Interview questions for Kate DiCamillo

When did you realise you wanted to be an author and did you always want to write children’s books?

I knew that I wanted to be a writer by the time I was in college but I didn’t actually do anything about it for a long time. I finally started writing when I was about 30. Just as I started to write, I got a job in a book warehouse and was assigned to the floor where all the kids’ books were and that’s when I thought I would like to try and write a book for kids. That’s how it happened! 

Have you always enjoyed reading and what were your favourite books when you were younger?

It is a massive understatement to say I have always enjoyed reading – it has been one of the great passions of my life and still is. Some of my favourite books as a kid include The Borrowers, (I just love them!), the original Paddington books, 21 Balloons, and all the Little House On The Prairie books. I just keep coming back to these books over and over again. But I also read anything and everything – if it’s a book it’s good enough for me! 

Where did you get the inspiration for the story behind ‘The Tale Of Despereaux’?

Despereaux was actually the result of a comment made by my best friends son, who was eight years old. He asked me to write the story of an unlikely hero with exceptionally large ears – so it wasn’t a big leap to get to the idea of a mouse from that request! 

Do you have a favourite character?

In the book I don’t – I love them all equally, but if I had to pick one it would be Despereaux because I identify with him so much. In the movie Roscuro is actually my favourite character, I just love him. 

Were you involved in making of the film?

I wasn’t no, I was kept in the loop though  so I  would see sketches, hear about how it was going  and who the voices were going to be  – that was nice as the whole beautiful Despereaux world was constructed and put together and I didn’t have to do any work for it! 

What do you think of the film, does it match up to the images in your head from the book?

I love the film – I think it’s beautiful and very different from the book but also, to contradict myself, it is exactly how I imagined it would look like!  For example there are scenes in the movie that are almost exactly what was in my head when I wrote it especially the castle, the lighting and the dungeons. 

What is your favourite part of the Despereaux DVD?

My favourite part in the DVD involves Roscuro, when he pulls the rock away  from the hole in the dungeon, lets the light into the dark world  and apologises for what he has done. I also love the bit when Roscuro first enters the dungeon and Botticelli, the head rat, welcomes Roscuro into the rat world. As you can probably  tell, Roscuro is my absolute favourite. 

Do you think there might be a Despereaux sequel?

I don’t know, as far as my mind goes I don’t think I’ll write another Despereaux book – but I’ve learned never to say never. Anything is possible! 

Do you have any top tips for any budding authors out there?

Read!! Read as much as you can, believe in yourself and don’t forget about writing on a day to day basis – just write a little bit every day. I also focus on writing just  a couple of pages at a time, even if I am writing a novel, it is an overwhelming thought to sit down and write pages and pages. Take one page at a time and you will be fine! 

The Tale Of Despereaux is available on DVD & Blu-ray from 20th April