Half My Facebook Friends are Ferrets

About J. A. Buckle

Jackie Buckle has been writing for years, since reading The Accidental Tourist by Anne Taylor, the book she says, that made her want to write. Half My Facebook Friends are Ferrets was discovered in the slush pile by a Curious Fox editor who immediately recognised it’s irresistible mix of humour, music and the digital world.

Buckle writes around her day job as the website manager for a leading drug charity. She has two daughters who spent their recent teenage years dragging their mother to heavy metal concerts, so much so that Buckle is now a metalhead herself! She has seen Children of Bodom, My Chemical Romance, Fin Troll, AC/DC, Trivium and more. Her favourite music comes from Finland, where there’s a big metal scene producing some of the most innovative and popular bands.

Jackie is also passionate about animal rights, travel, playing the acoustic guitar and walking her Finnish lapphund. She lives in Reigate, Surrey.

LoveReading4Kids Q&A

Describe your book in one sentence? How does it follow on from the first book – is it more of the same or different in tone?

Josh Walker – metal-head and ferret-owner – has just started college and he’s got all kinds of problems already, including a best mate with panic attacks and a boy scout who wants him dead! It’s more of the same, though Josh has grown up a bit – only a bit mind!

What inspired you to write your book?

A few people had asked if I’d write a sequel to Half my Facebook Friends are Ferrets and I did really want to find out how Josh, Davey and co would get on at college.

Favourite character in your book? I think Davey. He’s a lovable loser, although maybe not for much longer...

Favourite sentence or line in your book?

That’s a tough one. How about: It’s a bit naff rescuing kamikaze snails but at least Becky understands; she once had a pet woodlouse!

Describe yourself in three words?

A bit odd

Shakespeare or Dickens?

Dickens

Your favourite author?

Terry Pratchett

Favourite character from a book?

DEATH from the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett

If you weren’t an author, you would be…

I am a web designer but I’d like to go around the world studying animals and helping conserve them

Favourite place/setting to read a book?

In bed. Preferably a bed in a nice hotel somewhere interesting, but if not, at home

If you had a dinner party what three authors or characters from literature would you invite?

Probably not DEATH, but maybe Rincewind the wizard, Frodo and Puss in Boots

Where do you get your ideas from?

My daughters

Do you base your characters on people you know?

Yes, with a little bit of exaggeration here and there!