Holly Smale: The children's author on growing up with Keats, back-stabbing bullies, and the awkwardness of modelling
The IndependentSign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy I always loved inappropriate books My mum had no real concept of so-called appropriate books for children, so by the time I was two or three, she was reading me Longfellow, Tennyson, Keats, Byron. When I went on to write my Geek Girl books, I gave my lead character, Harriet Manners, red hair as homage to Anne. I'd see these really thin girls eating rice crackers, and could never understand why they got upset when I brought back fish and chips. Holly Smale, 33, won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize for her debut, 'Geek Girl'.
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