September 05, 2015
Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose were everywhere in August!
Hello Everyone,
Well, August has been a whirlwind! I’ve visited lots of schools, from the city to Cobbitty and many in between. I’ve had lunch with the stars at Manly for the Children’s Book Council (I sat with the gorgeous students from Manly Village Public School) and launched a new book, Alice-Miranda in the Alps and the new Alice-Miranda Diary for 2016. In between school visits, I finished writing Alice-Miranda to the Rescue (which will be out 1 February 2016). I celebrated the start of Spring by beginning a new book, Clementine Rose and the Special Promise which will be out 1 January 2016. All up it’s been a very busy time. I have LOVED receiving all your pictures of the Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose dress ups during the month and have created a huge montage here – actually I had to do three because there were so many entries. The winners of the competition have been announced on the newsletter – so if you aren’t signed up, you can just jump into the sun in the top right-hand corner of the home page and do that now and then you can enter any upcoming competitions too (we run one every single month!). I love that there was a whole teaching staff that dressed up as Alice-Miranda in her different outfits – how amazing is that :). Congratulations to all the winners!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline Harvey x
saboor
it must have been hard choosing the winner!
Jacqueline Harvey
It was soooooo hard! I wish everyone could have won 🙂
Cate
Hey I’m Cate,
I’m nearly thirteen years old but I still love your books, especially the Alice-Miranda series because for me, they’re fun and easy to read, plus I learn loads from them. I love the vocabulary you use and how Alice-Miranda herself uses such interesting words.
My favourite subject is English because I love reading and writing-I read over three hundred books a year! I have read the whole Alice-Miranda series at least ten times-except for the last three books-and I’ve read the Clementine Rose series several times because my little sister owns them.
I was wondering, in which country are the worlds of Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose set? Alice-Miranda travels to Japan, America, Switzerland and France so I know she doesn’t live there in any of those places, and Clementine Rose lives in a village nearby to her, but it’s hard to tell which country-or even continent-they both reside in. I thought that maybe the books are set in Australia because that’s where you live, but the names of the towns and houses and the way people live reminds me of England. Anyway, I would be really interested to find out.
I also wanted to say that I think it’s awesome that you support so many charities and worthwhile organisations-if I become an author then I will strive to help people all over the world who cannot read or write for reasons beyond their own reach. I really want to be an author when I graduate but it would be hard to earn a high enough income unless I became as popular as you or someone like J.K Rowling. I believe Australia needs more famous kids author so that’s what I want to be when I grow up!
Thank you for being such an inspiring author.
Cate 🙂
P.S I posted this comment twice because the first time I posted it really low down the chain.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Cate,
Sorry for my slow reply. I’m currently in Shanghai in China in the 5th week of a big overseas tour. Shanghai is amazing – there are 26 million people in this city – more than the whole of Australia. The traffic is crazy and the road rules seem to be more of a suggestion than an actual rule 🙂 I love the architecture – there are so many cool buildings.
Thanks for your kind words and I’m thrilled that you’re still enjoying the books. I love writing them. My favourite subject at school was English (and History). I’ve never revealed which country AM is set in – I want the readers to make up their own minds. It could be the UK or it could be rural Australia – perhaps in the Southern Highlands where I spent my early teaching career.
It’s important to be able to give back. It’s great that you’re keen to become a children’s author and yes, if you work hard and have a bit of luck, then you can make a living at it. I think there should be more famous kids authors from Australia too. It’s hard to build a profile around the world but if air miles and hard work count for anything then I’ll give it a good go!
Hold fast to your writing dream. Even if you have to do what I did and have a dual career until your writing takes off, I can say that it’s worth the effort :).
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Luke
Hi Jacqueline Harvey you came to my school on the. 22 of october 2015
Luke
hello
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Luke,
It was great to visit your school. It was lots of fun being back in the Liverpool area again and I hope to be over next year too. Hope you enjoyed the presentation.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Aida
Hi Jaqueline Harvey
I was wondering what events are you going to be doing in the next few months in Sydney
P.S the new Alice Moranda book is soo good
Have a good day
Regards Aida your biggest fan
Samantha
All the events are in her website 🙂
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks Samantha – great to know that you are looking on the events page 🙂
Jessie
Yeah, you just click on Events, next to Blog.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Aida,
I see that Samantha has jumped in to let you know that you can find all my events on the website. I will be out and about a lot over the next couple of weekends before I go away. This Saturday I’m at Book Review St Ives and Sunday at the Children’s Book Council Big Book Day Out from 10am then the following Saturday I’m at The Children’s Bookshop at Beecroft for their Readers’ and Writers’ Festival. Hope to see you somewhere soon 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Jessie
What books are you working on?
Jacqueline Harvey
Alice-Miranda to the Rescue – will be out 1 February if we get it to the printer in time 🙂
saboor
in the competition for September when you press to enter it says august competition
do we just delete that it and write September competition
Hannah
I loooooooooooooooooove Alice-Miranda books. I have just finished Clementine Rose and the birthday emergency and loved it. At the end it says there’s a new book coming, is it Clementine Rose and the Special Promise it. How many pages are in Alice-Miranda to the rescue? What’s it about? I need to read Alice-Miranda In Paris. I looooooooooooove Clementine Rose and the surprise visitor, and is Angus Wells a real Author? I really like her poem bitten by the the bug. You’re my favorite Author.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Hannah,
Thanks for your lovely comment. I love that you love the books! Yes there is a new Clementine book and it is Special Promise – I’m writing it at the moment and it made me cry yesterday. Alice-Miranda to the Rescue is still being edited and at the moment it’s really long – too long! I think it will be about the same size as Alice-Miranda in the Alps. Agnes Wells isn’t a real author (I made her up) and I wrote the poem too :). I’m glad that you like it – it was fun to write.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Hannah
Your books are great! I hate how I finish them so quickly. Once I even started Alice-Miranda at Camp on Friday afternoon and finished it Saturday night! I can’t wait until Alice-Miranda to the rescue comes out. My favorite book is the one i’m reading now, Alice-Miranda in the Alps. I wish we had snow in Australia so i could ski. Is it hard to write about different countries?
