Tell me about your latest book and why we should read it?
The latest book is Disenchanted by Heide Goody and Iain Grant. You should read it as an antidote to Disney princesses. It’s a comedy where Ella won’t accept a happy ending just because that’s how the story is supposed to go. You should also read it because of the magic carpet powered by swearing (and other examples of just how classy we are).
If someone was to write your life story what would the title be?
If someone wrote my life story it would be called “But she looks so innocent!”
What’s the strangest fan question or request you’ve received?
Strangest question. Iain and I have been asked, on more than one occasion, why we put Beatrix Potter in Hell when we wrote Hellzapoppin’. The answer is simply because we wanted her in our “gang”. People seem to feel quite strongly about her, but we treat her well, so I don’t think they mind too much.
If you could co-write with anyone in the world (alive or dead) who would it be?
Oddly enough, Iain and I were discussing yesterday who we would like to co-write with. If we were somehow allowed to pester the much-loved Terry Pratchett beyond the grave, then definitely him.
Tell me something nobody else knows about you (yet!).
Something nobody else knows about me, because I only found out this week, is that I went to the same school as Helen Cadbury. We must have been there at the same time, but I don’t remember her.
Finally please recommend 3 books that you have recently read and tell me why you’ve chosen these.
Three books that I have recently read:
I just finished To Catch a Rabbit by Helen Cadbury. I hadn’t read her work before her passing so I thought I should fix that. It’s a lovely crime thriller, rich with lots of detail of the relationships between the characters. I will definitely read more of her work.
The Circle by Dave Eggers. I read this because some boffins in the US have trained a computer to analyse bestsellers. They have created a model that understands the various factors that make a bestseller so appealing, even across genres. The Circle is the book that scored most favourably. I can see why, it’s really gripping. It paints a very believable picture of a world that is dominated by tech, where privacy is not just eroded, but given away by people, thinking it’s a great idea. We follow the journey of Mae who is the world’s poster-child for this new transparency and the things that happen to her keep you glued to the book. It’s a real roller-coaster ride.
The Peregrine by Robert Macfarlane. This was one of the most affecting books I have read this year. It’s an oldie, and it is the account of a man who cycles around his area looking at birds. It ought to be dull, but the astonishing use of language keeps you glued to the page. A stunning read and a fascinating glimpse into the world of someone with a real passion.
Who is Heide Goody
Heide inflicts unsuitable content upon the world by whatever devious means she can find. Technical documents in her day job have been found to contain coded messages if you read them backwards.
She is, with Iain Grant, co-author of the Clovenhoof Satan-in-suburbia comedy series.
Her first solo novel, Million Dollar Dress, is also published by Pigeon Park Press.Heide lives in North Warwickshire, England with her husband and children.
