Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Carla Fitzgerald!
It’s a privilege to speak with talented author of Keeping Up with the Dachshunds and How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five – Carla Fitzgerald is here to smash this interview with How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five. This middle grade chapter book comes with hilarious, unique and wacky world record attempts, but more importantly, awesomely fun and wholesome themes of friendship, kindness, self-confidence and persistence. Will Sam prove his special, extraordinary abilities to be the best?
Congratulations, Carla! You’re the best! 🙂
About the Author
Carla Fitzgerald is a writer, a recovered lawyer and a mum of three from Sydney. She studied arts and law at university, and worked at the Australian Human Rights Commission. Only after that did she rediscover the great fun of making stuff up.
Carla is a tutor at the Australian Writers Centre, a coach at the Harding Miller Education Foundation and a Books in Homes role model. Her favourite things to do are write, walk, read, eat and hang out with her family. Not necessarily in that order. Her latest book is How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five (UQP).
Please find Carla Fitzgerald at her website: Children’s Author | Carla Fitzgerald | Sydney and on Instagram and Facebook.
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five is available for purchase from UQP and at online and local bookshops.
WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five is written by me (Carla Fitzgerald) and published by UQP.
WHAT is it about?
The book is about eleven-year-old Sam, who tries to break a world record to prove that he’s good at something. It’s also about kindness, compassion and what it means to be a good person.
What is your favourite part of this book?
My favourite part is when Sam has to make a huge, life-altering decision! I don’t want to spoil it, but it involves a giant ice-cream and a soup ladle.
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
2021.
When is its release / launch date?
August 2024.
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
I’ve always loved The Guinness Book of Records. It was a source of fascination for me as a child and it continues to be wildly popular with children and adults alike. In particular, I was intrigued by the people who attempted the most obscure and strange records. What motivated someone to break the record for most post-it notes on a face? What about most t-shirts put on in 30 seconds? Is it just to be the best in the world at something?
I was also interested to learn that there are huge evidentiary obstacles to prove a record and no financial benefit. Your reward is a certificate. That’s it. And the vast majority of records do not appear in the printed book.
So I was fascinated to explore what might motivate someone to attempt a record.
I was also interested in exploring the question that many young people face: what am I good at? As well as our desire for extrinsic rewards like certificates and trophies.
These questions all led me to the character of Sam and the story flowed from there.
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
At its heart, the book is about the small, everyday acts that make up the good in the world. This is something I believe in and try to live by.
Why would its message resonate with readers?
I think young people often wonder what they’re good at. What their ‘thing’ is. Especially in a world where we celebrate sportspeople, businessmen and celebrities to such a degree. Hopefully the book causes readers to think about what it means to live a good life.
HOW do you feel about the illustrations / cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
I love that the cover design conveys the fun, humour and joy of the story. Importantly, I think it has huge kid appeal.
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
I had a wonderful book launch at Gleebooks in Sydney, visited bookshops all along the east coast, did lots of school visits, podcasts and socials. I’m a bit tired but it’s been great.
You should be able to get a copy at your local independent bookstore.
OTHER information or experiences you’d like to share?
I have not yet broken a world record (despite numerous attempts)!
Good luck with future world record attempts, Carla! This book is a pretty great achievement! 🙂
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Interview sourced by Gemma Creegan.