Hannah
your best fan
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Hannah,
I wish I could write the books faster 🙂 I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying them. We do have snow in Australia in the Snowy Mountains. That’s where I learned to ski – I love it! Unfortunately our snow is not as reliable as in Europe adn sometimes the seasons are a bit on the light side. This year was a really good snow season with lots of snow. It’s not hard to write about different countries when you’ve been there. But I do write about some places that I haven’t been and then I have to do lots of research on the Internet.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Hannah
have you been to all the country’s Alice-Miranda’s been to? I like all the chapter pictures at the start of the chapters, but i wish i could see what Sep looks like, and Slone in colour
Hannah
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Hannah,
I’ve been to the US and to Switzerland and Japan and France but I haven’t been to Spain (although I have been to Portugal which is next door to Spain!). I love the chapter illos too. I’ll see if I can find a picture of Sep and Sloane in colour too :).
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Katharine MacEwan Wright
Hi again,
I hope you got the post I just sent you not even an hour ago! Even if you can’t enroll because you have run out of spaces in the school please,please,PLEASE! Keep me on your mind if you happen to have any. Also my mind is exploding with ideas! I will give you some now who knows what they will be in your exquisite mind most likely nothing compared to your ideas but here goes. I was thinking something like the setting of Russia and Alice-Miranda makes some new friends who are twins there names are Albina (That’s a Russian name) and Ekaterina that is the Russian name for Katharine. Anyway that is just my idea it is nothing but I was bursting to tell about it. If you need help with translating anything I can help because i have a Russian background. I honestly need to stop writing… but I CAN’T! Really imagine not stopping writing.
Yours,
Katharine(Same person from 1 hour ago on different blog)
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Katherine,
Thanks for writing and I love your ideas – Alice-Miranda in Russia is a fabulous concept! We are not currently doing anything with the school enrolments, but I am looking at trying to make some new concept about it on the website. The 13th book, Alice-Miranda to the Rescue is out 1 Feb 2016. Being a writer and a sailor sounds like a fabulous combination of careers – I hope that you get to do both.
Thanks for writing and sending your fantastic ideas – have a great school holiday.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Crissy :)
Hi Jacqueline,
Please I was wondering how you get the words on the covers of your books to be all jumbly and not all straight.
Thank you!
Crissy
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Crissy,
I’m not sure how the publisher does that but I think it’s a special type of font.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Zuzanna
No way!!! I just can’t believe you’re coming to Moor Park Mansion… It’s just a minute away from my house! I literally cannot believe that my favourite author ever is coming to Moor Park! I’m so excited! 🙂
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Zusanna,
Please make sure that you get your tickets early for the high tea and tell all your friends as I think the event will sell out quickly. Looking forward to seeing you 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Paige
dear Jacqueline, it looks really hard to choose a winner please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please come to wagga. from paige
kadie
come to wagga please from kadie
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Kadie,
I will try to get to Wagga!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
saboor
kadie its amazing that you messaged 2 minutes after Paige
are you the same person
Anna
come to wagga please from anna
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Anna,
I will do my best to get to Wagga – I know there are lots of keen Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose fans down there.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Paige
dear Jacqueline come to wagga please from anna
chloe
please come to wagga I love your books so much from chloe
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Chloe,
I’m going to do my best to get to Wagga next year 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
meg
dear jacqualine come to the riverina and I cant wait to read alice Miranda in the alps
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Meg,
I will try to get to Wagga next year – I’ve had lots of requests and I would love to come. Fingers crossed.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
saboor
in the competition for September when you press to enter it says august competition
do we just delete that it and write September competition
Elise
Dear Jacqueline,
As you can see lots of people have already asked for you to come to Wagga and I am wondering if you could come to Wagga aswell
From Elise
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Elise,
I will try as hard as I can to get to Wagga next year. I’m having a meeting with my publicist soon so we can talk about it. Thanks for writing.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Bec
Dear Jacqueline. I love your books but as a bookworm myself I love most books but I definitely like Alice Miranda books the best and hope 1 day you’ll come to Wagga (you obviously have many fans here) in delight from bec
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Bec,
I was a bit of a bookworm when I was a kid too 🙂 I’m glad that you’re enjoying Alice-Miranda so much. I’m going to do my best to get to Wagga – I have lots of requests to go down there. Have a fantastic school holiday and thanks for introducing Alice-Miranda to your friends too.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Jess
Dear Jacqueline I have only just started reading the Alice Miranda books but I love them and isn’t funny my friend bec just sent a comment and she introduced the books to me (and we both live in Wagga) (we’re you might come one day) from Jess
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Jess,
I am hoping to come to Wagga next year but I have to talk to my publicist about the touring soon. I’m thrilled that your friend Bec has introduced you to the books. Have a great holiday.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Jasmine
Hi Ms Harvey,
I am so thrilled with your twelth book! I really want to write a narrative with a good storyline, and I don’t know how you do it! I’m also so excited that you are going to write fifteen MORE Alice-Miranda books and fifteen MORE Clementine Rose stories! I think it’s really important for books to be shared throughout generations and yours should last for decades to come.
