Name: Sarah Ell
Date of birth: 12 October 1970
Place of birth: Takapuna, Auckland
Now living in: Milford, Auckland
- What is your favourite food?
- Steak
- Do you have a nickname and if so what is it?
- No, luckily – lots of people involved in sailing get terrible nicknames, but I have escaped this!
- What was your most embarrassing moment?
- Being asked at a school visit (as an author) whether or not I dye my hair – and not knowing whether or not to tell the truth!
- How do you relax?
- Sailing, listening to music, reading the newspaper.
- Who inspired you when you were little?
- My father, who is also a writer.
- What were you like at school?
- Talkative – my reports would always say I talked too much!
- What was your favourite/most hated subject at school?
- Favourite: Geography/Social Studies
Most hated: Maths/Physics - What was the book you most loved as a child?
- The Talking Parcel, by Gerald Durrell
- Which person from the past would you most like to meet?
- Captain Cook, an amazing adventurer.
- Who is your favourite author/children's author?
- Children's authors: Susan Cooper, Penelope Lively, L. M. Montgomery
Adult authors: Carl Hiassen, Maurice Shadbolt - Why did you want to be a writer?
- Always making-up stories, over-active imagination!
- Do you have a special place where you write your books?
- My office at home – sunny, looks out on the garden.
- What's the best thing and worst thing about being a writer?
- Best: being able to make stuff up, live in another world.
Worst: discipline – books don't write themselves! -
If you weren't a writer, what would you like to be? - Architect
Professional yachtsperson - What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
- Write about what interests you, what you feel is important/interesting. Keep going! Be observant. Read widely.
- Read some books written by Sarah Ell
- More information about Sarah Ell