Why did you want to become an author?
Well I was only good at one thing at school, and that was words. Originally this meant wanting to become a comedian. But then I realised that being a comedian was, at some level, about being a storyteller, so I found it made sense to go from telling stories onstage to writing longer stories in books.
What were your favourite books when you were young?
I was a big fan of Frank Richards’ Billy Bunter books. They weren’t written for my generation - I’m not actually that old (they came out in the early part of the last century). But my mum used to collect old children’s books and we had loads of copies of them lying about so I started reading them. Billy goes to a school called Greyfriars which was kind of the Hogwarts of its day. Except without so much wizarding.
Did you write this book for your own children?
No, but I don’t think I would have written it if I didn’t have children. Having children means that I’ve spent much of the last 13 years (my oldest one, my daughter is 13) making up stories for them. And even if it wasn’t written just for them, I did read lots of it out to them as I was writing it. They helped a lot. My son Ezra in fact gave me the idea (see below).
Where do you write your books?
In my study mainly. But I take my laptop everywhere. I’ve even been known to write at half-time at the football!
What inspired the idea for your book?
So. Ezra asked me one day why Harry Potter doesn’t run away from the Dursleys, his horrible Muggle relatives, and find some better parents. I said I didn’t know, but that’s given me an idea…
Have you met parents like the ones you described in the book?
Hmmm. That would be telling.
In the Parent Agency, were the people Barry kept seeing his actual parents?
Kind of. I think the book is a bit about how we all don’t quite know how much we’re loved until we go away from the people who love us. And so Barry does that, and while he’s in the world of The Parent Agency, it takes him a while to realise what he has back in his normal life, and as he does so, that couple he keeps seeing start becoming more and more like his actual parents.
How long did it take you to write The Parent Agency?
About 18 months. But I was doing a lot of other stuff at the same time. I’m not very disciplined, I’m afraid.
Did you enjoy writing it?
Very much so.
What’s better, writing for adults or children? And what’s the difference?
It’s more fun writing for children, definitely. Especially writing a fantasy book like this, because you can let your imagination go anywhere. Which in the realistic books I write for adults, I can’t...
Will you write more children’s books now you have written this one?
Yes. In fact I have to get back to my new one as soon as I’ve finished answering these questions… but thanks for giving me a little break!