The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Getting to know you
Mary Paulson-Ellis is an Edinburgh-based author who will be talking about her new book The Other Mrs Walker at Dundee Central Library on November 30
Q Who was your favourite author as a child? A Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Q What is your top tip to budding writers?
A Write… Other than that, find the time of day when you write best and arrange everything else around it.
Q What are you proudest of?
A My family, obviously. But other than that, imagining what seemed like an impossible future for myself, then making it come true.
Q Your house is on fire, what one item do you save?
A My stuffed stoat.
Q Theme song for your life?
A We’ve only just begun…
Q Dream dinner party guests?
A Maybe Laura Ingalls Wilder… but if she wasn’t free, then Clementina Stirling Graham, an unmarried woman of the Scottish Enlightenment who used to dress up in disguise to get invited to all the best parties.
Q First thing you’d do if you won £1 million?
A Buy TWO bottles of champagne.
Q What would be your superhero power/name?
A To go unnoticed, so perhaps, Mary Who.
Q Quiet night in or big night out?
A Depends what we’re celebrating.
Q What three words would your best friend use to describe you?
A Loyal. Opinionated. Determined.
Q Early bird or night owl?
A Night owl – always.
Q Save it or spend it?
A Save it, then spend it.
Q Couch potato or fitness fanatic?
A I like to think I’m somewhere in between, but in reality I’m the potato.
Q Home or abroad?
A Home… is where the heart is.
Q Rebel rebel or teacher’s pet?
A Rebel pet.
Q Early or late?
A Late, but improving.
Q Sweet or savoury?
A Used to be sweet, now more savoury unless a meringue is involved.
Q Happiest memory?
A Digging potatoes in the sun.
Q And most embarrassing?
A I’m too coy for that.
Q What was the worst punishment you had as a child?
A Smacked at school for stealing an umbrella and saying it was my sister who was the thief.
Q Biggest regret?
A Stealing that umbrella.
Q If you could turn back the clock what one thing would you change?
A That’s a dangerous precedent isn’t it! Where might it end?
Q Who would you like to thank?
A My partner, for going on this crazy creative journey with me.
Q What advice would you give to your younger self?
A As Goethe said (sort of): “Do not hurry, do not rest.”
Q What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?
A Live life!
Q Hardest thing you’ve had to give up?
A Time with my son.
Q Could you save someone’s life?
A I don’t know, so probably not. But I’d try to.
Q What’s your motto?
A Never give up.
Q What would be your last meal on earth?
A Plain old roast chicken