Thank you for your brilliant books.
Jasmine
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Jasmine,
I’m so pleased that you’ve enjoyed the 12th book. It was lots of fun to write and doing the research in Switzerland was fantastic too! I’m writing Alice-Miranda up to Book 16 at the moment and Clementine Rose up to Book 14 – so there will be 30 titles between the two but I don’t know if I will stop there either. Thank you for your kind words about sharing the books through the generations – that really made my day. I hope that you get to read them to your children in the future – that would be amazing.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Aala
Hi Jacqueline,
Can not believe it. When mum picked us from school this afternoon, Alice-Miranda in the Alps was on the back seat. i was so excited. I’m up to Chapter 6. thanks for being a great author.\
have a lovely holiday.
best wishes
Aala Grade 6
Jacqueline Harvey
Awesome!!
Aala
It was totally awesome. The best.
Jacqueline Harvey
Thankyou xx
saboor
am in the alps is awesome i finished it in 2 days
Jacqueline Harvey
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it – that’s speedy reading. I wish I could write that fast!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
saboor
I only had a few chapters left in the first day but my mum told me to go to bed. i was thinking about what will happen in the end all night.
Best wishes
Saboor
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Aala,
I love that!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
arielle
hi miss Harvey i love the Alice-Miranda series .i have all the Alice-Miranda books .so far i only have four clementine-rose books but i don’t really mind because i have read so many books . i love Alice-Miranda in the alps and i love the end .Alice-Miranda always wins .i started to cry when Alice-Miranda said to her mother that she did not feel normal.i had finished the book in one day.your books are amazing and of course they all are. i would love to meet you.did Alice-Miranda actually meet Clementine-rose in Alice-Miranda in japan
your sincerely Arielle Hayley Jade Eades
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Arielle,
Thankyou for your lovely words about the books. I cried when I wrote that part with Alice-Miranda – it was heartbreaking! Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose met at the seaside in Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape but Alice-Miranda talks about their meeting at the start of Alice-Miranda in Japan.
Have a great holiday!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
arielle
the books are really cool
arielle
do you have any siblings
Jacqueline Harvey
I have two sisters who are three years and six years younger than me 🙂 Their names are Sarah and Natalie but Natalie likes to be called Nat.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline Harvey
Thankyou 🙂 That means a lot.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Scarlett
Dear Jacqueline, I love Alice-Miranda books so much! When I grow up my ambition is to be an author and your books have inspired me. I have all the Alice Miranda books 1-12 on my shelf and have read each and every one of them (apart from 12) about 4-6 times each!! Number 2 is my favourite because of all the mysteries and the way they are solved. My favourite parts of the books are the Just in Case you are wondering….!! I have almost finished number 12 and I begged my mum for it for ages. When we were at the shops and I found out we were going to get it I was almost screaming with excitement. I was wondering when Alice-Miranda 13 come out and what will it be called? Also have you every wondered about turning Alice-Miranda into a movie? I have read most of the Clementine Rose books which are amazing too!! Even though I am still in Primary School I am writing a chapter book. Thank you- Scarlett.
Jacqueline Harvey
Dear Scarlett,
Thankyou for your lovely words. I am so thrilled that you’re enjoying the books. Alice-Miranda to the Rescue is out on 1 February next year. It’s a really funny story with lots of dogs in it. Alice-Miranda has been optioned as a television series but I am not sure when it will be made (these things take lots of time).
Well done with your writing – keep it up.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Grace
Hi Jacqueline,
I loved reading Alice Miranda in the alps. It was very thrilling adventure! I was wondering how long It took you to write and to get it launched? I can not wait for the next on to be launched!
Reply
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Grace,
Thank you for your kind words. It took me about 3 months to write and another 4 or so to be edited and it was launched on 1 September 2015 – so just this month. The next book will be out 1 February next year.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Grace
Hi Jacqueline,
I am writing a thing for school and I need some info. if you could can you please tell me how long it took you to write your longest book that would be really helpful. Also I loved Alice Miranda in the alps it was great I read it in hour!
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Grace,
I spent the most amount of time on the shortest book – which is Alice-Miranda at School. It took me about two and a half years to write because I had no idea if it would ever be published and I could only write on the weekends and in the school holidays. My longest book is Alice-Miranda in New York and that probably took about 3 months to write and another 6 months through the editing process. Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Arielle,
Wow, that’s a great effort. Well done. I wish I could write as fast as you can read 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Denae Vanderplas
Dear Mrs Harvey,
I am 10 years old and I am very inspired by your writing – it’s amazing!! Do you have a place where you think best for writing?? I always have good dreams that would be perfect for books but whenever I attempt to write it down on either on the computer or on paper, my ideas escape from my mind; even though I had a dream the night before with every little detail!
I have ordered A.M in the alps from my library but it will take a while to arrive yet. You write the best books. I have figured that when you end your chapters in your books you always end with something like a question or a time in the middle of an exciting act so the reader is hooked to the next chapter, which is clever.
