At Little Box of Books, we are passionate about stories that do not pigeon-hole diverse characters with a single-issue narrative. Lizzie & Lucky: The Mystery of the Stolen Treasure, features deaf characters. It is also packed with tales of pirates, the theatre, colourful hair. And dogs. Most definitely dogs. The author has hearing loss, and it informed her writing of the book. We chatted to Megan Rix here.
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Why did you start writing books for children?
There isn’t really a why that I can remember. I just always wanted to write stories – ever since I could hold a crayon. Writing books is who I am.
(Although my dogs would say my real job is cuddling them and going for long walks – where they’d hopefully find something smelly to roll in and a river in which to swim.)
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How did you get your book out into the world?
By the time the second book in the Lizzie and Lucky series ‘The Mystery of the Stolen Treasure’ was published in August I’d had about 30 books published across the age ranges. I write under two different pseudonyms – Megan Rix and Ruth Symes. One of my editors saw me using sign language and it went from there. I always knew that Lizzie was going to be a detective.
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Why did you write this book?
The Lizzie and Lucky books are very special to me as I’m also deaf and use sign language. I didn’t know I was deaf until I was an adult (although my audiologist says it’s genetic and I was born deaf). I went to a mainstream school as a child and was always in trouble for talking too loudly when I thought I was whispering. Now my hearing aids let me hear the birds sing!
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Do you relate to any characters in your stories – which ones and why?
Yes I very much relate to the characters in the Lizzie and Lucky books – especially Mum (I love changing my hair to bright pink or purple like she does – and my hearing aids are always decorated with lots of bling – the same as hers.) Plus I would have loved to have been a detective when I was Lizzie’s age – and she has a puppy!
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What’s your favourite book and why?
Favourite book that I’ve written is this one! My favourite book written by someone else? Hard question as there’s so many amazing books to read. I do love non-fiction stories about animals so I think it would have to be ‘Esther the Wonder Pig.’
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What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a writer and have lots of wild adventures that I could write about – and that’s exactly what I did!
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What do you want children to get from your books?
The truth that you can be and do anything. Plus, always be kind to animals (and that includes us).
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Best advice you’ve ever been given?
My two dogs give me the best advice every day without needing to say a word. They wake up ready for adventures and fall asleep with doggie smiles on their furry faces.
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Finish this sentence for us… Reading from diverse bookshelves…
… opens your eyes to life and sets you free from stereotypes.
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A message to readers of your book?
Thank you so much for reading Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Stolen Treasure. I hope you like it and one day write a book of your own – which I would love to read.
Purchase Lizzy & Lucky: The Mystery of the Stolen Treasure here.
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Catch up with Megan Rix here.