At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Claire Hatcher-Smith!
About the Author:
CLAIRE HATCHER-SMITH is a speech and language pathologist who has worked with children with Down Syndrome for 35 years. Originally from the UK, she now lives surrounded by sea on Vancouver Island, with her husband, their teenage son and a Korean rescue dog. As well as writing, Claire runs groups for neurodivergent tweens and teens, focusing on self/other awareness, self-esteem and self-advocacy skills.
Q&A with Claire Hatcher-Smith:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I think I’m living here! I backpacked across Canada in 1992 and fell in love with Vancouver Island. The air, the ocean, the forest. The people are pretty nice too. At least, I like the one I married.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Walking the dog. Even when I wake up blurry, even when it’s raining, getting outside and moving around, not to mention watching her live her best life, always lifts my mood. And walking is usually the best way for me to get my ideas flowing and to work through any really tricky plot knots.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
It has to be breakfast (though I will happily eat excessively buttered toast at any time of day).
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Ooh, this is going back a bit but I was lucky enough to be in London in 1991 when Pavarotti gave a free concert in Hyde Park. It poured with rain, no one (including Princess Diana) could use an umbrella because it blocked the view of the stage and we were soaked to the skin, but the whole evening was completely magical.
What do you look for in a friendship?
Kindness, empathy and acceptance. Plus a passion for books, coffee and wine.
Books by Claire Hatcher-Smith:
A Skeleton in the Closet
By Claire Hatcher-Smith
240 Pages | Age 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774885116 | Tundra Books
Twelve-year-old Mizzy dreams of being a detective and she won’t let anything stand in her way — not her reputation for tall tales, or her embarrassing fear of escalators, and definitely not her Down syndrome. Dumped for the summer with cousins who’ve outgrown her, Mizzy feels even more sidelined than usual. But when she discovers Great Aunt Jane’s diaries in a locked wardrobe in their spare room, and realizes her aunt didn’t just die in her sleep but under suspicious circumstances, everything changes. What’s more . . . someone in the family appears to have been involved. Under the guise of a family tree project for school, and armed with a brand-new set of Pip-Squeaks markers, Mizzy grabs the chance to prove herself to her cousins — and the world.