Five minutes with…
...author Elizabeth Radcliffe
W e sit down for a chat with Elizabeth Radcliffe, author of children’s book ‘Larry at Number 10’ — a light-hearted book about the imagined adventures of the real-life political cat.The story is set when Larry’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of Dilyn, the Prime Minister’s dog.
Q Tell us about your book. What inspired you to write it?
A “I am a massive fan of Larry the cat. I see him as such a natural celebrity but I needed a story. When Dilyn the dog came along — boom — I had the story. Larry gets his whiskers put out of joint when there is a new kid on the block who the boss thinks is pawsome.”
Q What do you think Larry gets up to behind the doors of number 10?
A “I think Larry gets up to top secret stuff! After all, Larry is the most im-purr-tant cat in the United Kingdom. I will let you into a secret, I think Larry runs the country!”
Q Tell us about your own cat.
A “I have an 11-month-old Ragdoll kitten called Boots. Boots, like Larry, has oodles of personality. He is rather naughty but very loveable at the same time. Boots loves bow ties and he has a large selection to choose from.”
Q What do you love the most about cats? A “Cats are free spirits — they do what they want, when they want. I think it really would be lovely to be a cat for a day. I love their cheeky personalities and any cat mum and dad will no doubt agree cat cuddles are the best! In a nutshell, cats are purr-fect!”