If I could summon a spectre, it would probably be that of Tove Jansson. She lived on an uninhabited island in the Gulf of Finland, and I’d ask her to take me there in her little row boat. We’d talk about Moomins, Hatifattners, and Hemulens, and I’d get her to tell me tales of her remarkable life.
Demelza & the Spectre Detectors
I spent my teenage years at Cackles Academy, playing the role of bully, Drusilla Paddock in CITV’s adaptation of Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch. We filmed in London and Montreal, and as you can imagine, it was a magical experience in every sense. It definitely instilled in me a love of storytelling and I learnt so much about characters, dialogue and plot from being on set.
Some of the inventions in Demelza and the Spectre Detectors are things that I dreamt up when I was a girl. I made the Magnificent Belly Button Cleaning Machine out of an old electric toothbrush and some cotton buds!
I grew up in Cardiff, and I speak Welsh fluently. It’s a beautiful language and I’m so happy that the translation rights to Demelza and the Spectre Detectors have been bought by a wonderful Welsh publishers. Hearing my words in my mother tongue is going to be a very special experience
I have a phobia of eggs. Boiled, fried, poached — keep them away from me!
My literary hero is Pippi Longstocking, and she was a huge inspiration when writing Demelza. Pippi’s clever, mischievous, bold and unpredictable — all of the things you want a protagonist to be. Astrid Lindgren’s writing was so ahead of its time, and I love the way that she refused to suppress Pippi’s anarchic ways, despite criticism. When I retire I’d like to live in a house like Villa Villekulla, and own a polka dot horse and pet monkey!
I’m obsessed with colour. I don’t own any black, grey or beige clothes.
In my spare time I love watching 1980’s children’s films. Favourites include Labyrinth, Return to Oz, The Dark Crystal, Ghostbusters, The Goonies, E.T, Roger Rabbit, and Willow. I love the mixture of darkness and humour that the stories offer, and the oddball nature of the characters. What’s not to love about David Bowie singing with Jim Henson puppets?
I’m passionate about travelling, and my partner and I love nothing more than donning our backpacks and getting off the beaten track. Last year we spent 2 months in Mexico where we visited Frida Kahlo’s house, ate our body weight in tacos, swam in cenotes, and zip lined through pine forests. It’s one of my favourite places on Earth and I can’t wait to go back.
My dream is to own a sausage dog, who I’ll name Colonel Mustard.
Demelza & the Spectre Detectors by Holly Rivers is out now in paperback (£6.99, Chicken House)