THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC
and
THE BATTLE FOR THE CASTLE
Where did you get the idea for these books?
I have two children and when they were small, I hired a lady named Mrs. Miller to take care of them so that I could go down the street to a little office and write my books. When Mrs. Miller left us, we were all sad. So I wrote a book about William and how he wanted to make Mrs. Phillips small so that she could not leave him.
How long did it take you to write these books?
It takes me about two years to write a novel. A year for the first draft, some months off to think about it and then six more months or so to revise it. Everything I write, I rewrite. I’ve come to believe that rewriting is simply part of writing. It doesn’t mean that I did it “wrong” the first time.
Did you have a castle like the one in the attic when you were younger?
No. But I did have a huge dollhouse with a green mansard roof and real windows. And I played in an attic in my grandmother’s house just like the one in the book.
What is your favorite book you have ever written?
I always say that’s like asking a mother which is your favorite child. I love all my books, but if I had to pick one favorite it would be The Castle in the Attic. This is the first book I wrote without an outline and I think it is the most spontaneous. Once I finished Castle, I never outlined a novel again. I try to let the characters tell me where to go next.
Do you have any plans to write another book about William?
I am working on a prequel to The Castle in the Attic which tells the story of Richard, Mrs. Phillips’ younger brother. He had his own adventure in the castle, and he warns William in a letter never to go back there because it’s too dangerous. But I’ve learned that it’s not a good idea for me to talk about a book when I’m writing it because the story can slip through my fingers like sand if I talk about it instead of writing it.
How would you feel if your books were turned into a movie?
Movie rights have been optioned for THE CASTLE IN THE ATTIC although no movie has yet been made. I would be happy to have my characters reach a wider audience and yet I feel strongly that kids should read the story first.
Did you have to do a lot of research to write these books?
Yes, every book requires research, especially when you’re writing about the Middle Ages. I visited the Metropolitan Museum in New York City where I live and walked through the Arms and Armor Hall. I listened to Gregorian Chant and other medieval music. I read about castles. I visited castles in Ireland and England. For The Battle for the Castle, I went to visit the rat lab at a local university. I took my children to see the Morris Dancers who hold a festival every May in Vermont. And of course, I read lots and lots of books.
Are your characters based on real people?
Mrs. Phillips is based on Mrs. Miller who helped take care of my children when they were little. William is based a little bit on my son Andrew, a little bit on experiences with my five brothers when I was growing up and a lot on the way I think and feel about the world. In fact, all my characters have some of me in them. Even the villains.
Will Alastor ever come back?
He’s encased in lead and Mrs. Phillips did drop him over the side of the boat on her way back to England. But I never say never.
Where do you get your ideas for the other books you have written?
I get my ideas from the people around me, the places I’ve lived in, and the things my two children talk about. I keep a journal where I put down all my secret thoughts and feelings plus descriptions of people and reports about books I’ve read and lists of ideas for new books. If you want to be a writer, it’s a good idea to keep a diary and put in it all your ideas for stories and feelings about the world around you and the people in it.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing books since I was twelve years old. I was born in Washington, D.C. in 1948. My first story was about a mouse that lived in the White House. Unfortunately, I left it on the school bus and I never found it again. I didn’t publish my first book until 1972 when I was 24 years old! I have published more than 50 books including two novels for adults called In My Mother’s House and Island Justice. My picture book Dumpy La Rue was selected by the New York Times as one of the Best Illustrated Books of the Year. My historical novel, Counting on Grace, tells the story of a 10-year-old girl who worked in the textile mills in Vermont. It’s received lots of attention and awards including the NCTE Notable Book for a Global Society and the Jane Addams Peace Prize Honor Book.
Do you have any children?
Yes. Eliza and Andrew. They are grown up now, but when they were little, they gave me lots of ideas for stories. Now their children have begun to appear in my stories.
