Today, let’s give a hearty Mixed-Up Files welcome to Katie Kirby, the author/illustrator of The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks. The novel, first published in the U.K. in 2021 and praised by Kirkus as “a funny and reassuring reminder that no matter how great Plan A seems, sometimes Plan B turns out to be better,” is now available from Random House in the U.S.Lottie Brooks: A Summary:
Lottie Brooks is 11 ¾ and her life is already officially over. Not only is she about to start secondary school without any friends or glamorous swooshy hair, but she’s just discovered she’s too flat-chested to even wear A BRA! She might as well give up now and go into hibernation with her hamsters, Sir Barnaby Squeakington and Fuzzball the Third.
Lottie navigates the perils of growing up in this fantastically funny new illustrated series for pre-teens filled with friendship, embarrassing moments and, of course, KitKat bars.
Q&A with Katie Kirby
MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Katie. Huge congrats on the U.S. publication of Lottie Brooks!
KK: Thank you so much! I’m very happy to be here and very excited to be bringing Lottie to America. I think she’s going to love it!
Welcome to America, Lottie!
MR: Although Lottie Brooks is new to American readers, the series is wildly popular in the U.K. (The eighth book in the series came out in the U.K. yesterday.) You even have Lottie merch, including T-shirts, totes, and sweatshirts, and mugs. What is it like to experience this kind of success following a debut? It must be pretty heady, right?
KK: To be honest with you, it’s completely mind blowing! With the first Lottie book, I just wrote something I would have enjoyed reading when I was Lottie’s age – I had no idea it would resonate with so many readers. But I’m obviously very chuffed it has, and even more chuffed that I get to say my job is being an author!
Lottie Brooks: The Inspiration
MR: What inspired you to write Lottie Brooks? I have a feeling, but I don’t want to be presumptuous. 🙂
KK: I was a big reader when I was younger and I particularly loved books that reflected how I was thinking and feeling – Judy Blume was my number one fave! She put into words all the things I couldn’t say out loud, and that really helped me through those tricky tween and teen years. With Lottie, I’ve tried to do the same thing.
MR: And you’ve succeeded. I too am a HUGE Judy Blume fan (check out my love letter to Judy here), and I definitely picked up on the influence Judy’s writing had on your book, particularly her 1970 classic, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Both Margaret and Lottie are obsessed with bras and breast growth!
As a follow-up, did you always envision Lottie Brooks as a series?
KK: My first book deal was for two books, so a series was always on the cards, but of course I had no idea how it would be received. Now I’m writing Book 9 and have no plans to stop!
Dear Diary…
MR: Lottie Brooks is written in diary form. What informed this stylistic decision? Did you keep diaries as a child?
KK: Funnily enough, I actually started writing the book in chapters but felt it wasn’t working quite as well. I feel like diaries lend themselves well to humor, and when I switched to that format it clicked. I also love that in a diary the protagonist can just mainly dump their innermost thoughts and feelings.
And yes, I kept diaries on and off when I was younger. They are very cringeworthy to read now, but I’m also very glad I have them – so many memories!
Portrait of an Artist
MR: In addition to writing the novel, you created the illustrations. What was the process like for you? Did you do both at the same time or add the illustrations later? Also, how does being an artist influence your writing—and vice-versa?
KK: I love doing the illustrations. I feel they add real comedy value and are often the punchline to a scene/entry. I really don’t think my books would be the same without them.
In terms of the process, I used to do the illustrations at the same time as the text, but as deadlines have got shorter, I now tend to do most of the text first and mark out places where I’ll add illustrations later on.
I love that you refer to me as an ‘artist’ but I’m not sure stick people really count – ha ha! Thanks though 😊
By Popular Consensus
MR: An overarching theme in the book is popularity. In fact, the drive to be popular causes Lottie to turn her back on her new friend at school, Jess. Why do you think tweens behave in a way that doesn’t align with their values, just to fit in? Also, is this a theme you explore in your other Lottie books?
