We were super excited to feature To Halt A Heist by Pip Murphy in our subscription box for junior readers recently. This book is part of a fabulous series - Christie And Agatha's Detective Agency - that fictionalises discoveries and events of the 1920s with a fun whodunnit twist! Pip writes children's mystery books, YA novels and bilingual comics in Japanese and English. Lucky us had the opportunity to ask Pip a few questions; read on to find out what she shared with us:
Are mysteries your favourite genre to read?
Mysteries, adventures and thrillers are my go-to books, but I will read anything if it sits still long enough!
Did you read a book that was particularly influential for you when you were a child?
I think everything I read as a child impacted on me in some shape or form, so it’s a little hard to pick just one book. Perhaps the hilarious Just William series by fellow Classicist Richmal Crompton and the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett because lines and scenes from the books often float into my head even as an adult.
Which character in the Christie & Agatha series do you relate to most?
Somewhere between the quiet Agatha and careful Auguste, with occasional dashes of Christie boldness! Some people have asked if the mischievous Ada Lemon was based on me, but any similarities are pure coincidence, I promise!
Do you need to do a lot of research for these books?
Yes! I usually start by researching historical figures around the 1920s, while thinking about what crime or mystery they might get caught up in. When I hit on someone or something I find interesting I go into full-on research mode. I absolutely love stories, including real-life ones, and there are lots of fascinating facts and anecdotes to be found - especially about Conan Doyle!
I also get a bit carried away and try to work out the public transport connections and timings of 100 years ago - some of the stations we use now, for example, didn’t exist back then, and some journeys would have taken a lot longer. But the Green Express itself is entirely fictitious, so please don’t try to book a seat on it!
Christie, Agatha and their friends get to travel quite a lot. If you could visit any country, where would you choose and why?
Lots of places, but Italy and Greece are at the top of my list because I did Latin and Ancient Greek at university but I’ve never been to either country! I really want to see the ancient buildings and wonderful countryside and sea that I read about in texts. I hear the food isn’t bad either…
We have assumed that you love both reading and writing… Do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy?
I have far too many hobbies, actually! As well as reading and writing, I enjoy drawing comics, hiking, gaming (video and board varieties), photography, exploring new places… Building LEGO models is very fun, too, and sometimes I build houses and other places from my books, so I can imagine the layouts clearly.
What do you find most challenging about being a writer?
Not liking coffee - apparently it gives other writers a boost, but I wouldn’t know myself!
What do you find most rewarding about being a writer?
I absolutely love it when I get letters and messages from people who enjoyed my books (hint hint!). It makes my day every time!
Can you give us any hints about what adventures Christie, Agatha and Auguste will experience next?
The trio are off to America this month, to help locate a missing pianist, while later this year they will be trying to solve a meow-stery involving a catnapped kitty and a famous silent movie star.
Are you working on any exciting new projects?
I’m excited by them, so yes! I have a few stories aimed at young adults in the pipeline. The first involves teenagers dealing with inherited special powers, a global organisation dedicated to protecting them - and thousands of years of dirty secrets, just waiting to be uncovered. Another is a twisting fairytale murder mystery, where a frog prince has to clear his name after he’s framed for killing the Queen of Hearts. The third is a tongue-in-cheek romp about a princess and her knight who have to deal with all the annoying challengers desperate to win her hand in marriage, in contests ranging from tightrope walking over fiery pits to making banana flavouring (more dangerous than it sounds!).
Thank you so much Pip! You can find out more about Pip Murphy's books and stories at pipmurphy.com or follow her on Instagram or Twitter for her latest updates!
