Ciara McGivern (age 9), one of Judi Curtin's biggest fans, gets to ask her favourite author a few questions ...

1.What gave you the idea to write these books?
When I was a child, my family moved around a lot, and I went to three different primary schools. Because of this experience, I wanted to write about best friends who had to cope with living far away from each other.

2.Was there any particular reason that you picked the names Alice and Megan?
I like both of those names, but I don’t know anyone who has those names, so I could write away without being accused of putting real people into my books.

3.How long did it take you to write one book?
A first draft takes two or three months, but there’s lots of editing to be done after that.

4.Are you planning to do more books?
Yes. I love writing, and I’m working on a few ideas at the moment.

5.When did you start writing the books?
I started the first Alice book about four or five years ago.

6.Is it just you who writes the books, or do people help you write them?
I write them myself, but my daughters, Annie and Ellen often give me ideas, or help me out when I get stuck on something.

7.When you were a little girl did you have a best friend like Megan?
Not really. I think she’s made up of a mixture of girls I used to know.

8.What age were you when you started writing the books?
I forget..

9.Are you going to do a book that has Rosie older?
I’ve thought about doing that, but I don’t have any immediate plans.

10.Did someone else inspire you to write the books or did you come up with it yourself?
As a teacher and a mother, I often read aloud to children, and after years of this I suddenly thought ' I could do that'. And so I did.