Author Interviews

Author Spotlight: Katie Kirby

By on July 3, 2025   /   Articles, Author Interviews  
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.

Author Melissa Roske smiling and signing a book at a bookstore event. She is seated at a wooden table in front of bookshelves, wearing a sleeveless purple dress.

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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Author Spotlight: Tom Phillips + a GIVEAWAY

By on June 20, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

In today’s Author Spotlight, Sydney Dunlap chats with author Tom Phillips about his middle-grade novel, The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves 3: The Peruvian Express, an exciting mystery published by Pixel and Ink Press and described by School Library Journal as “perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket.”

Despite a lifelong struggle with dyslexia, Tom Phillips grew up with a passion for storytelling. He writes books that kids can enjoy on their own, but also read aloud and share, including the first book in the Curious League series, Egypt’s Fire. He’s had a long career as a writer and artist for clients such as HBO, Disney, and ABC. An armchair Sherlockian, Tom lives in Los Angeles with his lovely wife and his dog, Dr. Watson. Learn more and connect with Tom at https://www.tomphillipswriter.com/

All About the Book!

All aboard for a high-speed new case in the third installment of this middle grade mystery series for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Enola Holmes.

Stranded on a mountain in Peru after the crash of a luxury airship, John Boarhog has only one mission on his mind: reuniting with his mentor and guardian, Inspector Toadius McGee. John’s convinced that if he makes his way to a plume of smoke in the distance, the great detective will be waiting. The only problem is there’s a whole rainforest between them.

After battling their way through the Amazon, John and his friends find a train—The Peruvian Express—and its glittering owner, Oro Del Rey, the Golden King, who offers them passage as they continue to search for their loved ones.

Soon John’s investigation goes off the rails when he’s asked to help to locate an infamous Object of Doom. But he’s not the only one on the hunt. . . .

The third book in The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves, The Peruvian Express is a hilarious, fast-paced mystery packed with action, wit, and another unforgettable adventure.

Scroll down for details about how enter a giveaway to win signed copies of all three of Tom’s books!

Interview with Tom Phillips!

Sydney: Welcome, Tom! Thank you so much for being a guest on the Mixed-up Files! I adore The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves series. And so do a lot of people, as you’ve had a book listed as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and you’ve also been nominated for a Beehive Award and a Mark Twain Award. Can you give our readers a little background on the series and the two books leading up to The Peruvian Express?

Tom: The first book is called Egypt’s Fire. It is the story of a boy named John Boarhog who lives in The Museum of Natural History in New York City. He gets framed for stealing a ruby and has to team up with a detective to clear his name and catch the real thief, a criminal mastermind known as the Mauve Moth. The second book is called S.O.S. It takes place on a cruise ship in the sky after John has solved his first case and is now a young detective. He is now super-popular and has to navigate being a kid and a detective. It’s about the hazards of social media and how to find real friends.

Inspiration

Sydney: Your characters are so spunky and interesting, and your stories combine fun and action with so much heart. What was the inspiration behind the series, and this book in particular?

Tom: I wanted to write about stories I would have read when I was that age. And I am dyslexic, so I’m a reluctant reader, and I wanted to write a book that kids who don’t like to read will love.  I was the video editor at Reading Rainbow and something that LeVar Burton said was that if you get a self-selecting reader, you’ll have a reader for life, so I wanted to write a book that was fast and funny but still had heart and substance.

Praise

Sydney: The Peruvian Express received high praise from Kirkus: “While punctuating the narrative with nods to pop-culture icons from Agatha Christie to Indiana Jones, he also contrives to include suitable numbers of sudden threats, hair’s-breadth rescues, secret agendas and messages, betrayals, explosions, and feats of both courage and clever deduction.” How in the world do you come up with so many zany, exciting, page-turning ideas, and how do you keep track of it all while writing?

Tom: The best part of writing for kids is that your readers haven’t already read everything that’s out there. I’m interested in introducing kids to mysteries so they love very similar things to what I enjoy like Agatha Christie and Indiana Jones. The Peruvian Express has a lot of similar themes as The Orient Express. I want to get kids excited so they’ll go read more mysteries. I keep track of it with a board on my wall where I use the twelve points of the hero’s journey to plot. I meticulously put the puzzle together.

