Interview with Penelope Wallace

We’re taking a break from posting news and short stories to bring you a brief interview with author Penelope Wallace.

Q. What is your name?
A. Penelope Wallace.

Q. What is your date of birth?
A. 28th June 1962.

Q. Where were you born?
A. St Andrews, Scotland.

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. St Andrews, Scotland.

Q. What is your favourite sport?
A. “Sport” is an interesting concept. I’ve never come to grips with it as a participant, but I like watching tennis.

Q. Where did you go to primary school?
A. St Andrews, Scotland.

Q. Where did you go to secondary school?
A. St Andrews, Scotland.

Q. Where did you go to university?
A. Finally leaving St Andrews… Oxford and Aberdeen.

Q. What is your favourite colour?
A. The colours of the sunset.

Q. What is your favourite film?
A. I usually say “Some Like It Hot”.

Q. Last film you saw at the cinema?
A. “Dr Strange.”

Q. Who is your favourite author?
A. People choose just one?

Q. What is your favourite book?
A. As above.

Q. What is the last book you read?
A. “Magnum Bonum” by Charlotte M Yonge, and “The Gospel of Dot” by Humphrey Clucas.

Q. Who is your favourite band?
A. What is a band?

Q. Have you ever seen them live?
A. No.

Q. Do you have a favourite song?
A. Whatever I can’t get out of my head, unless I hate the words.

Q. How long have you been writing?
A. I have been writing on and off since I was six, when I wrote a shortened version of “The Jungle Book”.

Q. Where do you get your inspiration from?
A. Speculation about a world without gender prejudice, miscellaneous ideas… and a man who walked into my head.

Q. So your friends and family are supportive?
A. They are, on the whole.

Q. Are you an animal lover?
A. I will take the Fifth Amendment on this one.

Q. Do you have other creative outlets besides writing?
A. I answer questions stupidly and recite poetry.

Q. What is your favourite flower?
A. Forget-me-not.