Name: Maggie Lilleby
Date of birth: 28 October 1953
Place of birth: Skelton, United Kingdom
Now living in: Nelson
What is your favourite food?
Anything except garlic! At the moment I’m into Asian food, especially Thai and Indian.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I've had so many the ones that stand out are crashing in bike races so many times!
How do you relax?
Walking, cycling, gardening, reading. I like being in the outdoors, on a beach or surrounded by bush.
Who inspired you when you were little?
I was very close to a great-aunt who gave me a lot of encouragement.
What were you like at school?
In primary school - tried hard, got good marks.
In secondary school - rebellious, lazy, didn’t really try at all, and got into a lot of trouble with teachers.
What was your favourite/most hated subject at school?
Favourite: English
Most hated: Maths
What was the book you most loved as a child?
Greek and Roman myths, plus anything about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Which person from the past would you most like to meet?
William Shakespeare. Or Elizabeth I she was such a strong woman.
Who is your favourite author/children’s author?
Author - Elizabeth George. She writes amazing crime/mystery books.
Children’s author - no one particular author, I read lots of books by different authors.
Why did you want to be a writer?
I love working with words, making "pictures" with them. I also enjoy languages, learning origins of words, different meanings. And I wanted to "create" things for others to enjoy.
Do you have a special place where you write your books?
First longhand draft can be written anywhere I like sitting outside or in a room with a good view! Then I work on the computer in my "office".
What’s the best thing and worst thing about being a writer?
Best thing sitting out in the sun writing or editing, and calling it "work".
Worst thing the isolation. I got cabin fever after a while.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you like to be?
Something "arty" like a painter, or photographer. Or I'd just like to travel the world meeting lots of people (and writing about it all).
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Read a lot all sorts of things. Practice a lot. And keep on trying.
Read some books by Maggie Lilleby
More information about Maggie Lilleby
This interview is from 2002.