Sincerely, from your Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose reader,
Denae Vanderplas.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Denae,
I write in my study at home which is lovely and sunny (for about 2/3 of the day) but I do like to write somewhere with a view of the ocean. I’ve also found though that I can write pretty much anywhere – planes, trains, hotels – wherever I am. I find that dreams are tricky too – you have to write them down as soon as you wake up otherwise they just disappear. I hope you get to read AM in the Alps soon – I’d love to know what you think of it. Thanks for your kind words.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
saboor
is Alice-Miranda going to be a movie????/?
saboor
is Alice-Miranda going to be a movie?
have a great day
saboor
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Saboor,
Alice-Miranda has been optioned to become a television series but I’m not sure how that’s progressing. These things take time and I don’t like to worry about it too much. What will be will be :). I will update any news on the blog.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Scarlett
Hello Jacqueline,
Thank you for replying to my comment before, it made my day and I was over the moon! I was just wondering if you were coming to Melbourne again soon? (I missed the last event) Also which Alice-Miranda book was your favourite to write?
Thank you,
Scarlett.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Scarlett,
I will be back in Melbourne early next year in 2016. Hope I get to meet you then. I don’t have a favourite book that I’ve written – they’ve all be fun and hard and sometimes tricky but I’ve loved writing them all.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Denae
Hi Mrs Harvey!
I just saw the front cover of the next AM book on the Random House Book Website!!!! It is gorgeous. What was your favorite chapter book when you were 10 yrs old?? My favorite is AM of course and then John Grishams’ Theodore Boone books are next and then I am Jack by Susanne Gervay. Have an great holiday!
Love from Denae Vanderplas. XXX
P.S All the best with writing the new AM book and CR book!!
P.S.S what month is your birthday in????
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Denae,
I’m so pleased that you like the new cover – do you mean the one with the puppy on it? My favourite chapter book when I was ten was Heidi by Johanna Spyri. My birthday is on the 13th March. Thanks for your good wishes about the new books. We’ve had a very busy time in England so far. I’ve done 12 events in the past 9 days and there are lots more to come. I am looking forward to a week off for golf in Scotland before we get back into it.
Hope you’re enjoying the new school term.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Charlotte
Hi Jacqueline,
I simply adore your books, they are beautifully written and the stories are wonderful. I have all of the Alice Miranda books and I am bit curious about a couple of things. I know that Caledonia Manor was inspired by Brogyntyn and I was wondering if Highton Hall was inspired by a real house as well? I also wanted to know if Alice Miranda had a puppy, what do you think you she would name him? If you could please answer, that would be lovely.
Thank you,
Charlotte
Jacqueline Harvey
Dear Charlotte,
I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying the books. Yes Alice-Miranda’s house was inspired by another real house called Somerley. It’s stunning too but I’ve never been there. Alice-Miranda doesn’t have a puppy but there is a lovely surprise in Alice-Miranda to the Rescue which involves a puppy. But I can’t tell you anymore details just yet. The book will be out in February.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Aiesha
Hi Jaqueline!
Just writing to find out if your coming to Melbourne Australia for a book event,please let me know,
Thanks,
Aiesha
Jacqueline Harvey
HI Aiesha,
I will be coming to Melbourne again early next year. Keep watching the events page on the website for upcoming details.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
amelia
I’m sooooooooo glad you came to my school
Jacqueline Harvey
Thank you!
amelia
ohh my god i am reading the begining of my book and i love it
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Amelia,
I hope that you love it all the way through 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
amelia
ohh my god i am reading the begining of my book and i love it and about clementime rose she is so funny
Jacqueline Harvey
I love how sweet and funny Clemmie is too.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
alex
I will always treasure the moment when you signed my book last year in christchurch. You probably don’t remember me as you have probably signed so many children’s books but i remember so vividly. You have encouraged me to write my own book and one day i hope to be exactly like you. I absolutely love your new clementine rose and alice miranda book. They are such an intresting read and alice miranda on the slopes has to be one of my favorite books in the series. I can’t wait till your next book comes out. Have you got an idea for what your next alice miranda will be about and when will you release it? 🙂
alex
whoops alice miranda in the alps 🙂
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Alex,
I’m sure that if I saw you I would remember you 🙂 It’s hard to remember everyone though as you’re right that I do meet lots of children around the world. I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the new books. They were lots of fun to write. The next book is Alice-Miranda to the Rescue which will be out in February next year. It’s about dogs and a dog show and lots of fun things happening at the school. Clementine Rose and the Special Promise is the next in that series and it will be out in January next year.
Hope you keep enjoying the stories.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Aiesha
Hi Jaqueline,
Just writing to find out if your coming to Melbourne Australia for a book event,please let me know,
Thanks,
Aiesha
Amélie
I love your books and I just went to your High Tea today. I loved it!
Jacqueline Harvey
Dear Amelie,
It was such a lovely surprise to see you and your sisters there on Sunday. I remember you and Solene from my visits to Sarum Hall. I’m so glad that you had a great time – I did too and we’re already plotting and planning for another one next year. I wish I could have come to Sarum Hall again this time but I know you are busy today with a book launch for one of the parents. You’ll have to tell me how it went. It’s wonderful to travel halfway around the world and see children who I have come to know over the past few years.
Have a great week at school and I hope you enjoy the new books.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline x
Barty
Hi Jacqueline,
I have recently gotten into your books, and I really enjoy your books!
I’m sorry this isn’t related to the post, but I was just wondering, are you a Whovian? Doctor Who was mentioned in Alice-Miranda on Holiday, and if you are a fan, I wanted to ask you which is your favourite Doctor. Mine is the tenth. And I also love Roald Dahl’s books! I’m certain I’ve read them all. Could you also recommend some book series you have read for me? (I’ve read Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, the Hunger Games, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and more).
