Kirsty Murray
Which character from a book would you most like to meet or to be?
I've always wanted to be Pippi Longstocking. She's strong, outrageous and totally independent.
Where is the best place to read a book?
When I was a kid, I used to make a sort of tent with the blankets of my bed and read with my flashlight so my parents couldn't see any light shining under my door. That way I could read all night. I still like reading in bed but these days no one can tell me when to turn off the light.
What were you like at school?
Probably pretty annoying. I was often reading a book when the teacher was talking about something important - like Maths.
What are your hobbies?
Reading. I know it's not exactly a hobby but it's my favourite thing to do when I'm not writing. I also love collecting books about anything and everything. I have bookshelves in every room of my house so no matter where you are in my house, there's always something to read.
Do you have any pets or kids?
Over the years, we've had a lot of pets at our house but these days we only have a very old joint-custody dog called Zenna. Fortunately, the kids have been more dependable and have stuck around for the long haul. I have one daughter and two step-daughters and one step-son and two sons. They're mostly in university these days and they're all bigger than me.
What is your most treasured possession?
An old scrapbook that my mum made when she was a teenager. It's full of pictures from 1940s fashion magazines and hundreds of quotes from her favourite books. You can learn a lot about a person by reading the books they have loved.
What book would you take to a deserted island?
That is such a hard question! Only ONE book? I guess it would have to be The Encyclopedia of Melbourne to read when I'm homesick.
Your words of wisdom to students completing the Premier's Reading Challenge?
Be bold. Read something totally different. Discover a new author or try a book that is nothing like the type you normally read. You can make your world a whole lot bigger when you take a leap into the unknown.
For more information see Kirsty's website (http://www.kirstymurray.com).
Have you read this?
Lucy Goosey