The Gallagher Academy

Ally Carter

Ally Carter is a writer living and working in the Midwest. She loved school so much she kept going...and going...and going...until finally she had to graduate. She has degrees from Oklahoma State University and Cornell University. The books in the GALLAGHER GIRLS series are her first children’s novels. She is also the author of two adult books.

Q & A

What is your favourite thing about writing a book?
The things I like about writing are a lot of the same things I like about reading – getting lost in a story, exploring new worlds, meeting new people. Also, I love that an unfinished book is, in a lot of ways, just like a puzzle or a mystery (regardless of the actual genre). It’s my job to look at these characters and their circumstances and figure out what actually happened. I like digging and thinking and figuring out what missing pieces are necessary to fully understand these characters’ lives. I like figuring out what really happened. Then all I have to do is write it down.

What do you like least about writing a book?

There comes a point with each book where I get lost in the story (but not in the good way), and the puzzle seems too big or complex or just plain hard for me to figure out. There’s always a point where I don’t think I can do it. Always. And even though I remind myself that I’ve felt that way for every other book, I always have to worry and wonder if this will be the
time when that’s really true.

What would your advice be to a budding writer?

Read as much as you can and write as much as you can. The rest is just a degree of practice and patience.

What did youwant to be when you were growing up?

Honestly? I went through dozens of fictional professions for myself as a kid, but more often than not I wanted to be a writer, though I never dreamed it would actually be possible! I went through a phase when I wanted to be a restaurant owner, a baker, a teacher, a college professor, and a screenwriter. What I’m doing now is easily the best thing for me of all those options.

What was your favourite book when you were younger?

My favorite book has always been (and will probably always be) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee.

What do you do in your spare time?

I like to bake, read, walk and spend time with my family. I’m also utterly addicted to movies and TV.

Did you like school – was it anything like Gallagher Academy?

My school was nothing like the Gallagher Academy, though I did enjoy it. I grew up in a rural community and attended school in a small town. It was a great childhood.

If you were a Gallagher Girl what would your code name be and why?

I have a feeling that codenames are probably a lot like nicknames – the ones that last are always given to you by someone else. For that reason, I can’t really predict what my code name would be. I’d like to say it would be something awesome but probably it would be something that sounded like one of the seven dwarfs.

Who is your favourite Gallagher Girl and why?

Gillian. Because she’s the Gallagher Girl who started it all!

Cammie is a chameleon, Liz is a genius, Bex is fearless, Macey is street savvy...if you were a Gallagher Girl what would your skill be?

My best skill would probably be that I have fairly good common sense. Sometimes geniuses need regular people to offer a fresh, non-genius-y perspective. I could provide that in spades!