8 December: Carys Jones

Today we talk to Carys Jones!

Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader’s imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion Rollo. When she’s not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science- fiction films or playing video games. She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favourite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything. To Carys, there is no greater feeling then when you lose yourself in a great story. We couldn’t agree more! And it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

Name three things on your Christmas list this year! The Lego Disney Castle, Cogsworth and Lumiere Pop! Figures and Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Though I’m pretty sure I won’t be getting the castle even though I’ve been very good this year!!

Christmas is a time of family traditions – what are your best (or worst!) family traditions? Every Christmas Eve I have a nest day. I put on my onesie, sit by the lights of my tree and watch Christmas films from breakfast until bedtime whilst drinking far too much hot chocolate. It’s easily my favourite day of the whole year!

(That sounds like a great way to spend the day!)

There are wonderful stories shared at Christmas time. What is your favourite story to read at Christmas? When I was little my Mum would always read The Night Before Christmas to me just before I went to sleep on Christmas Eve and even now when I hear those famous opening lines I can’t help but be filled with a magical sense of excitement! I also love to read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol during December.

If you could have Christmas dinner with anyone (alive today or person from history) who would it be? Leonardo DiCaprio. Sadly I think my reasons are pretty obvious. I’ve adored him since I was twelve and if I was able to invite anyone to my Christmas dinner I wouldn’t be able to pass up the opportunity of getting to meet him!

In The Paper Princess, Tilly is constantly living in her imagination. What would her ideal Christmas be like? As much as Tilly would definitely get swept up in the magic of the season I think her ideal Christmas would be spent with her family. Her parents would spend the day smiling and for once her sisters wouldn’t squabble. They’d all just come together and I know that Tilly would love to just bask in the glow of that kind of family closeness.

Lots of people have work Christmas parties. If you could have a festive celebration with any of the book characters you’ve created who would it be and why? I feel like I’d want all my characters there so that no one would feel left out! We’d play charades, eat too many party rings and pull crackers it’d be awesome! But I’d have to mediate between some characters who I just know wouldn’t get along!

Reader’s question from the children at Inkpots Writers’ Hut: where do you get your inspiration from? Absolutely anywhere. Sometimes I have a really vivid dream and when I wake up I have to scribble it down first thing. Other times I’m walking through the woods with my dog, Rollo, and I get an idea or I could be taking a bath. I find that I do my best thinking when I let my mind wander, when I’m out walking my dog, having a bath or sat on a train for a long journey. I highly recommend letting your mind wander as you never know where it might go!

Turkey or goose? Turkey. I’ve never eaten goose!

Real or fake tree? Fake. I’ve been put off real trees since one fell on me.

Mince pies or Christmas pudding? Neither. I’m allergic to cinnamon so have to avoid lots of traditional Christmas treats. On Christmas Day I tend to go for cupcakes or ice cream instead.

Stockings – end of the bed or over the fireplace? End of the bed. There was always something so wonderful about waking up to a stocking stuffed full of gifts first thing on Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve? Hands down Christmas Eve. There’s so much magical anticipation in the air. It’s my favourite day of the year and I can’t wait for it to arrive!

We hope you have a lovely Christmas; thank you for participating!