Sophie McKenzie (edit name/settings)

An interview with Sophie Mckenie.


Where do you live?
I was born in London and still live here. I grew up in Sydenham, in south east London, went to university in the East End and moved to Notting Hill in west London when I first started working as a journalist. Since then I’ve spent a bit of time in both the south west and the north west of the city and have finally settled in north London.

What was your favourite subject at school?
English. I’ve always loved stories. Listening to them, reading them, watching them, getting lost in them and, of course, writing them. There are stories in everything, but the only place at school where I felt I was really allowed to enjoy made-up stuff was English.

Do you have brothers and sisters?
One brother, who’s two years younger than me and lives in America. We’re very close now, though we weren’t particularly as young children. He liked guns and sports while I wanted to play dolls and dressing up.

Did you have any pets when you were growing up?
My mum was always taking in strays she found abandoned in our local area, but I only ever had one pet - a black cat called Carla - who was truly mine (apart from a goldfish called Goldy I won at a funfair and who died within about two hours of being brought home).
I’d love another pet (though not any kind of rodent) - and so would my son - but right now we live in a flat, so it wouldn’t be practical (or fair on the animal!).

What did you do before you were an author?
I was a journalist and an editor for many years, but I’ve also been a shop assistant, a waitress, an au-pair and a receptionist.

When did you start writing - and why?
I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. As a child, I loved making up stories - I used to wander around our garden for hours with whole imaginary families in my head!
Having said that, I only started writing fiction seriously a few years ago - after I got made redundant from my office job in a business publishing company. I took a creative writing class and within a month or so realized that writing fiction was totally for me. I’m lucky that I know what I want to do - lots of people don’t.

Which of your characters did you most enjoy writing?
I always enjoy the character I’m writing right now, because I’m inside their head. However, of the people I’ve written so far, I was very fond of Luke in the All About Eve series - so much, in fact, that I couldn’t stop writing from his point of view, which is why there ended up being three whole books about him!

In Blood Ties I really like Rachel, because she starts off so unhappy and becomes much stronger through the story. Elijah is also interesting, because he’s complicated. He doesn’t think the bad things he does are bad, which I think is fascinating.

Are any of your characters based on people you know?
Mmm… My brother provided the inspiration for one of my characters: Luke in the All About Eve books. Basically, my brother really liked this girl in my class who was two years older than him. They went out in secret for a while, then everyone found out - just like Luke and Eve!

Why write children’s books?
I don’t really think about whether what I write is for children or not, to be honest. I just write the sort of stories I want to read.

Do you have any hobbies?
I like running and boxing (sparring, not actually fighting people) but my favourite past time is definitely listening to music, both at home and live music too. I play a lot of music when I write - sometimes just to create or reflect the mood of the story; other times because a particular track seems to sum up a scene or a character. For instance, all the music in Six Steps (there are lyrics heading up each chapter) reflect the action that’s about to take place.

Are any of your books going to be made into a film?
There are no plans as yet, but any book that tells a straightforward story with plenty of action should work well in the visual medium of film. Of everything I’ve written, I think Girl, Missing and Blood Ties would make the best films.

Are you planning any sequels to Girl, Missing or Blood Ties?
Not Girl, Missing - that story ended with the final chapter. But there will definitely be a follow-up to Blood Ties. Right from the start I planned the story so I could go back after book one and show everyone what happens to Theo and Rachel and the others…

If you could have any super power what would it be?
Mind-reading, I think - being able to understand other people better would be very helpful for writing fictional characters.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Writing. Seriously! I’m doing what I love to do - and then getting paid for it!! It’s also lovely when people tell me they’ve enjoyed my books.

Is there anything you don’t like?
When the idea in your head doesn’t come out on the page like you want it to. It’s really frustrating when that happens, but all you can do is keep trying to get it right.

Where do you get your ideas?
It varies. Ideas can come from anywhere - a real life situation, a snatch of overheard conversation, a newspaper article…
I wrote Girl, Missing because I was gripped by the idea of a 14-year-old girl searching for her past, then coming across an old poster of a missing child and wondering if the stolen girl was her. I imagined how suddenly terrifying and exciting that moment would feel and wanted to know what would happen next.
Blood Ties started because I kept seeing this boy in my head, running away from his bodyguard and I wanted to know why he was running.