Interview with Frank Cottrell Boyce

Frank Cottrell Boyce is the author of two books—Millions and Framed—that are great mother-daughter book club reads because their appeal spans the age groups. I saw the movie Millions with my family before I read the book, and we all fell in love with this wonderful film told through the voice of Damian, an engaging fourth-grade boy trying to find his way after the death of his mother. When my daughters and I spotted Framed on a library display shelf and noticed it was by the same author, we immediately picked up both books and chose them for each of our book clubs. It turned out to be a great decision. The three of us thoroughly enjoyed reading and discussing both books, and we had interesting discussions on them at our book club meetings.

Framed is on my list of Books to Make You Laugh Out Loud. We laughed a lot in Millions, too, but it didn’t make the list. I think that’s because it would feel like a betrayal to the main character, Damian, who was very serious in his innocence.

I recently interviewed Boyce by e-mail for MotherDaughterBookClub.com and came to appreciate this author even more. And now I know that I have another movie and a new book from his pen to look forward to soon, when Cottrell’s next book, Cosmic, is published and Framed comes out on film. Here’s an excerpt from the interview. For the complete text click here.

The main characters in both Millions and Framed are young boys. Why is that?

FCB: Oohhh. I’m not sure really. In Millions it just worked out that way—it felt like a story about brothers. Then when I started getting letters and messages from people a huge number said the same thing—i.e. “my little boy would never read books but he read this one.” There is a problem in England about getting boys to read so I suppose in Framed I consciously decided to write something that boys would like but that wasn’t necessarily car chases and guns.

Are you planning anything that will feature girls as main characters?

FCB: Well I think Minnie is one of the best characters in Framed—she’s certainly taking up a lot of room in the screenplay. And there’s a very vibrant girl called Florida Digby in my new book—Cosmic.

Do you talk to your children about ideas for your books?

FCB: Yes. But they’re very harsh. I read my new book to them at Christmas and they hated it so much I had to start again. My ten-year-old son loves Millions and can more or less recite the first chapter.

Do you base your characters on people in your life?

FCB: Not consciously but afterwards I recognize certain things about them. For instance Dylan is lonely for male company and my ten year old is just the same. He has three brothers but two of them are much older and one of them is a lot younger. So he has no one to play football with except me. So I guess there’s a lot of Dylan in him. Also because he has older brothers and sisters, he has a big vocabulary that he doesn’t necessarily understand. So I think a lot of Anthony’s talk about mortgages and tax relief etc. comes from that.

I understand that Framed is being made into a movie. Did you write the screenplay and when can we expect to see it?

FCB: I’m writing the screenplay and hoping it will be shot next Spring for broadcast the following Christmas.

Who would you recommend read your books?

FCB: Anyone and everyone! I think because the books are narrated by children, adults read them differently. I think adults find them funnier and children find them more moving.

What’s the best part of being an author?

FCB: Being able to work in bed. And also reading to children in schools.

What’s your next project?

FCB: I’m working on the films of Framed and of Terry Pratchett’s Truckers. And I’m finishing my next book (Cosmic)