INTERVIEW
February 2015
Katie Fforde is offering fans the opportunity to have their name appear in her forthcoming novel, Highland Summer. She is one of 69 bestselling authors involved in the Get in Character eBay auction, an annual fundraiser organised by CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families. Other authors include Lisa Jewell, Julie Cohen, Jane Costello, Milly Johnson, Paige Toon, Miranda Dickinson, Rowan Coleman, Lucy Robinson and Liane Moriarty. The highest bidders for each author buy the opportunity to have a character named after them in their next book, and immortality in print. (Interview by Jade Craddock)
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1. Can you tell us how you came to be involved with CLIC Sargent and this auction?
I got involved via Twitter! A follower who works for CLIC Sargent got in touch and asked if I’d like to be involved. I was delighted to say yes.
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2. What sort of work does CLIC Sargent do?
CLIC Sargent is a cancer charity for children and young people – they provide clinical, practical and emotional support to help them cope with cancer and get the most out of life. They were wonderful when friends of ours' baby had her struggle (and lost) so I have them in my heart and mind doing this.
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3. How does it feel to be taking part in the auction?
Auctions are always exciting and I’m really hoping the bidding will be fast and furious and raise lots of money.
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4. As well as raising lots of money for a cause close to your heart, what are you most excited about in the auction?
I think what excites me most is the thought that people want their names in my book. Not sure if I’d want that but I’m delighted to think people will bid for the privilege.
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5. The auction is to be a character in your book Highland Summer, can you give us a hint as to what the book will be about?
The book Highland Summer is about a midwife who takes a sabbatical and goes to work on a steam Puffer, cooking for passengers. It’s close to my heart as we’ve known the Puffer and its owners for 40 years! I also wanted to set another book in Scotland.
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6. Do you know how the character will feature in the book yet or will you decide when you know the winner?
I won’t know how the character will feature in the book yet. I have to know if it’s a man or a woman.
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7. What sort of an opportunity/challenge does this auction bring to you as an author?
This is a fun opportunity for an author. I have done it before for other charities and the named character sometimes becomes a bit more important than I planned originally. Not just a walk on!
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8. Is there any extra pressure on you when you’re creating a character based on a real life name and someone who’s bid to be in your book?
There is a bit of extra pressure because you are dealing with something that is very personal. What is more personal than your name? I could never make it a bad person.
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9. If you could be a character in any existing book, who would you be?
I would always be the heroine in any book I write. I never will be, alas, but they are always people I would like to be.
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10. And finally, if you could sum up the importance of CLIC Sargent?
I think the work CLIC Sargent do is fantastic. Ten children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK, it’s absolutely heartbreaking. The team at the charity support them from diagnosis onwards, and aim to help the whole family deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, and sadly, in some cases, bereavement. I really hope that the auction is a success, and that we raise the money that the charity needs to support even more young families affected by cancer.
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The Get in Character auction runs from 8pm (GMT) Thursday 26 February
until 8pm Sunday 8 March 2015.For more information about Get in Character visit: www.clicsargent.org.uk/getincharacter or to make a bid visit stores.ebay.co.uk/clic-sargent-get-in-character