Details

Sydney: You describe the train so vividly, as well as the Peruvian setting. Did you have to do a lot of research to get the details so well? What in the story comes from personal experience? It all sounds so authentic.

Tom: I bought a book about a cruise ship that has a map of all the decks. I bought a book about The Orient Express that has a map of the layout of the train. I have not been to Peru, but I watch a lot of the Discovery Channel. I base it off truth and then put in my own fictional details.

Characters

Sydney: I’m a huge fan of your main character, John Boarhog, but you have a wonderful supporting cast of secondary characters too. Do you have a favorite secondary character? Who and why?

Tom: My favorite character to write is the Great Goatini. He’s funny.  My favorite character outside of John in Shim-Sham The Monkey because he has the personality most similar to my own, so I can ask myself, what would I do?

Takeaways

Sydney: What do you hope readers take away from this story?

Tom: This book is about finding yourself and paving your own path. The 32 Rules for Detectives are what I want to tell boys so they can find their own truth. It’s our job as men to tell the younger generation that it’ s okay to be silly, it’s okay to laugh, it’s okay to dream, that happiness is a truth.

Words of Wisdom

Sydney: Do you have any advice for writers?

Tom: Three tips for writers:

  1. Even if you’re a pantser, figure out what you want the book to be and then plot it.
  2. Find your time to write and then write as much as you can at that time because once you get in the routine, your brain is ready for that routine and has less writer’s block.
  3. If you can, when you write your first chapter, try to do it by hand on paper. If you have a pen or pencil in your hand it makes you think more about what words you want to write.

Sydney: What’s a current book that you have enjoyed recently?

Tom: I just read James Ponti’s Sherlock Society. I think he’s the funniest and best of us all.

Sydney: What is your favorite part about being an author?

Tom: The kids! I was just in Missouri at a school visit, and some of the kids had never seen an author before. I loved having a chance to connect with them, and see their eyes light up, and know that some of them may one day become writers.

Sydney: Can you give us some insights into what you’ll be working on next?

Tom: I’m working on a horror book series and a retelling of Oliver Twist.

And for the lightning round:

Coffee or tea?

Tea

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset

Favorite place to travel:

Home to Colorado

Favorite dessert:

Key lime pie

Superpower:

I’d love to have technokinesis so I could communicate with machines.

Favorite music:

It’s very eclectic and depends on what I’m writing.

Favorite book from childhood:

The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot by Robert Author

Thanks again, Tom! It was so much fun to learn about you, your writing journey, and your amazing novel! Learn more about Tom on his website and follow him on Instagram.

For a chance to win signed copies of the three Curious League books, comment on the blog!  (Giveaway ends June 27, 2025 MIDNIGHT EST.) U.S. only, please. 

 

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Author/Illustrator Interview with Casey Lyall and Sara Faber: The League of Littles

By on June 16, 2025   /   Articles, Author Interviews  
Casey-Lyall-Author-Photo

Casey Lyall

We’re excited to have Casey Lyall and Sara Faber on here today to talk about their new release: The League of Littles.

Hi, Casey and Sara, let’s start with learning a bit more about you, and then we’ll talk more about your book.

Sara Faber photo

Sara Faber

Did you have any childhood dreams for when you became an adult? If so, did they come true?

Casey: For sure! I went through a ton of different dreams for myself, but the one consistent one was always wanting to be a writer, so I’m always very thankful and happy to have that particular dream work out.

Sara: I had so many dreams as a kid, and one of them was to become an illustrator. I always loved the characters I saw on book covers, in comics and cartoons, and from a young age I tried to draw them, but back then I didn’t know yet that this was a job. And once I knew, I thought this must be the best job ever! Turns out, I still think it’s the best job ever. 🙂

Sounds like both of you have found your dream jobs. Speaking of books, did you love to read as a child? If so, can you tell us some favorite books?

