An FAQ with Andy Griffiths

1. Are your stories true?
I might start telling a story about something that really happened to me but pretty soon I'm changing what really happened to make the story more entertaining and eventually the stories get so exaggerated and twisted that they end up completely untrue by the end.
2. When and where were you born?
1961. Melbourne, Australia.

3. How many books have you published in Australia?
Just Joking!, Just Annoying!, Just Stupid!, Just Crazy!, The Day My Butt Went Psycho!, Just Disgusting!

4. Where do you get your ideas from?
I have an exercise book and each day set myself the task of each day writing down one memory or thought or observation or dream or line from a book I'm reading. Whenever I need an idea I read the book, pick the ones I like, and play with them.

5. How long does it take you to write a book?
I spend about six months thinking of story titles, story ideas, starts, endings, middles -- all very scrappy and disorganized -- and then I sit down and write seriously for about three months. And then at least three months rewriting and editing. Many of my short stories are rewritten somewhere between 20-30 times before they're ready for publication.

6. Do you enjoy writing books?
I enjoy CREATING books -- I love the challenge of trying to make each book even sillier than the last--but the actual process of writing the book can sometimes be very hard slow frustrating work.

7. What books did you like reading when you were young?
Anything by Dr. Seuss or Enid Blyton. And especially Alice in Wonderland, which has to be one of the most profoundly silly and funny books ever written.

8. Have you any pets? If so have you written any stories about them?
I don't have any pets at the moment. I used to have a crazy dog called Sooty who I loved -- he crops up in the JUST stories from time to time.

9. Why did you decide to become a writer?
Many reasons, but I think a combination of the following:

• Because I've always loved picking up a pen and trying to write things that make people laugh -- I think there's more than enough darkness and sadness and tragedy in the world and I guess I see humour and nonsense as a way of celebrating life rather than being overwhelmed by it.
• Because my dream has always been to make a living out of something that I love doing -- I like not being able to tell the difference between pleasure and work.
• Because I've been so excited and inspired by the writers, movie-makers, musicians and comedians that I've loved over the years I guess I was really looking for a way of joining in the fun -- I found writing helped me to do this.