Wales Book of the Year Focus: Chloë Heuch

Published Mon 19 May 2025 - By Literature Wales

Ask the Author: Chloë Heuch

When did you first realise that you wanted to be an author?

When I was in my twenties.

What inspires you?

The natural world, young people’s resilience and their sense of humour

Who’s your hero and why?

Mo in the book, because she never stops being herself.

Your favourite place on earth and why?

Home and the mountains of North Wales. It is the most beautiful place in the world to me.

What are you currently reading?

Patrick Ness, The Ask and The Answer

What inspired the idea for your book?

Seeing neurodivergent young people navigate main stream secondary school. Old abandoned buildings!

Will you read a piece from it please?!

Who should read your book and why?

Kids in Y6 who are worried about high school because it shows that, though things do change, they get better.

How does it feel to have reached the WBOTY 2025 Shortlist?

Dw i’n mor falch a mor chyffrous! I feel very blessed and lucky.

Do you have any other work/events in the works?

I’m working on a sequel. Mo is in Y8 and things are not going according to plan!