The Inventory: Malorie Blackman

Malorie Blackman, 49, is the author of the bestselling Noughts & Crosses series for young adults; the series has been adapted for television, winning a Bafta, and for stage by the RSC. She was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to children’s literature.

What was your earliest ambition?

To be an English teacher. My careers teacher told me that black people didn’t become teachers.

Public school or state school? University or straight into work?

Grammar school, then business studies at Huddersfield Poly. I stayed half a term. I got into Goldsmiths College to do English and drama, but deferred a year to earn some money. I took a job in computers, got hooked, and did computer programming for 10 years.

Who was your mentor?

The woman who inspired me and made me want to be an English teacher was Miss Brace, who taught my English A-level.

How physically fit are you?

A bit overweight but relatively fit. I do Just Dance on the Wii and go for walks.

Ambition or talent: which matters more to success?

You can have all the talent in the world but without determination you won’t get very far. I was in a writers’ workshop and we had some fabulous writers but they’d get rejection letters and we wouldn’t see them again. Perseverance when you get knocked back is important.

Have you ever taken an IQ test?

From one of those Mensa books. I scored 154 but intelligence is about far more than book learning or being able to spot patterns.

How politically committed are you?

Very. I believe each individual can have a say and make a difference.

Do you consider your carbon footprint?

We recycle, we turn lights off, but at the same time we have to live.

Do you have more than one home?

No.

If you had a coat of arms, what would be on it?

Books informed and formed my life, lightened and brightened my life – so an open book with a light shining from it.

What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?

A good singing voice.

What’s your biggest extravagance?

My drum kit. I love playing along to various songs, though my daughter is already better than me.

In what place are you happiest?

At home with my family.

What ambitions do you still have?

To keep writing books people want to read. To lose some weight, get really good at my drums and take up the piano again and get really good at that.

What drives you on?

I’m one of the few adults lucky enough to love their job. And when you’ve got bills to pay you get on with it! I like challenges.

What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?

I’m very, very proud of my daughter. Professionally, the fact that I got published. It took two years, 82 rejection letters and eight or nine different books. And giving up a well-paid job in computing to write. That was one of the happiest years of my life, even though I only earned about £800. I thought if I stayed it would kill my soul.

What has been your greatest disappointment?

A couple of books that haven’t turned out the way I wanted. I try not to live with regrets; you put that weight down and carry on walking.

If your 20-year-old self could see you now, what would she think?

She’d tell me to write sooner than I did and not be afraid to take risks.

If you lost everything tomorrow, what would you do?

Try and do it all over again. Or what I always wanted to do: teach.

Do you believe in assisted suicide?

Life isn’t about quantity, it’s about quality. I’d like to feel my life was in my own hands.

Do you believe in an afterlife?

Yes. To me, it’s as obvious and present and relevant as breathing.

If you had to rate your satisfaction with your life so far, out of 10, what would you score?

Eight.

‘Boys Don’t Cry’ by Malorie Blackman is published in paperback by Corgi