BooksChatter: ℚ The Hippity Dippity Witch: Jenny's Adventures in Willow Grove [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Lorraine O’Byrne to talk about The Hippity Dippity Witch (3 August 2015, Updrift, 132 pages) a Middle Grade novel, for ages seven to eleven, book one of Jenny's Adventures in Willow Grove series.

Synopsis | Teaser | Author Q&A | About the Author | Tour Stops

Hello Lorraine, welcome to BooksChatter and many thanks for joining us today!

What was the inspiration for The Hippity Dippity Witch?

"Walt Disney"

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"The start of the book is me as a little girl, the boreen, the school and even Mr. Hayes's farm are real. When I was in primary school, I was no good at Maths and the teacher terrified me - this would link in with the part of Jenny being useless at spellings and Marigold being unable to cast proper spells . I guess growing up, I would have felt the same lack of confidence. The animal characters are totally from my own imagination though."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The Hippity Dippity Witch - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I chose that particular cover because I felt it represented Marigold's character, I liked the detail, it was very well done and clear. The artist's name is Laura Martin."

Why should we read The Hippity Dippity Witch and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Adults can read my book as well as kids: it's simple but not boring, it is funny and quirky in places, one can visualize everything that is happening just by the vivid descriptions. The setting is wonderful and the characters are great; my favourites are Henrietta the spider and Percy the toad. It is also different, the animal characters are completely made up and it has a twist at the end that readers will not expect. Readers will be swept along by this magical journey. "

Can you tell us something quirky about The Hippity Dippity Witch, its story and characters?

"The characters weren't named after anybody, they just simply popped into my head. Read the bit about Honey and the frolicking tadpoles; I enjoyed writing that and the part about Henrietta the spider wearing silk stockings not forgetting to mention Snap the cat being turned into a shoe."

I like that!
Who would you recommend The Hippity Dippity Witch to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fiction, adventure, enchantment, and animals. It is easy to read, not your usual fairy type story and it transports you to a whole new world. This book is ideal for readers aged seven to eleven. Parents can also read this to their kids."

If you could / wished to turn The Hippity Dippity Witch and the Jenny's Adventures in Willow Grove series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Walt Disney."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I like to write about animals, adventure, magic and fantasy as I feel this is where my passion truly lies, anything that enables me to tap into my imagination. I also write for very young children. When I was growing up I used to read books by Enid Blyton and Charlotte Web among many others."

What is your writing process?

"I write two or three days a week when I get the chance; generally in the mornings. I type whatever comes into my head then edit afterwards. I try not think about what I'm writing as I find it works better for me that way - I can go with the flow and the writing process becomes a lot more enjoyable."

What is in store next?

"I'm writing the sequel to 'The Hippity Dippity Witch,' in this next instalment Jenny will play a big part and herself and Marigold will clash together yet again."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?