Alyssa Brugman

My latest book is Hot Potato

It’s about three girls who buy a pony together. They try to keep it a secret by each telling their parents that the horse belongs to one of the other girls.

The best thing about being a writer is the hours.  No, that’s not true.  Writing a novel is like putting together jigsaw puzzle when you’re not sure what the picture is going to be.  Once you’ve started you’re always thinking about it, even when you’re not at your desk.  When you piece a whole section together and suddenly you can see what it’s going to look like it’s very exciting.

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be a snooty, corporate, PR consultant.

My first published work was Finding Grace

Morning person or night-owl? I’m one of those annoying, super-chirpy morning people.

My first job …The first thing I received money for was delivering newspapers, but my first proper job was tutoring Indigenous kids at an Aboriginal resource center.

On a quiz show, my special subject would be preventative natural therapies for equines.

My last holiday was to Mexico and Guatemala.

My perfect Saturday is riding horses in the morning, reading a book in the hammock in the afternoon, and dinner with friends in the evening.

The last CD I bought was The Strokes First Impressions of Earth

I’m currently reading The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Alexander McCall Smith and The Poison Principle Gail Bell

Big Brother or Australian Idol? Neither!  Don’t get me started.

Favourite film/tv show? At the moment I love Grey’s Anatomy.  I’m fickle though.

My favourite book is … Can I have more than one?  Can I have a top five?
Philip Pullman His Dark Materials (I know, that’s technically three)
Robert Cormier The Bumblebee Flies Anyway
Joan Aiken The Whispering Mountain
Beatrix Potter The Fairy Caravan
Amy Tan The Kitchen God’s Wife

The book character I would most like to meet is …Everyone is always going on about Darcy, but I think Bingley would have been heaps more fun.

The book character I would least like to meet is Cujo

The worst thing I’ve ever written is … I write shockers all the time, but that’s all part of experimenting with the craft and finding the limits of your range.  Making mistakes is a really valuable way to learn.

When I was growing up I wanted to be a vet.  An actor. A professional horse rider.  A zoologist (even though I didn’t know what they actually did - something to do with animals, anyway).

My heroes are people who have prevailed despite hardship or misfortune.  People with talent who fearlessly challenge themselves to do better.  People who stand up for what they believe in, even though it may be their detriment.