Cathy Cassidy's Questions and Answers
Did you have a best friend at school and if so, why were they your best friend?
I had three best friends at primary school, Kerry, Celia, and Siobhan. Siobhan was a new girl when we were all about ten. I went to town with her and bought my first make-up, a purple eyeshadow shaped like a lipstick. We plastered it on in the loos of a big department store and fluttered our lashes at every boy in town… scary!!! Alas, we all ended up at different high schools, so I made a new best mate when I was eleven, Jennie.
Who is your best friend now and why?
I have two. Helen is organised, clever, cool, caring and kind – we met 20 years ago and bonded over hot chocolate fudge cake, and we’ve never looked back. Although she lives 200 miles away, I know she’ll always be there for me. I met Sheena 16 years ago. We lived nearby and saw each other through some very tough times. We’ve also eaten our way through many slices of Victoria Sponge… cake seems to be an important part of friendship, for me!!! A few months ago, Sheena went to live in France withbest to put things right, but you can never totally undo the damage… These days, I try to think about other people’s feelings, not just my own.
What's the best thing about having friends?
They always understand – and they can almost always make you feel better, no matter how low you’re feeling. Friends are really, REALLY important to me.
Have you ever fallen out with your friends, and if so what happened?
In high school, I was jealous of a new girl who joined our group and I felt a bit threatened. I was quite mean to her, and one of my other friends fell out with me because of it. I tried my best to put things right, but you can never totally undo the damage… These days, I try to think about other people’s feelings, not just my own.
Have you ever felt pressure from your friends to do things you don't want to?
Sometimes, especially back at school. It’s hard to stay true to yourself because a part of you just wants to be accepted, to fit in with the crowd – but you have to be strong and do what’s right for you. The weird thing is, your friends will actually respect you for it!
Did you enjoy school and why?
I loved primary school. I was confident and even a little bit bossy, full of energy and enthusiasm. I loved my lessons and my teachers and was always planning something – a school magazine, a new club, a play.
When I got to high school, things changed. I had to make new mates, and adolescence hit too, and I became really shy and self-conscious. I felt that I was always on the edge of things, that I didn’t quite fit in.
What were your favourite subjects?
I liked English, history and art… but my fave thing of all was daydreaming!
What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at school?
It was in primary school, and a mean dinner lady had been standing over me, forcing me to eat a plate of school stew, which I hated. Without any warning, I was sick all over her and myself… arghhh! I ended up having to wear a nasty nylon t-shirt and a pair of outsize boys shorts for the rest of the day, while my own clothes were washed, so was pretty shameful too… but that dinner lady never hassled me again!
What’s the best and worst thing about being a writer?
The best thing is being able to daydream for a living… and getting to share those daydreams with kids all around the world. The worst is having to meet deadlines… I’m not too good at that!
When you were a younger, who would you go to if you had a problem?
When I was primary age, my mum or dad… they always cared, always tried to fix things. Later on, though, they were sometimes part of the problem, and at other times I just felt that they wouldn’t understand! I bottled things up a lot – I’d tell my friends some of it, but most of my worries never got much further than the pages of my diary. That’s when I started to write seriously – I couldn’t make the problems go away, but I could write a whole different life for myself…
Have you ever felt pressure from your friends to do things you don't want to?
Sometimes, especially back at school. It’s hard to stay true to yourself because a part of you just wants to be accepted, to fit in with the crowd – but you have to be strong and do what’s right for you her new husband. I miss her like mad, but we stay in touch by phone and email and we’ll visit too. We know that nothing can come between us.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
My Dad always taught me that you had to follow your dreams and work as hard as you could to make them happen… life is too short to settle for the dull and ordinary. Get dreaming!