Catherine Doyle

The Storm Keeper’s Island writer on her first poem and how she’d improve schools.

When did you start writing stories?

I remember writing a very elaborate poem about nature when I was about six years old. It really was just a lengthy description of what the tree in my back garden looked like, but it had four verses and I remember being incredibly proud of that. By about 12 or 13, I would write stories during English class and then read them to my friends at lunchtime.

What are you afraid of?

I am not proud of how many times I have shrieked at a spider, or how many rooms I’ve run from, flailing my arms. I am also very slightly afraid of butterflies but I don’t lead with this one for obvious reasons.

What would be your first rule, if you were in charge of your own country?

I would pour a lot more money into the education system, so that children would have access to the same high standard of educational supplies, learning and language support and books (for learning and for leisure), regardless of where they live or what their background is. I would give teachers more money, too.