Hoping you are well,
Barty
P.S Barty is my nickname, in case you’re wondering.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Barty,
Thanks for writing – I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying my books. I loved Dr Who when I was younger and watched it all the time. My favourite Dr was Tom Baker from a long time ago. I adore Roald Dahl’s books too – he was amazing (although I hear he was a bit grumpy!). Have you read Belinda Murrell’s Timeslip adventures? They are great – like The Forgotten Pearl and the Ruby Talisman – there are quite a few in the series but they are unrelated apart from all having a timeslip adventure. Have you read the book Bridge To Terabithia – I really loved that but it’s a stand alone novel.
Enjoy the new school term.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Barty
Hello!
Thank you very much for replying and recommending some books for me! I haven’t watched Tom Baker’s episodes yet, but from what I’ve heard, he would be my second favourite, and I love how eccentric his line “Would you like a jelly baby?” is.
A few months ago, I came across a Belinda Murrell novel (The River Charm) in the library, and I really enjoyed it, but some of the others were already borrowed. I’m still waiting for my friend to lend me one. As for Bridge To Terabithia, I’ve heard of it, and it sounds like a great book and movie. I’ll have to search for it in the library, assuming that someone hasn’t already borrowed it.
Thank you again for replying, and keep up the Doctor Who references!
Hoping you are well,
Barty
Barty
And I also love your TARDIS reference!
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks 🙂
Hayley
Hi I finally was able to get am in the alps I love it soooooooooooooooooo much my fav part was when Lucas admitted that he likes Jacinta. I love all the interesting characters in the book such as Gertie, she made me think she had every thing u could dream of.
Your books have inspired me to write my own book it’s called in chanted it’s about a girl called Sophie and her pet griffin called pix. I would love to be an author when I grow up or at least an illistrater. I also edit a lot of my friends chapter stories.
Best wishes, Hayley
P.S your number one fan
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Hayley,
That’s great you’re writing your own book. Fantastic! I think Gertie is funny too – she’s very spoiled.
I hope you keep writing and enjoying my books too.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Jasmine
Hi Mrs Harvey,
I have a question for you.
If you could have any character side-kick that you’ve ever written about, who would it be?
Thanks. I can’t wait for your thirteenth Alice-Miranda and eleventh Clementine Rose. I keep checking the summary of the stories, as to see if there’s a sample yet!
Jasmine
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Jasmine,
Do you mean who would I be? I think it would be Millie. She tells it like it is and I love her straightforward nature. We are still in the editing stages of the new books so it will be a little while until the samples are up.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Anna
Please come to Crafers!
(If possible)
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Anna,
Where is Crafers? I love visiting schools. Hopefully I will get there one day 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Maya Kalodikis
Hi Ms Harvey,
It’s me, again! I just wanted to request, on behalf of my Alice-Miranda fangirl friends in my class at school, for there to be a few new one off characters introduced. Lots of us, including me, would love Jacinta’s dad to be in a story. We were thinking maybe Jacinta’s dad could be getting married to another lady who is quite nice but has horrible daughters, triplets. So Alice-Miranda and her friends could be invited to the wedding in L.A. They go for a week and stay at Lawrence’s house there and meet Lucas’s friends there, ( It would be great if their names were Maya and Olivia, and Ellion, pronounced ell-i-on, (two girls and a boy )but i’m not really fussed). Then after 3 days there, they go to Jacinta’s dad’s house and meet Jacinta’s stepmother and stepsisters. Maybe one of her step-sisterscould like Lucas as well. Then they’d,like, stay till the wedding and there’d be a dastardly plot… Anyway, just a suggestion of what we would love to see! Sorry if i’m being a bit demanding or anything like that! We love the books no matter what you put in them! Sorry to ask for so much.
No.1 fan, Maya
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Maya,
I love that idea! Yes I probably should reintroduce Jacinta’s father at some point – there is a lot of scope to have him in the story again. I’m currently plotting a new book which will come out after Alice-Miranda to the Rescue (out 1 February). At this stage though the new book will be set in China but you never know who might come to the fore!
Thanks for your suggestions.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Sophie Nona
Good Morning Jaqualine,
My name is Sofia Nona and I love the books of Alice -Miranda, I am just staring to read my first one Nd it is called ‘Alice-Miranda in Japan. The book was given to me by my teachers mum and I can’t wait to read it… I am 8years old and I live on a little island called Badu in the Torres Strait. The email is my mums but I will be putting comments. Thank you, Sofia ☺
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for writing on the blog – I’m so excited to hear from someone who lives in the Torres Strait – I would love to visit! I will look up Badu on the map. I live in Sydney. At the moment though, I’m writing this to you from Shanghai in China. I’ve been away for the past 5 weeks in England, Scotland, Hong Kong and now China. We are here for another couple of days then we are going to Beijing which will be exciting too.
I hope that you enjoy Alice-Miranda’s adventure in Japan. I will be writing one set in China too.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the books.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Allie
Dear, Jacqueline,
I just read Alice-Miranda in the Alps and it was absolutely fantastic! You’re an amazing author. I’m fond of writing (mostly poetry.) and I’m writing some stories at the moment. Since I’m an Aussie, I don’t usually say some of the things Alice-Miranda and her friends say.
I was also wondering….will Caprice turn nice? At first Sloane was horrid, but she’s much kinder now. Caprice has been, well, “Caprice” for three books, so it’s not likely. I thought up a few AM ideas for future books (I’m also keen to see what happens between Millie and Caprice.)