Casey: I was a massive reader as a kid (and still am!) Summer reading club at the library was one of my favourite times of the year. I loved so many different books—too many to list! But some of my favourite authors were definitely Gordan Korman and Madeleine L’Engle. I think I read every single one of their books.

Sara: I was a big bookworm as a child, and I still am! I grew up reading the Harry Potter series, the Inkheart series, and another fantasy series called Laura, but I believe it was published in German only.

Please tell us a little about your family. Were you a Little? Big? Middle? Only?

Casey: I’m actually a middle child. I have an older sister and a younger one and luckily, they both have a great sense of humour.

Sara: I am the oldest of two! My sister is 10 years younger.

Sara Faber as a child

Sara Faber as a child

Did you have any hamsters or other pets when growing up?

Sara: I had two Guinea pigs when I was a kid – their names were Fips and Trixi, and two birds, Mozart and Beethoven. Later, when I was around 9 or 10, we also had a family dog – a brown Labrador named Gina.

Casey: We had Guinea pigs too! And some fish for a while, but we were definitely a cat family. There have been quite a few memorable felines in our household.

Would you be willing to share an embarrassing grade school moment?

Casey Lyall as a child

Casey Lyall as a child

Casey: I think I’ve tried to banish most of them from my memories! But, okay, here’s a good one: I tried out a lot of different sports as a kid and was not particularly good at any of them. Probably the most memorable incident happened when I was on the swim team. I can’t see very well without my glasses, so that was problem number one. Also, the goggles I had one weren’t working properly and kept filling up with water so I just had to close my eyes and hope for the best.

During this one race, I thought I was doing okay, but then bumped into the lane marker (these floating line things that kept that swimming lanes separate) and got a bit tangled up in it. I kept going though! And finished the race! …and then found another very confused kid at the end of the race in the same lane with me because I had accidentally moved into their lane when I got tangled into the marker.

That was pretty embarrassing!!! (And I think I got disqualified too, which was uncool.) My swimming career didn’t last very long. 😂

Oh, no! That would have been  embarrassing. I hope that story will find it’s way into one of your books sometime. I’m sure plenty of middle graders (and adults) have felt that way.

Sara: This is such a tough question. There is absolutely nothing that comes to my mind. I was a very shy and quiet kid, so maybe there wasn’t much that could have been embarrassing, since I tried to be invisible most of the time. 🙂

What advice would you give to kids who are bullied?

Sara: It breaks my heart when I see kids being bullied. As a parent myself, I think it’s especially important in today’s day and age to raise kind and compassionate people. My best advice is to ignore bullies as best as you can, but I know it’s easier said than done. And to talk to someone you trust, don’t deal with it on your own. It’s only when you get older, you will understand that the people who bully others feel like they need to bring others down to make themselves feel better. It’s not really about you, and there is nothing wrong with you. You are perfect just the way you are!

Casey: I agree with Sara’s very smart and kind words above. She said it best!

I love this advice, and that your book deals with this situation.

Casey, when did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Oh, wow—I don’t know if I can even think of a specific age. I remember reading Robert Munsch books when I was little, and they made me laugh so much, I wanted to tell my own stories and make people laugh like that. I feel like the desire to tell stories has always been a natural part of my life. And something that I’m grateful my parents always encouraged.

Sara, when did you know you wanted to be an illustrator?

I knew I wanted to become an illustrator when I first found out that it’s an actual job. I remember I saw the word “illustrator” on a book and asked my great grandpa what it means. That was when I knew this is my dream job, even though I had no idea what to do in order to get there. It was only when I graduated from uni (I studied something completely unrelated) that I decided to work on improving my drawing skills and try to become an illustrator.

Casey, what is your favorite or most challenging part of being a writer?

I think my favourite part might also be the most challenging part! I love having that spark of an idea and getting to see that idea take shape into a fully-realized story. You go through so many twists and turns and discover things about your characters that you might not have realized at the start. It’s always an adventure! Now, on the flip side of that, at certain points, trying to get that story to take shape can be the most frustrating and challenging thing of all time and can feel like you’re banging your head against the keyboard…but the end result is always worth it. 😃

Sara, what is your favorite or most challenging part of being an illustrator?

