Ali Harris Revealed
About Ali Harris
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What is your birthdate?:11/18
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Previous occupations:From uni to present day: Sales assistant in Selfridges, Waitress, magazine journalist
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Favorite job:I have two - equally fulfilling, inspiring, dream-come-true roles. Being an author and being a mum.
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High school and/or college:I went to a school called Notre Dame in Norwich (yes, it was catholic. Yes we had a nun for a headteacher. No, it wasn't an all girls school. Or private.) And I went to Middlesex University in London (the far end of the Piccadilly line counts as London, right?)
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Name of your favorite composer or music artist?:Composer, singer, performer, artist and musical genius... Barry Manilow! Ooh and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Please don't judge me.
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Favorite television show:Modern Family and Brothers and Sisters. I aspire to be Norah Walker in the future (minus the dead, cheating husband of course!) but I'm probably more Claire from Modern Family.
Revealing Questions
- Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
- A. Feet on the ground, head in the clouds.
- Q. What is your motto or maxim?
- A. Arianna Huffington has said it better than I can: 'Failure isn't the opposite of success, it's the stepping stone on the way to success'.
- Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?
- A.
The first cup of tea of the day, in bed, snuggled up with my husband and two kids is my own personal nirvana. Especially if both children have slept through till 7am… However, this does not include the occasions when my 2 year old dive bombs the bed and I end up covered in scalding hot tea.
- Q. What’s your greatest fear?
- A. I’ve had recurring nightmares about tsunamis ever since I was a child – except back then I knew them as tidal waves. For that reason my husband knows that we will never, ever live by the sea.
- Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
- A. In bed (see above)
- Q. With whom in history do you most identify?
- A. I wish I could say someone really clever and important who made some big impact but it would more likely be some lowly overworked kitchen maid type like that one in Downton Abbey. (What do you mean that’s not real history…?)
- Q. Which living person do you most admire?
- A. J.K Rowling, of course. She's a genius.
- Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?
- A. A grande skinny latte please
- Q. What do you regret most?
- A. I don't believe in having regrets.
- Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
- A. To be a brilliant singer. But only if I could be as good as Adele, or Leona Lewis, or Barbra Streisand. I wouldn’t want to be mediocre.
- Q. What is your greatest achievement?
- A. That I managed to convince my husband to build a shoe shrine in the corner of our bedroom with lights and pretty wallpaper and everything
- Q. What’s your greatest flaw?
- A. I'm way too sensitive and I can hold a serious grudge. If you hurt me or my friends, or family I find it very hard to forgive and forget. I don’t think that’s a particularly nice or healthy quality.
- Q. What’s your best quality?
- A. I like to think I'm a good listener.
- Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
- A. J.K Rowling. But not for her money, just for her mind. Oh ok, a little bit of her money too.
- Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?
- A. I often accidentally put my clothes on inside out (and don't realise until I take them off)
- Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?
- A. Bridget Jones. She has to be one of the most loveable characters of the last century. I also believe that chick lit as we know it would not exist without her.
- Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?
- A. Voldemort.
- Q. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
- A. Henry VIII. 'Have you thought about seeing a marriage counsellor?'
- Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
- A. People (ok, my husband) twiddling about with his iphone when I’m trying to talk to him. Obviously it is totally fine when I do it though…
- Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
- A. Other than reading do-ing noth-ing. I bet no one else has been honest enough to say that, right? I am never happier than when I have nothing at all to do.
- Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
- A. To be a West End and Broadway star! (You can't see me but I'm doing jazz hands right now)
- Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
- A. Love, respect and an ability to give great cuddles
- Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
- A. Pasta. Every variety, with any sauce. I would never, ever tire of it but I would 'spare tyre’ of it. Geddit? Pasta. Fattening. Spare tyre… oh, never mind.
- Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?
- A. Don’t stop Believin’ (cast of Glee) Made it through the Rain (Barry Manilow) ‘Defying Gravity’ (Wicked) Hold On (Wilson Philips) Anything is Possible (Will Young) Ooh there seems to be a rousing, uplifting, key change ‘failure isn’t an option’ theme emerging here…
On Books and Writing
- Q. Who are your favorite authors?
- A.
There are so many. Marian Keyes is right up there - all her books are wonderful. I love Jennifer Weiner as she inspired me to become a writer as did Lisa Jewell, Adele Parks and Sophie Kinsella. I also adore Kate Mosse’s novels. And Nora Ephron. Mustn't forget her.
- Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
- A.
From childhood; The Magic Faraway Tree, as a teen; Tess of the D’Ubervilles, in my 20s; Bridget Jones' Diary and In Her Shoes, and most recently; One Day (along with the rest of the universe!)
- Q. Is there a book you love to reread?
- A. The Gruffalo to my 2 year old. I must have read it 177 times but we both love it.
- Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
- A. Writing a book is simply about putting one word in front of the other, if you do it every day it’ll come as easily as walking.