One idea is Alice-Miranda in Sydney. How cool would it be if they met Australians?! They’d see bridges and dine in the Sydney Tower (at least that’s what I think it’s called.)
Another idea is Alice-Miranda in London. AM and her friends could see Big Ben!
My favourite idea is Alice-Miranda in Iran. It’d be amazing it see their reactions and I’d love to see what they think of Iranian food.
Love,
Allie
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Allie,
Well done on your writing – keep it up! I love writing poetry too but I don’t have enough time to do much of it at the moment. Thanks for your great suggestions – they’re fabulous. I’m actually going to write a book set in China after Alice-Miranda To the Rescue (which will be out 1 February next year).
About Caprice – you know sometimes people take a long time to see the error of their ways. Never say never, but she’s pretty bratty and I can’t see that changing much just yet :).
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
PS I would love to visit Iran – I’ve heard it’s amazing.
Ivy
Hi ms Harvey ivy here,
This is my fist time ever on website and I got to say, IT ‘S GREAT!!!
What Alice Miranda books do you recommend since I have a lot of them ?
From one of your biggest fans ivy xxoo
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Ivy,
Thanks for your kind words about the website. I like it and it’s only going to get better as we have some seriously fun updates happening early next year. I don’t know which books you’ve read so it’s hard to recommend any specific titles. I’d recommend all of them but let me know which ones you’ve read and I can be more specific!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Hannah
Your books are awesome! When I grow up i want to be an author just like you but they would be looooooooooong. Is it annoying replying to all the messages from above?
Hannah your biggest fan.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Hannah,
No it’s not annoying at all! I love hearing from the readers – it’s very humbling. I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying the books and you’d like to be an author when you grow up. I can highly recommend it 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Isabel
Hi Jacqueline,
Thank you for visiting my school – AISHK (Australian International School Hong Kong). I really loved it! I loved all the stories that you told. It was the best author visit I’ve had in all my life (10 years)! I can’t wait until your new book, the one about Hong Kong and China comes out. Do you have to read your books in order, or can you just start reading them out of order?
Thanks,
Isabel
Isabel
P.S. Happy Halloween!!!!!!
Jacqueline Harvey
I was in Beijing on Halloween – it was all very controlled and organised. There were some fun costumes. Hope you had a good Halloween too.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Isabel,
It was great visiting your school. I would recommend that you read the first book in the series first and then it really doesn’t matter if you read them out of order – but being me, I always like to read things in order (because I’m a bit compulsive like that). I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the visit. I am really excited that it looks like we’ll go back to Hong Kong again next year.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
heena patel
Hi Jacqueline,
My name is Heena, and my friend Bhavisha and I are 14 but we both adore your books.We have recently been saving up our pocket money to by the whole Alice-Miranda series. So far my am proud to own the 1,2,3,45,9 and tenth Alice-Miranda book which you have signed for me!! and hope to see you in wellington again.I had a few questions I was hoping to ask. How did you come up with Alice-Miranda and her family as characters in the book? How did you come up with the names? I love to write stories myself but when it comes to naming the characters I always seem to have a mind blank.I love to read and work with children.I normally use to pop down to the younger kids and help out their, but now I’m at college and I really miss them.When I grow up I would really like to be a primary school teacher like you.I hope you keep writing These books. I hoping to see at least another 20 in the series, or at lest until she graduates Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. from Sorry for writing this big letter I have so much more to say. I hope you get bored reading it, but Bhavisha also had an idea for an Alice-Miranda book as well. She was wondering if you could possibly write an Alice-Miranda in India. I hope to write to you soon again.and I cant wait to read Alice-Miranda to the rescue. The cover looks adorable!!
Kind Regards,
Heena,Bhavisha.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Heena,
It’s lovely to hear from you and I’m so thrilled that you love the books. I loved visiting Wellington – we’re actually heading over to New Zealand for a week after Christmas to stay in Arrowtown and Queenstown – two of my favourite places in the world!
In answer to your questions, I came up with Alice-Miranda first then her parents sort of evolved from there. I love them – they’re good people. I spend ages coming up with the right names and I use baby name websites and then I’ll look at online telephone books for good surnames. If I’m writing a book set in a different country I try really hard to come up with names that work for that country.
I’ve just been overseas in China (and the UK and Hong Kong) and I am going to write an Alice-Miranda book set in China. Perhaps I will do one set in India too (but I think I would need to go there for research!). I am going to write at least another 4 books in the series – and probably more.
Thanks again for writing and I hope that you achieve your dream to become a teacher – it’s a wonderful career.
Best wishes to you and Bhavisha,
Jacqueline
Hayley
Hi
My best friend has recently read your books too. She is amazed that you have your own website and she is able to contact you
Love your books
Best wishes Hayley and misha
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks Hayley and Misha – it’s great to be able to communicate with the readers!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Haleema
Dear Jaqueline,
long time no see!! i have missed you incredibly! :} i hope your books come back to my spirit and i enjoy reading and pondering over your amazing,awe-inspiring, breathtaking books which are simply works of art!
Hope to hear you reply,
Haleema
PS: dont grieve and cry over the times we haven’t seen each other LOL! you are a author i am SURE to remember! {:}
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Haleema,
Good to hear from you. I hope you haven’t given up on me and Alice-Miranda :).
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
PS You’re very funny 🙂
Bunny
Hey, Jacqueline!
Starting my Author biography today so please tell me all about yourself. Are you friends with any other authors? If you are please tell me there names. So, sorry if I am asking to much. I thought it would be better to write to you for information then just looking up on the internet.
