Jacqueline Harvey
Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present and Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco are the two most recent releases in the UK. Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present centres around a wedding at Clementine’s home (which is also a hotel). This is the first time they’ve hosted a wedding and her mother is keen for it to go well (as they desperately need money for some roof repairs!). But things don’t quite go according to plan. The family butler, Uncle Digby falls ill and Clementine is very worried about him. Add to that, one of the boys in her class is having a birthday party and Clementine seems to be the only child not invited and there are some interesting times ahead. In the end Clementine’s party invitation arrives and Uncle Digby comes home from hospital in top shape but will Clementine find the perfect presents she needs in time?
Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco sees Clementine’s class heading off on an excursion to a farm. Her mother is supposed to come along as a parent helper but at the last minute can’t go and Clementine’s crusty, great aunt Violet offers to step in. She and Clementine’s teacher, Mrs Bottomley aren’t fond of one another at all. Whilst at the farm, there are several mishaps but the worst is when Mrs Bottomley is chased by a crazy goose called Eloise and Aunt Violet goes after them. When both ladies are lost, the children are left to find their way back to the farmhouse, navigating their way through a field with a cantankerous chocolate brownie loving ram! The children split up and Clementine and her friends search for the missing ladies with very surprising results!
This is the third in the series, so please can you tell us about the other two.
The first two books, Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor and Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster centre around the introduction of Clementine and her family, her mother Lady Clarissa Appleby, their much loved butler, Digby Pertwhistle, known as Uncle Digby and their home, Penberthy House Hotel. In the first book, the unexpected arrival of Clementine’s great aunt Violet and her sphinx cat, Pharaoh throws the household into disarray. She’s meant to be staying for the weekend but seems to have all her possessions with her and nowhere else to go. Aunt Violet is grumpy to say the least and seems to be lookin
g for something in the house. What she finds is a surprise for everyone! The second story sees Clementine starting school. Despite a few butterflies, she can’t wait. Until she arrives and learns that her teacher is not the beautiful and kind Miss Arabella Critchley and is instead, the rather shouty and crotchety Mrs Ethel Bottomley. Throw in a nasty boy and a tummy ache and Clementine isn’t keen to return to school for day two. A visit to Dr Everingham reveals he’s in the know about an upcoming pet day and he convinces her to go back. Clementine has the most gorgeous pet in the world and the day is lots of fun to say the least.
Please tell us about the character of Clementine.
Clementine Rose Appleby was delivered not in the usual way in a hospital but in the back of a minivan, in a basket of dinner rolls! So begins the story of this lovely little girl who is adopted by Lady Clarissa Appleby and comes to live in the slightly ramshackle mansion, Penberthy House in the village of Penberthy Floss. Clementine is a sweet little girl with a big heart and a penchant for reciting poems that Uncle Digby teaches her. She likes to talk to the portraits on the stairs, especially her long dead grandparents and she has an unusual pet too – a tea cup piggy called Lavender. Clementine loves being helpful with the guests but sometimes things don’t always work out and she tends to have a few mishaps. She has a big heart and is a good friend.
How difficult was it to leave your career as a teacher and deputy headmistress to write books?
I had been writing for about nine years by the time I decided to take the leap of faith, resigning from my very secure and much loved school job to become a full time writer. I had treasured being a teacher and Deputy Head but in the last three years of my school career I had become the Director of Development. It was a wonderful position too and enabled me to use my skills as a writer and in public relations. The turning point in my decision making came when I took long service leave and spent the time I had off, travelling across the US and UK, dipping my toes into the water to see if being a full time writer and speaker was something I would enjoy as much as I had imagined I would. I had the most brilliant time. When we returned home to Australia after three months away I knew in my heart that I had to give full time writing a proper go. My books were selling really well and the territories were expanding (I had just been offered an 18 book contract with Random House UK for 10 Alice-Miranda and 8 Clementine Rose books while we were away) so I thought it was the right time. I was sad to leave the girls and my colleagues but ultimately it has been a very good decision.
You travelled to the UK and Singapore to promote your books last year, so how was that experience for you?
I’ve been to the UK and Singapore now three times since becoming a full time writer in November 2012. I love meeting new people and visiting new places. I’ve made some wonderful friends on the trips and have a growing legion of fans who I love hearing from via email and letters.
Why does it help you to write your books with a view?
I think it’s just something about looking outwards. Writing can be such a solitary endeavour and I like to be able to interact with nature while I’m doing it – even if it’s just watching the sea or the birds that land on the wall of the courtyard outside my window. I’ve become quite adept at writing in various places but if there’s a view, it just makes me feel better somehow.
What was the appeal of writing for children for you?
I was a teacher for a long time and over the years I read so many different children’s books to the students in my care. One of my favourite things was reading aloud to the kids and there were stories that just hit the mark every time. I always read with silly voices and accents and to see how the children engaged with the books was wonderful. I now write my stories ‘aloud’ in that I write a chapter and then re-read it aloud to myself with the voices – to see that it works. I wanted to write stories that I would have loved as a child and ones that as a teacher I would have enjoyed sharing with my classes.
Childhood is such a magical time and I think there is more and more pressure for children to grow up quickly. Nothing makes me happier than to receive letters from fans who are now teenagers but who have continued reading the Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose books – because they want to keep that part of their childhood alive.
What is next for you?
I will be spending all of January and the beginning of February touring in the UK again, visiting schools in London, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bath and the Home Counties. I’m also writing, finishing off a new Clementine Rose title and starting another Alice-Miranda story. Then its home to Sydney where I will start touring in Australia early in March for about three weeks. The year tends to progress with writing time interspersed with touring time and festivals as well, then I’ll be back in the UK and Singapore in September-October. I’m contracted to write 14 books in the Alice-Miranda series and 13 for Clementine Rose. So far I’ve written eleven Alice-Miranda titles and eight Clementine Rose books – the UK are catching up with the releases. I’m thrilled that this year the books will be published in Brazil and the first Alice-Miranda title is being translated into Hungarian too.