Isla Fisher
About Author
Isla Lang Fisher was born in Oman, where her father worked as a banker for the U.N. She spent her early childhood in Scotland before moving to Australia with her family in the early 1980s. From a young age, Isla showed an interest in both acting and writing.
From age nine, she was appearing in Australian TV commercials and had parts in the Australian television series Bay Cove (1993) and the television series Paradise Beach (1993). When that show ended, she worked on the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away (1988) and also wrote two best-selling novels, "Seduced By Fame" and "Bewitched".
She has since appeared in the films Wedding Crashers (2005), The Lookout (2007), Hot Rod (2007) and Definitely, Maybe (2008), Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009), and Now You See Me (2013).
Marge in Charge, publisher by Piccadilly Press in 2016, is her first book for children.
Interview
MARGE IN CHARGE
PICCADILLY PRESS
JULY 2016
Actress and bestselling author Isla Fisher has written her first children's books, Marge in Charge, about an irrepressible babysitter who has a rather unconventional approach to looking after children.
Marge's charges - Jake and Jemima - adore her but discover that sometimes, it's the babysitter who needs the most looking after!
We asked author Isla Fisher to tell us more about her first book for children.
Q: What has taken you into writing for children and what have you enjoyed about writing for this age range?
A: Stories were a fun part of my childhood. We moved around a lot when I was a kid (I was born in Oman to Scottish parents who moved to Australia when I was six) so I hid in books. My grandmother was an avid reader and so was my mum.
Reading books is a great opportunity for parents to connect and discuss ideas with their children.
Q: How has your acting background helped you in developing these stories?
A: I suppose it's helped me to create strong characters that have an emotional arc and keep all the characters voices sounding different. Story wise, I prefer when scenes end somewhere surprising so I have tried to do that with my books too.
I love acting and writing equally. I get lost in both experiences - and I get to act out all the parts in my head as I am writing.
Q: Why did you decide to write distinct stories within each book?
A: There are so many comedic brilliant books from Roald Dahl, David Walliams and Jeff Kinney for kids who are a little older. So I wrote Marge for younger kids who may possibly have a shorter attention span. I also wanted parents who are reading the book to have a natural place to stop.
Q: Was there any one thing that sparked the idea for Marge in Charge - a grown up who the children need to look after?
A: I have always loved telling stories and Marge grew from that. I just noticed that ALL kids love it when grown-ups misbehave and act silly!
Q: Marge is brilliant - does she remind you of any characters you've come across in your acting career, or from elsewhere?
A: Thank you so much.
If my two best friends had a lovechild it would be Marge. One of them is the eternal Peter Pan who is in total denial about reality and the other tells magical amazing stories.
The Marge stories are a bit like The Cat In The Hat meets My Naughty Little Sister, which are books I love to read with young children. I find kids are used to other kids misbehaving but when grown-ups do it they find it hilarious.
When Marge misbehaves it's not in an intentional or mean-spirited way, she unlocks the other characters' creativity and challenges Jemima's need to follow the rules for rules' sake.
Q: Can you describe Marge in five words? How much fun did you have creating her?
A: Marge is mischievous, ebullient, imaginative, kind and fun.
I live vicariously through Marge. She does all the fun things I wish I could do but I have to act sensibly as I am the mummy!
Q: What is Marge best and worst at as a babysitter? Would you ever hire her?
A: I would hire her because she loves the children and encourages them to look at life in a unique way. The worst thing Marge does is act impulsively which is not the model for your kids, obviously!
Q: Why did you decide to include the 'to do' lists from the parents in each story?
A: The 'to do' lists are there so the naughty babysitter can subvert them. It's a fun tool because the kids all look forward to hearing the rules and start guessing or imagining what naughty Marge will get up to.
Q: What is your favourite predicament they all get into in these stories?
A: I love when Marge takes Jem and Jakey to a wedding in book two. Jakey gets bright blue paint on the bride's white dress and Jemima loses the rings. Hilarity ensues when Marge has to act like the sensible one for once...
Q: Why did you decide to write the stories from Jemima's perspective?
A: Because Jemima is the eldest and feels she has to be a 'good girl' so she was the perfect 'straight man' for readers to relate to.
Q: What do you think of Eglantine's illustrations? Does Marge look like you'd imagined her to look?
A: She is utterly brilliant and I am blown away. She surpassed all of my hopes for the characters.
Q: What next for Marge and the children?
A: There will be three books (9 stories) in all... The next book is called Marge the Pirate Nanny.
Q: Where is your favourite place to write?
A: My bed. Then I am still at home with my family but able to sneak some work in too
Q: What do you enjoy doing most to relax when you're not writing or working?
A: I love a park or beach day with my family, or reading, hiking, watching good TV, usually comedies - all the usual stuff.
Q: What else are you working on at the moment?
A: My sleep. I need to work on that really badly
Marge in Charge