KK: I think tweens often do feel really pressured to be popular and that being popular is the key to being happy–but that’s not the way it really works, and Lottie learns this the hard way. Her friend Jess is unapologetically herself and doesn’t care what people think of her. Don’t we all wish we could be more like Jess!
Friendships, high school hierarchies, and mean girls are common themes across the series. I won’t give too much away, but Lottie goes on a real learning journey.
The Perils of Puberty
MR: Puberty is handled in a sympathetic yet hilarious way. Lottie’s family even throws her a “pubic-hair tea party” to celebrate Lottie’s first hair. Was your experience as a prepubescent similar to Lottie’s? Also, what advice would you give to 12-year-old Katie?
KK: LOL – the pubic hair tea party, I certainly didn’t get one of those!! I remember my mum giving me factual books on puberty, but we didn’t really talk about it much. I wish we had, as I think that would have made it feel much less awkward and embarrassing.
I would say to myself at 12 – don’t be ashamed as your body changes, it’s all perfectly normal and happens to everyone, and don’t worry, you won’t be flat-chested forever!
Publishing Across the Pond
MR: As above, this book was first published in the U.K. in 2021 and has been adapted for an American audience (i.e., Lottie says “Mom” instead of “Mum,” and “chips” instead of “crisps,” etc.) Were you involved in this part of the publishing process? If so, what was it like?
KK: I got to approve all of the changes, but to be honest, I largely left it in the very capable hands of my editor! I was very happy for her to make any changes that would make the book work better for U.S. readers.
Blogger-Turned-Children’s Author
MR: Prior to writing the Lottie Brooks series, you were a blogger. (Katie’s popular parenting blog, Hurrah for Gin, was adapted into a best-selling book.) What prompted your decision to write for children?
KK: That’s a blast from the past! I had always loved writing, hence the blog, and my UK publishers came across it and felt like the style would work well for children, too. I guess on reflection it was kind of silly and immature. Anyway, they asked me to give it a try, and hence Lottie was born!
Plotter or Pantser?
MR: What is your writing process like? Do you have a specific routine or word-count goals? Any writing rituals? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?
KK: I’m a PANTSER in capital letters, but I really wish I could say I was a plotter, as surely that would make my life less stressful?! Sometimes I have no idea where a book is going to go when I start writing it. I also get bored quickly so write scenes from the middle or end and then have to fit them all back together like a complicated jigsaw. It’s a real headache!
MR: Finally, what’s next on your writing agenda, Katie? Would you mind sharing a bit about your latest project?
KK: I can’t share too much as obviously I’m writing quite far down the line in Lottie’s adventures, but I will say there is PLENTY of drama and embarrassing moments in store for poor Lottie!
Lightning Round!
MR: Oh! One last thing. No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…
Preferred writing snack? Corn-based crisps (or chips as you’d say!). I don’t think you have Monster Munch, so I’ll go with Cheetos.
MG authors that inspire you? Judy Blume – My OG writing hero!
Coffee or tea? Coffee – I hate tea, which is not very British of me!
Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? Nay – I’d be dead in 30 seconds.
Superpower? The ability to pause time. Think about the clever comebacks!
Favorite place on earth? This is cheesy – but home.
You’re stranded on a desert island, with only three items in your possession. What are they? Suncream, water, and an inflatable flamingo.
MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Katie—and congratulations on the publication of The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know MUF readers will too.
Bio
Katie Kirby is a writer and illustrator who lives by the sea in Hove, England, with her husband, two sons, and dog Sasha. She has a degree in Advertising and Marketing and after spending several years working in London media agencies, she started a blog called Hurrah for Gin, which was adapted to a best-selling humorous parenting book. Katie likes gin (obviously), rabbits, over-thinking things, the smell of launderettes, and Monster Munch. The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks is her first novel. Learn more about Katie on her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Melissa Roske is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. In London she landed a job as an advice columnist for Just Seventeen magazine. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest (just the funny ones), and received certification as a life coach from NYU. In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman). Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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What a delightful series! Thanks for bringing it to us!