James Harris - Author Interview (Q&A) Happytown Must Be Destroyed - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books #25

 

What a joy to have James Harris back for another interview. This time we wanted to find out more about his new book HAPPYTOWN MUST BE DESTROYED which was published by Hodder Children's books on the 14th April, 2022. It's a story about jogging, eating salads, and really enjoying these whilst smiling all the time. They're happy; really, REALLY happy. Who could complain about that? Well, it's time to find out! 

1. Happytown Must Be Destroyed is the title of your latest book; it is a fantastic title. In what ways does the story live up to this amazing title?

Why thank you! I actually came up with the title first, about nine years ago, and it’s taken me this long to come up with a story that is worthy of the name.  

2. What comical capers do the characters get up to and why is everybody so happy?

Well, everybody is happy because there’s aliens in their heads making them happy, that’s the problem! And Leeza is the only person who can save the world, but she’s really terrible at making decisions. So there’s a lot of indecision, a ton of running around, a fair amount of aliens schlurping up peoples’ noses, some heavily-armed ice cream men firing freeze rays all over the place, a colossal dance routine, some top-notch arguments, a small jar of pickled onions… something for everyone, really!

3. The last book was about biscuits, is this book still good to read with a cup of tea? 

Yes, but as always remember: dunk the biscuit, not the book!

4. How important is it that readers find the story funny? Is this something that is important to you? 

When I write stuff, whether it’s alien invasions or giant orange monsters running round town, it just turns out funny, I can’t help it. A lot of people say my books are “bonkers” but the planet that we live on is pretty bonkers generally, so to me that’s realistic.

5. I see you are a filmmaker, a performer, and also a pole-vaulter. How has each role contributed to you becoming a children's author? 

Apart from the pole-vaulting, which is just a big fib, everything I’ve done: making films, comics, zines, sketch shows, animations – they’ve all involved writing, so it was all practice. All the little things I have written over the years, for fun, have all helped me be the writer I am today. Keep writing, that’s my advice!

6. When you were last interviewed you were just coming to the end of writing this book. Did it all go to plan or did the Aliens and the allergies get you?

Oh, it took a couple of goes to get it right. It’s all about juggling the aliens, and the allergies, and the ice cream, and the friendship, and the action and the emotion… it took me a while to keep all the balls in the air for a whole book. Did I manage it finally? Read it and find out!

7. Are you going to make a short pointless film for this book? I really think you should! 

Oh go on then! I should, shouldn’t I?

8. What question do you wish you had been asked as part of this Q&A and why? How would one of your characters have responded to this question?

Ooh, well they’ve all been good questions… You could have asked “Should everyone buy this book?” and I would have said “HECK YES”, of course, but Leeza would have said “hmm… but there are so many other books you could buy… I don’t know. Yes, maybe?” and her best friend Ishy would have burped the alphabet and jumped over a bin. Does that help?

Socials: twitter.com/James_D_Harris

Website: theunbelievablejamesharris.com

Books: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/theunbelievablejamesharris

James Harris - The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory - Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books #8

Are you ready to both laugh and scream? Well, you can do both of these whilst reading our interview with James Harris. His debut book, The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory, was published in April 2021 by Hodder Children's Books. The book has been wonderfully illustrated by Loretta Schauer. It's a laugh-out read packed full of orange monsters and an exploding toilet! Okay, I lied about the exploding toilet. So, sit down and treat yourself to a biscuit (not a Fig roll though) and enjoy this interview. 

As a special treat, you can find a link to the first chapter to get more of a feel of the book HERE. You can also BUY a copy HERE. Thanks for reading and have a great orange fluffy monster day! 

There are so many biscuits and so many stories to choose from (both of which I love!). Why should we choose to read your book 'The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory'?

You should only choose the Unbelievable Biscuit Factory if you like big laughs, big monsters, big rabbits and big biscuits. Caution: although it says Biscuit on the front, do not try to dunk it in your tea.

What types of biscuits were harmed/eaten during the production of this book?

I wrote this book off and on over four years, so I would probably say ALL the biscuits were eaten at one time or another, apart from Fig Rolls because they are NOT biscuits, they are a damp pastry packet of disappointment. Gosh I don’t like Fig Rolls.

What do you think are the main ingredients to create a really funny book and do you believe laughter is important, particularly for children?

Laughter is very important! It’s the best thing! I used to do a bit of stand up comedy and there is no feeling in the world like making people laugh. It’s seriously addictive. As for the ingredients… eesh, it’s hard to say. You’d assume “jokes” would be the answer, but I don’t think it is. It’s like a lovely bourbon biscuit – you don’t really know how it’s made but you know it when you taste it. 

You claim to be a wizard and an exaggerator. What is your biggest exaggeration to date?

Probably the wizard thing if I’m honest, although I do have a wizard’s hat. They say you should dress for the job you want rather than the job you have so I wear a wizard’s hat and occasionally shout bits of latin just in case I can suddenly do magic but it hasn’t worked so far. INUTILIS! Darn, still nothing.

What are the processes involved in developing and creating believable and unique monsters?

I don’t know! Luckily my monsters are totally unbelievable, and when you’re creating an unbelievable monster there are no rules!

Did you enjoy reading as a child?

I loved reading. Books, comics, the back of the cornflakes packet. I grew up in a house full of books, and we had a second hand bookshop nearby so I would buy Narnia books, photonovels, Monty Python books, Mad Magazine paperbacks, Molesworth, sci-fi, Famous Five, Snoopy, Garfield, Beano and Batman annuals. Just stuff I loved, and it’s all in my brain now, slooshing around and leaking all over the page when I come to write my own stuff.

How do you use social media as an author? 

I use it to try out jokes, to keep in touch with what other authors are up to, to keep in touch with bookshops, to waste time when I should be writing… the usual, I guess.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

Writing is rewriting. The first draft of anything is absolutely supposed to be terrible! But you need to write it so you can start rewriting, chipping away at it, making it better, making it funnier. You can get it wrong loads of times, because you only need to get it right once and it’s right forever.

Do you have a favourite biscuit joke you could share with us?

Well the fig roll is definitely some kind of sick joke if that’s what you mean?

Will you be writing another book and, if so, is there anything that you would do differently next time?

I am! I’ve nearly finished it and this time instead of biscuits it’s got a lot of ice cream in it. And aliens. Lots of aliens. And no rabbits. So it’s very different to the first one I think. Still bonkers though, I hope.