My favorite part is definitely being able to draw every day for a living, and to express myself through art. With comics specifically, I love telling stories through facial expressions and body language, and to put it all together in an interesting and fun way. As much as I love drawing, showing up every day is also one of the hardest parts sometimes – especially when I don’t feel like drawing, because that happens, even though it’s one of my favorite things to do.

League of Littles coverCasey, can you tell us a little about why you chose to write a graphic novel and if you worked together to create the story and illustrations?

I wanted to challenge myself with a new format and it also seemed like a fun category to write for so I decided to give it a try. It was really cool to learn about the process! I tried to leave a lot of space for the illustrator to put their own spin on things, and there was a lot of collaboration from the whole team in terms of the general look of the story and how the scenes came together.

Casey, how did you come up with the characters & the idea of Littles banding together to help each other?

The characters came to me as I was brainstorming—I do a lot of doodling and pre-writing before I start a project so they started to take shape before the real plot of the story did. And in terms of the general premise, I was just trying to think of ideas that would be fun to write and fun to read and it popped into my brain! I’ve always liked the idea of secret organizations though so that probably fed into it a bit. Who doesn’t love secret shenanigans?

Casey, what inspired you to write about an escaping hamster?

I was trying to think of a realistic problem that a little kid could have that would also leave room for it to spiral into bigger adventures. Borrowing a sibling’s pet for show and tell felt like it fit that criteria and then once the character of Chester took shape, he pretty much took charge of his own story and I just tried to keep up!

Sara, how did you develop the characters for the illustrations?

Casey gave me some great descriptions for each of the characters including their heritage, personality, and their hairstyles. After reading the manuscript, I already had a pretty good idea of how the characters would look and act. After that I sketched a character line up, to make sure they look good individually and as a group, making sure their appearance matches their personality.

Character sketches

Sara’s character sketches

Thank you so much for sharing your sketches with us! I love your palette and the softness of the final illustrations. Can you tell us about your art technique?

Thank you so much! My art style developed over the years, and it’s very inspired by anime, Disney movies, and cartoons I loved as a kid (I still do). I love soft and warm colors in general, and I think this reflects in my art as well. When I draw for work, I use my iPad and Procreate, which is great because it makes revisions and making changes easier, and I can theoretically draw from anywhere, but in reality, I sit at my desk most of the time. 🙂 When I draw just for myself, I love drawing with a pen in my sketchbook. I love to keep it simple regarding the tools I use and to focus on lines, which is my favorite part about drawing.

Are any of characters based on based on people you know?

Casey: No, they’re all their own people. I just tried to come up with a fun mix of personalities for each team that could balance each other out and play off of each other at the same time.

Sara: I mostly used Casey’s descriptions for the designs. For some of the characters, I created a Pinterest board before coming up with their designs, but these served more as a general inspiration for how they would move and what they’d look like and weren’t based on a specific person.

Casey, what do you hope readers will take away from your story?

A lot of laughter!

What are you working on now?

Casey: All kinds of things! Mostly new middle grade and picture books ideas at the moment.

Sara: I am already working on the second book of the League of Littles, which focuses on the big siblings! The story is so much fun. I can tell you that much already. 🙂 I’m also coming up with my own story for a graphic novel on the side.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In The League of Littles, Eli, Lexi, and Mo, three trainees at an international organization that supports the needs of youngest siblings, accept their first mission and help find a lost hamster.

“A group of youngest siblings are challenged by a hamster on the run. . . . A brief, amusing romp with potential for future fun.”  — Kirkus Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Casey Lyall is the author of Gnome Is Where Your Heart Is; Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities; the acclaimed picture book A Spoonful of Frogs, illustrated by Vera Brosgol; and the popular Howard Wallace, P.I. series. She lives in southwestern Ontario, Canada, where she also works at her local library.

Sara Faber is an illustrator and comic artist, and when she is not drawing, you can find her reading, soaking in the atmosphere of coffee shops and bookstores, and going on walks with her dog. The League of Littles is her first book. Sara Faber lives in Germany.

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