KATE TEMPLE has had many dangerous jobs but now she is in the dangerous business of writing books for children. She has written more than 20 books with her partner Jol, and The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat is her first solo book, out 28 September 2022. This book is the dangerous story of a girl who took on one of the most treacherous jobs of all time. To celebrate the book’s release, Good Reading for Kids caught up with KATE TEMPLE to discuss dangerous jobs, her favourite books and the job of Time Keeper.

Your book is filled with lots of scary and magical adventures – where do you get your inspiration from?

Books. Film. News. Art. My kids. My head. I would like to be one of these organised authors who has things worked out before they get started but I’m not. I don’t know what is going to happen before I start writing which can feel daunting, BUT as soon as I get typing I realise that’s not true – it’s all in there. I just needed to open the right door. Lou Reed said, ‘if you want to create something amazing, you just need to get out of the way’. I think he was right.

What can you tell us about the job of Time Keeper?

The Time Keeper is the most important and dangerous job in all time. Trilby didn’t even mean to apply for it, it all just happened by accident but the moment she put that key around her neck, there was no going back. So what exactly does the Time Keeper do? Well, it’s her responsibility to protect the Passage of Time and assist a guild of ancient children who repair and restore time treasure.

Perks: Hanging out with really cool ancient children. Some of them have been 12 for 400 years, so they really know a thing or two. What else? Eating cake, lots of cake.
Downside: It’s the Time Keeper’s job to make sure that time runs smoothly and that all the priceless time treasure is left undisturbed – this can be very dangerous work, particularly when a man in a top hat is trying to kill you at every turn.

Trilby Moffat has one of the most treacherous jobs of all time – have you had many dangerous jobs?

Trilby sure does have a dangerous job. I have never had a job quite as dangerous as hers, but I have had some risky gigs in my time. Let me see. I had a job making hat pins out of darts so that was prickly. I had a job climbing ladders to cleaning windows at night … so that was a bit wobbly, but the most dangerous job I’ve had is writing books for kids. I brush up against some gruesome characters doing that!

What are some of your favourite books and why?

I love books where wild things happen to normal people. That’s why I loved books like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and A Wrinkle in Time; many Roald Dahl books are like that too. I love it when a real character I can relate to has their world turned upside down and they have to work out what to do. When I was a kid I was always waiting for something otherworldly to happen: for animals to talk and portals to open … I’m not waiting anymore, I’m writing them.

What’s next in your series?

The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat ends on a HUGE cliff-hanger. I won’t tell you exactly what that is, but just when she thinks she’s fixed time, there’s an unexpected twist. So that means there is definitely another book coming, and I can tell you in the next book Trilby will have to travel back to the Island Between Time where a most unusual festival with a dark secret is taking place.