From,
Bunny
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Bunny,
I’m friends with lots of other authors like Belinda Murrell and Rachel Spratt, Tony Flowers (he’s an illustrator), John Larkin, Markus Zusak, Suzanne Gervay, Andy Griffiths, Leigh Hobbs, Kate Forsyth – there are too many to list. The children’s author community is a very big friendly one.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Abbey
Dear Jacqueline Harvey
My name is Abbey Rigby and I am 10 years old and do I love your books it’s the way you write them it made me want to read more and more every time I read a page. The one I love the best is Alice-Miranda at the palace the miseries really made me think what was coming next. I just wanted you to know that i adore you you inspire me and you are my inspiration. There was just one more little question I was wondering maybe in your next book you could use my name for one if the characters name I was thinking maybe Abbey Rigby Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones. I could be Alice-Miranda’s separated sister only if that’s ok with you? So that’s all from me for now and I hope you get this soon and if you do can you send back as soon as possible only if you have got time as I know you are so busy
Kind regards Abbey Rigby
Kirima McIntyre
Can’t wait for Alice-Miranda to the rescue to come out
So excited to be meeting you at the braille competition on Wednesday
Thank you that your spending your time to do that
Can’t wait
Kirima
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Kirima,
I’m excited to be coming along to the awards night – it will be lovely to meet you and please make sure that you tell me you’re the girl who wrote on the blog 🙂
See you soon,
Jacqueline
Maya Kalodikis
Hi Ms Harvey!
i was reading a few things last night and i had an idea fora problem in a book. I was thinking that maybe if Jacinta’s father came back for a book he could trial in court about wether he could take full custody over Jacinta. Of coarse, i think Alice-Miranda and Lucas would have a few thoughts about that. Maybe if Jacinta’s dad could live in another country so then Jacinta would have to move away and never see her friends again, or for a long time! Someone could save the day and maybe Ambrosia could get a new, decent, nice husband, who has a special connection with jacinta and maybe a family connection to alice-miranda! It would be so amazing if that could be part of a book! I really hope that maybe you could incorporate it into a book and change it a bit! Another idea is maybe you could take lucas’s character a little deeper and bring in a new character. Maybe a kid that lucas used to beat up for his friends. Then the gang would find out about his dark past a little more and Jacinta would get upset but in the end we find out that people really do change sometimes, and weave in a joke about caprice and then laugh and say that some would , however, never change. Maybe another horse race and Gymnastic championships into one of them. I remember in the 6th alice miranda book that lucas was good at art, so maybe an art competition. Anyway i have said way too much and you probably won’t put them in because they are horribly crazy ideas and don’t even revolve around the main character! But i know i would faint if i saw anything like this in a book, i already do almost faint whenever i see a lucinta moment! Am a crazy huge fan!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing you could dip would make me stop fingerling over this, just go crazy a lot more (i haven’t figured out wether that is a bad thing or not)! Anyway, i should leave this now and leave the writing up to you! Horribbly huge message, so sorry to waste ur time and stuff but i was desperate to ask!
Your hugest fan ever, maya
Maya Kalodikis
oops i meant do, not dip and i meant fan-girling not fingerling.
P.s fan-firing is when a girl is crazy obsessed and squealed, screams, completely overreacting about everything that has even the slightest bit of cute couple moments, even a civil, normal conversation between two characters which could be about anything ranging from a chicken egg to purple socks, non stop talking about a single topic, searching everything about it up every free moment, day dreaming about it, comparing and remembering even the most irrevelant things to this topic, raving on and on and on and on and on and on and on and… u get the picture.
maya
Jacqueline Harvey
Dear Maya,
you have lots of fabulous ideas! I love them and it’s interesting that you said to focus on gymnastics as I can see something happening with that in the not too distant future. I’ve got big plans for Jacinta in book 14. Thanks for explaining about fan-firing too. It’s great that you think so much about the characters and the storylines – I suspect you might think about them as much as I do!
I’ve been madly busy these past few weeks having just come back from 6 weeks overseas and then going straight into loads of editing and last week I was out with the Sydney Writers’ Festival of Moving Stories at a different public library in the western suburbs each day. I met a different group of children each day too which was lots of fun (and spent time with lots of brilliant writers and illustrators). I am busy doing the final editing for Alice-Miranda to the Rescue this week which is lots of fun. I hope you’ll enjoy it too – as long as I can get all my work finished in the coming days it will be out on the 1st February.
Anyway, it’s not long until the holidays when you can write and read all day long!
Have a fantastic end of term – I bet it’s busy – it always was when I was teaching.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Amanda
Hi, i am a big fan even if i read only one book i super loved it! my friend love’s you too, i wish you could come to my school.
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Amanda,
I hope you get to read lots more books and maybe I will come to visit your school next year 🙂
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Alicia
Hi Jacqueline Harvey,
My name is Alicia and i only just started at a new school.
I was so disappointed when my new friends told me that you had come to their school only just the year before! I wish i was there!
I first started alice miranda when i had spotted a girl flicking through it at the library.
Reading is my hobby, so if there is a book that i see and i have got half and hour to spare, of course i would give it a go!
Who knew that alice miranda would turn put to be one of my favourite books?
Ok..so naturally since i love reading, i want to be an author when i grow up!
Could you please give me some tips on how to write a book?
And i have a question for you, personally who do you think you are most like in the book?
I also have a suggestion for Jacinta, like maya, i am a huge lucinta fan, so i was thinking to drama it up a bit.
Since there are so many girls in the world that like Lucas…why not a boy that shares a connection with Jacinta?
