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.

@Polka2

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

Holly: Suzannah is the brand. But with anything I wear on TM, on the TM website, there's a bit about what I'm wearing every day so if this comes up in the future, have a look on there and see what it says - and thank you!

@reelingintheyears

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

Holly: With anything like this, it's all about time. I've always wanted to do a children's book with my sister since I was little but I've always thought about doing an adult book.
Who knows, though, in the future maybe? But right now I think we both just wanna focus on this!
Kelly: Yup. What she said!

Kelly - Now you're writing with your sister and promoting the book, would you like the same kind of public attention she receives. Or do you prefer being out of the limelight a bit, even if it means you don't get the same celebrity perks?

Do you ever get a twinge of envy about her celebrity or are you glad it's not you facing it?

@ChablisLover

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!

Holly: I think a good way of getting a reluctant reader involved in a book is to get an audio CD, and play it, and then give them the book to flick through at the same time.
Kelly: Or to get a series rather than a one off book, and then over time, they get into it.
Holly: Talking about children's books here, like the Witch and the Broom, my children have the book, and the audio Cd. now they are beginning to recognise the words, and know when to turn the page. And that all began by looking at the pictures and following the story. So all of those things together made it more exciting.

are you excited to for all the young kids who will now know about you? I used to want to know all about my favourite authors and write to them! You might inspire kids to become writers too!

Holly, How do you find the right work life balance, especially with young children & your many work activities?

@EmpressOfTheSevenOceans

OK, proper question, Holly and Kelly.

There are "celebrity children's authors" like Jordan and Darcey Bussell, who have books with their names on but are known to use ghostwriters so don't count.
Then there are proper children's authors like Jacqueline Wilson or Cressida Cowell. If you identify with the second camp, you have a big opportunity to influence young girls. What message would you want to give them?

Holly: Hmm. I think that regardless of whether you have a ghostwriter, or whether you are a "proper writer", if a child is reading that book then does it really matter? I mean I'm incredibly proud that me and my sister have written this book together. But I'll feel even more pride to have a child come up to me and say, I really loved your book when they read it. The important thing is so long as they're reading. It's about the story.

Kelly: But of course it's nice to know that you've written for yourselves. For us it's nice to know that.

Kelly: As for the message to young girls, it's the motto from The School For Stars, that very much is reach for the stars, but on a wider level. Aim high, and work hard to try get there.

Holly: I think that's the key - if you work hard, you will achieve!

Thanks Holly & Kate

Holy do you think the image of children's author, girl next door host etc jars slightly with the crude humour of celebrity juice?

@onedev

Holly, How do you find the right work life balance, especially with young children & your many work activities?

Holly: I have to be SUPER organised in what I do. And I'm very good at timekeeping. So I squeeze an awful lot into a working day, but then I'm vicious about protecting my home time. And when it gets to a certain point in the day, I'm out - on the dot! And I go home and have my family life. And then it's phones off, everything's focused on them and that's how it works. And if I ever feel like it's getting too much then I just pull back a little bit on the work front, and so far it all seems to feel okay!

@hurricanewyn

Kelly - Now you're writing with your sister and promoting the book, would you like the same kind of public attention she receives. Or do you prefer being out of the limelight a bit, even if it means you don't get the same celebrity perks?

Do you ever get a twinge of envy about her celebrity or are you glad it's not you facing it?

Kelly: No! Out of the limelight. I get all the celebrity perks, without any of the celebrity downsides! I get to borrow nice things, and I get the excitement, but from the sidelines. We did Loose Women today and it nearly killed me, so it's not for me

But it's nice to dabble for the books, you know, and it's exciting for the moment, but no - I don't want a career on television, my heart couldn't take it!

holly and kelly,

you're my inspiration
my question is will you be doing any more books but individuals :)

love you guys :D

@MortifiedAdams

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?

Kelly: Cinderella
Holly: Because you get your prince and glass slippers?
Kelly: it's more about the dress!
Holly: I'd probably be Nancy Drew, because I like Ms Marple now, and I reckon a little bit of mystery solving, and a bit of sleuthing would be right up my street!

@Goldenhandshake

Hi Holly and Kelly!

I'd like to ask:

So many children today rarely pick up a book, ss children who inspired and encouraged you to read and has this led to a love of reading in adulthood?

Holly:I think we really had a lot of books around the house. Kelly inspired me to read, because she'd sit there and read to me!
Kelly: And for me, it was our mum and dad.

Thanks for answering my question! I have a follow on (sort of, not trying to rule break )

What's your motivation & what keeps you motivated to work so hard?

@aristocat

Hello Holly and Kelly, my question is to ask why you chose the name L'Etoile for your school?

The book sounds thrilling, well done. Hope its a great success

Kelly: I think that might have been me! Because I did languages, I loved them, and I studied French - when we talked about a stage school, we automatically came up with the word star and L'Etoile is star in French.
Holly: See, I told you she was the brains!
Kelly: Yup.

@onedev

Thanks for answering my question! I have a follow on (sort of, not trying to rule break )

What's your motivation & what keeps you motivated to work so hard?

Kelly: Loving your job.
Holly: Yeah, enjoying what you do so much. Otherwise I think it would be impossible to do it.

Thank you. All the very best with the books.

We're going to close the webchat now as we're going to do a quick film with Holly and Kelly who are then rushing off to 'do' Richard Bacon... Thanks Holly and Kelly for giving us your time this afternoon.

@AllYoursBabooshka

I haven't either fairis

Alright.

Holly and Kelly, Wot's yer favorite biscuit?

Oops - just realised we didn't do this one. You'll have watch to find out

Holly: Thank you so much for all your lovely questions. We hope you enjoy the books as much as we've enjoyed writing them.
Kelly: And have a lovely rest of the day in the sunshine.
Holly: (If you've got sun where you are!)

Shame you didn't get an answer to your very valid points spottybanana. Well, that was uninspiring.

That must have been the tamest and most boring webchat ever,shame they didn't answer Paradise's question.

Well, to be fair, they are only here to promote their book.

Yeah, but it doesn't follow that they can only be asked, or answer questions on their book.