How did films and film characters influence the writing of Artemis Fowl?
Films definitely had an impact on my writing style. I am a huge movie fan, and the action genre is one of my favourites. I realised that very few action movies are specifically for kids, even though kids love them. So, I decided to fill the vacuum with a book that reads like an action movie. Hopefully when you read the book, the movie will play itself in your head. Who did you base the character of feisty elf Holly Short on? Is she a reflection of the ‘girl power’ frenzy that’s swept the nation over the last few years? Holly is based on a mixture of several girls that I have taught. They are real people and refuse to conform to some idea or fad. There have always been female heroes, it’s just that male authors didn¹t want to write about them. Did you have fun playing with the Irish myths and legends in Artemis Fowl and creating a futuristic (but still very magical) fairy world? I grew up reading Irish myths and legends, so I had great fun putting a spin on them. I knew that there was n