True romance never comes without complications!
Thanks you for your dedication to all your books,
Alicia harvey
Hmm, i think we share the same last name!
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Alicia,
I just realised that you sent almost the same entry twice but I’ll answer your questions here. I don’t really think I’m exactly like anyone in the books. Maybe a bit like Miss Grimm and Miss Reedy because I was a teacher, maybe a bit like Millie because when I was younger especially I sometimes used to say things before I really thought about it. I really don’t know. I agree that true romance should have some complications! Great idea.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
PS Hopefully I’ll visit your school again one day soon.
Alicia
And also…i come from china…and my fav animal is pandas…..so please put in a mention of pandas when you write the china alice miranda book!
Thanks,
Alicia harvey
Jacqueline Harvey
Pandas sound like a great addition to the new book 🙂
Alicia
Hi Jacqueline,
My name is Alicia and reading is my favourite hobby!
I first started Alice Miranda when I spotted a girl reading it at the library.
If there is a book around and I have 30 mins to spare, of course I would give it a go!
Who knew it would turn out to be one of my favourites?
Since I love books so much I want to be an author when I grow up, so I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to write a book?
I have a few ideas up my sleeve!
Like Maya I am a crazy Lucinta fan so I have a suggestion,
Since there are so many girls in the world that like Lucas, why not a boy that shares a connection with Jacinta? Guaranteed Lucas is going to get jealous!
Thank you for your dedication towards all your books,
Alicia
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Alicia,
I love your ideas! Thanks for your kind words. If you are a budding writer I’d say that firstly you need to have notebooks. Write down things you see and hear and experience – you never know when you might use them in a story. Be observant and don’t just use your eyes. Writing is about using all of your senses. Enter competitions – they are a great way to focus your energy on a goal. All the best with your ambitions. If someone like me (an ordinary girl who grew up in Camden NSW) can become a writer, I’m sure that you can too.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Anna
Wow
Anna
Wow…….time flies……………..when did alice miranda start?
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Anna,
The first Alice-Miranda book was published in February 2010. I can hardly believe we’re about to celebrate her 6th anniversary since the series was launched with the publication of the 13th book!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Krisha
OMG!!! I have been reading your Alice-Miranda books lately and didn’t stop to look at the author, you had me hooked! When I saw your name I flipped out, I had no idea you wrote Clementine Rose as well! You are no doubt my favorite author. Keep it up
XOX Krisha, Your biggest fan by far!!!
Jacqueline Harvey
Thank you Krisha – you’re very kind! I’m so glad you’re enjoying both series.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
PS I’m actually going to NZ next week – but only to Queenstown as we own a section there and are looking at builders so we can start our house.
Emily
You visited my school and you signed my books
Emily
You are very funny!!!!!!!!!!!
Jacqueline Harvey
Thanks Emily- glad you enjoyed my talk!
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Nicki Cassimatis
Dear Jacqueline
thanks so much for visiting our school on Monday. The children have been in Alice-Miranda and Clementine-Rose mode since then. We have 6 of your books that have been loaned and 15 holds and one purchase request…and that’s just from the students!!!
I do have one question though…In which of your books did you say that Alice-Miranda and Clementine-Rose meet?
Thanks again so much,
Nicki & Deborah
Teacher-Librarians
Dutton Park SS
Brisbane
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Nicki and Deborah,
Thanks for taking the time to post such great feedback- I’m delighted that the children enjoyed my talk and are reading the books:)! Thank you for having me!
Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose first meet in Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Nicki Cassimatis
Hi again,
Please send your reply to Deborah’s email address as she will be back from leave in Term 4. It was lovely for me to experience this in my temporary role!
Thank you,
Nicki
DPSS
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Nicki,
I’ve replied to your post on the blog! I’m glad that you enjoyed your temporary role.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
Arielle
Hi Mrs Harvey,
I have got all your books and diaries and handed them down to my sister a month back and she loves them she has been begging me to write this so I am, she is a huge fan of your books and loves them. She has started bringing her books to school for show and tells or to read to her friends, she adores you and says you inspire her so much.
She wanted me to say these so much and she absolutely loves you and your work. Thankyou for being an amazing writer and inspiring people to follow their dreams.
Lots of love from me and even more love from Maddie (my crazy sister who is obsessed with your books)
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Arielle and Maddie,
I’m thrilled that you both love my books and that they have a special place in your hearts. If you like you can send me an email or a letter and I can answer some questions for you.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline x
caitlin
hi my name is caitlin and i am writing a story and i realy like the font so can you please tell me whot font you use?
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Caitlin,
I’m not sure what the font is in the stories – I will ask my editor.
Best wishes,
Jacqueline
PS When I’m typing I use Calibri.
Camille
hey
Isabella
Dearest Jaqueline,
I’m just wondering when the next Clementine Rose story is going to be out.
From, Isabella
Isabella
Dearest Jaqueline,
I’m just wondering when the next Clementine Rose story is going to be out. I’ve read all of them and they are AWESOME!
From, Isabella
Lily
Hi Jaqueline Harvey I’m Lily and I love your books! I have read AM six million times and have almost finished the Clementine Rose series. Are you making any new books at the moment? (For those series.) pls reply,
Cheers
Lily
Jacqueline Harvey
Hi Lily,
It’s lovely to meet you! I’m thrilled to hear you love my books. A new Kensy and Max book will be released next year, I am taking a break from the Clementine Rose and Alice-Miranda series for the moment, but you never know what the future holds…
Best wishes,
Jacqueline 🙂