Live webchat with Holly Willoughby and her sister Kelly, Wednesday 19 June, 2-3pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Holly Willoughby and sister Kelly are joining us for a webchat on Wednesday 19th June at 2-3pm. Holly and Kelly always dreamt of writing a story together since their childhood when they would make up stories and dress up and perform for their parents. Their dream has come true as their first book School for Stars: First Term at L'etoile is being published on 20th June. Set in a performing arts boarding school, the story is a perfect mix ofGlee and X Factor but with all the classic charm of Ballet Shoes and Malory Towers; full of midnight feasts, makeovers, dares, drama and dance.

Holly is best known for presenting ITV1's flagship daytime programme This Morning as well as prime-time shows Surprise Surprise and The Voice. She won a Children's BAFTA award for best presenter in 2006. Kelly has always dreamt of being an author and is delighted to be realising her dream with her sister.

Come and chat to Holly and Kelly on Weds 19th at 2pm, but if you're unable to join us at that time, post your question in advance to this thread.

Holly and Kelly will also be signing copies of their new book after school next Thursday 20th June at 4.15pm in Harrods Toy Kingdom. Find out more.

@MaireadMcMahon

Hello Holly & Kelly.

I have a quick question,

Do you believe children read enough books in school?

Love to hear your answer! :)

Mairead, @MaireadMcMahon

Holly: My son will start school in September, so currently I don't really know how much reading goes on.

Kelly: same here!

Holly: I think if you're worried about how much your child is reading, then you need to take a look at what's going on at home. One of my favourite parts of the day is sitting in the kids' bed and reading them a story.

Kelly: I read to mine too, my daughter's eight months, I sit and read with her, and she does sit still!

at hollyandkate Who's Kate?

@finleymummy

Hi there, How did you go about writing the book together?

Holly: The idea from the book came from, or started, a long time ago when we were at school and one of the teachers said that Kelly had a real flair for writing children's stories, and it's something that's been in the back of our mind ever since. It was about finding the right time to do it. The idea came really quickly - I think it's always good good to write about a subject that you know about.

Kelly: When we were writing, it just took us back, so the story sort of wrote itself really.

So only answering questions about books and dresses?

would you want your kids to go to performing arts school? Mine want to. I am not sure at all!!

I loved Twins at St Clares et al when I was growing up so I just wanted to say thank you for writing books back.in that genre - it is about time! OK, my question, if you could be any character from.childrens literature, who would you be and why?

@AmyFarrahFowlerCooper

HQ, you need to check their username

Oops - fat fingers. We'll sort

Argh it isnt Kelly Willoughby, its Kate Middleton under a pseudonym. MN fail

@JustGiveMeFiveMinutes

Ok, so my question is what age are the books aimed at and how would Holly feel if a girl of that age read her books, became a fan and decided then to watch her on CJ?

Holly: The books are from about seven to eight upwards.

And to answer your question, Celebrity Juice is a show on ITV2 that starts at 10 O clock at night. It's on at that time to discourage young children from watching it - it's on after the watershed for a reason, therefore I think it's the parent's responsibility after that.

@Southbelle

would you want your kids to go to performing arts school? Mine want to. I am not sure at all!!

Holly: I think that's a question I can only answer when my children are at that age, and whether or not it's even something that they want to do. I have a feeling that whatever my children want to do, I will try to the best of my ability to encourage and support them.

hi holly & kate

read a wonderful article in the sunday papers and its lovely to see how supportive you are of each other in your careers and how down to earth you are.

Do you have any advice for those of us with children who are reluctant readers? Have a 6 year old son who would rather play and draw than read.

good luck with the book - im sure it will be a great success.

p.s. how do you both look so fabulous - would love some tips!

@CocktailQueen

Who actually writes the l'etoile books? Which of you is the better writer?

