mâché models. We were lucky to get to the capital of the tiny country in one piece. After the rocky moonscapes on the way, Leh was a delightful green oasis.
Have you ever found yourself in a dangerous situation like Kit?
When I was a war reporter in Georgia [near Russia] I was once caught in an ambush. Along with two other young journalists, I’d rented a taxi and traveled from a besieged town. We were just going over a bridge when gunmen opened fire on us. We crashed into a ditch by the side of the bridge. Bullets were whizzing around everywhere. A bad situation got even worse when the taxi driver pulled out a pistol and joined in the battle. I still don’t know how we got out of there.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A cook, a horse-rider, or failing that a writer.
Do you know any secret martial-arts moves?
If I let you in on the secret, I’d have to eliminate you straight away. With my martial-arts moves.
What are your favorite children’s books?
As a child I adored A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and the Children Who Lived in a Barn by Eleanor Graham. More recently I enjoyed The Wind Singer by William Nicholson.
What do you enjoy most about being an author?
I love it when the writing flows easily. When it is going well, writing is a wonderful thing. I also enjoy going to schools and talking to kids.
Where do you write your books?
In my tiny study, which used to be a bathroom.
Have you ever seen a real tiger or Egyptian mummy?
I’ve seen real mummies in Egypt—and let me tell you there is something very exotic about descending into a pyramid and seeing a real mummy. I’ve also seen tiger prints in Karnataka in India. But though I rode on an elephant through the jungle, we didn’t actually see a wild tiger.
Where next for Kit?
At the moment poor Kit is in a coma. If she survives it, no doubt she will soon be trapped in another scary adventure.
Kit and her friends discover the terrible power of ancient Egypt …
Exciting adventures around the world!
Join Kit on an amazing journey to the lost city of Shambala …
Exciting adventures around the world!
The Book of Bones Page 21