Kelly: Me!
Holly: Kelly!
Kelly: I actually sit down and write the books. We discuss the ideas together, we're in constant phone contact while I'm doing them, but it's not physically possible for two people to physically write a book. You can't do one chapter each alternating, the flow of it would be terrible!

Realise this is totally off topic but do you think the Royal baby is going to be a boy or girl, and what do you think it will be called?

@FudgeyCookie

Holly is completely and utterly my girl crush

Why did you decided to write children's books? Is it something you've always wanted to do (ie before children) or since having children and reading other children's books?

Kelly: Always. We used to talk about it when we were little. I had a teacher in school once, I had to writ a fairy tale and it pulled me aside afterwards - Mr Hart - and my nice teacher in the book is Ms Hart and that's a nod to him.

But he said that I had a real flair for it, and he said i should write a children's book, and I was only 10! And it stuck with us, and here we are ! It was a big decision to do it because it was a lot of time, a LOT of time, and hard work.

hey Holly and Kelly.

Will you write books for younger ages as well and maybe teenagers?

loved your interview on loose women.

Hi Holly and Kate - good luck with your new book, its so refreshing to have a book with a modern feel but with an old story air about it!

Holly - please please could you tell me where the dress you were wearing yesterday on TM was from, if would be perfect for a do I've got to go to? Cheeky request I know

Hi Holly & Kate,

I'm going to ask the question that ALWAYS gets asked...

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

@MissStrawberry

Forgot to ask a question.

How many books are you going to write, is there going to be a series, or just the one? Also, what age group is it aimed at please?

Kelly: We've just finished the Third term at L'Etoile, so we've done the whole first year.

Holly: There are so many adventures the girls could go on so let's just wait and see what happens!

Now that you have a children's book published do you think you might stray into Adult literature?

@Hazelbrowneyes

Hi Holly & Kate,

I'm going to ask the question that ALWAYS gets asked...

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Holly: When I was younger, I wanted to open a cattery (!)
Kelly: You still do !
Holly: It's still my hope! To open a cattery, and then I did my first year of Open University in Psychology and I wanted a cattery with a treatment room where I could use my psychology degree for cats. And one day - I think I might.
Kelly: Minus the psychology?
Holly: No, I could finish my degree!

Kelly: God's honest truth, I wanted to write a book!

Hi Holly and Kelly.

Holly- the amazon blurb selling the book describes you as 'a celebrity who is also a role model'. Do you see yourself as a positive role model, particularly to young girls?

@MortifiedAdams

Realise this is totally off topic but do you think the Royal baby is going to be a boy or girl, and what do you think it will be called?

Holly: Ooh!
Kelly: I think they're having a girl.
Holly: I think they're having a girl as well actually. Although I don't think they know... I'd be too worried about slipping up if I were them!
Kelly: Namewise, I think.... they're not gonna have an Apple.
Holly: I just don't know. It'll be like a classic, like an Isabella, something very pretty.

Kelly: Definitely a girl though!
Holly: Maybe a nice middle name could be inspired by our book...
Kelly: (Or maybe Holly or Kelly)

Hi Holly and Kelly

Will you ever show your kids you on Saturday morning TV?

I watch this morning every day and love it.

@Jenda

I served you both in a shop in Brighton a few years ago. I was too shy to say anything though!

Kelly- do you find it really strange that Holly is papped all the time and is in the public eye so much when to you she is just your sister?

Kelly: I think not any more, and I think it's been so many years now I can't remember how i used to feel when it first happened! Exciting though to begin with, I'm sure.

@EmpressOfTheSevenOceans

And another one. I understand you're dyslexic, Holly - would you say that's made much difference to your career?

Holly: I am dyslexic - but no, I don't think it does.

Funily enough, working with autocue I think has really helped my reading. I have to make sure I read everything first, they can't make a last minute change. I still make mistakes, mistaking words for other words and saying things wrong but that kind of doesn't matter too much any more, and you just end up having a laugh. But no, I wouldn't say so. I don't think it holds me back.