Exclusive Geri Halliwell Interview
The former Spice Girl turned children's author, on how she's keeping girl power alive
My father, Laurie, was the one who introduced me to books.
When I was a child we didn't have much money. My mum, Anna, was a cleaner and would sometimes take me to work with her at 6am. And dad was a car dealer, but he didn't work that much when I was younger.
In the summer holidays we would have these big trips to the library.
So while everyone else was away on their holidays I would go the bottom of our garden and sit and read.
I even used books as a way to find out about sex.
I can remember being 12 and feeling really guilty for reading Jackie Collins' novels.
I started writing children's books when I was pregnant with Bluebell and she's still my greatest inspiration.
Losing my dad at the age of 21 felt as though the rug had been pulled from under my feet.
Up until then I had thought I was invincible and it made me face my own mortality. My dad's death taught me the art to living is to seize the moment.
Right now I'm the happiest I've been for a long time.
I'm lucky enough to be doing a job I love and to have my gorgeous daughter.
Bluebell has taught me about patience.
It's hard work being a mum, which I'm recognising as I go along, but I'm quite playful with it too. I'll sing to her and pull silly faces. In fact Bluebell is probably the sensible one.
I'm a full-on working mum
And, though it can be tricky finding a balance, I try to spend as much quality time as I can with Bluebell every day.
I've always thought I'd like to have more children
But the further from the baby stage Bluebell gets the easier it seems to be, so I'm not so sure any more. I've often thought about adopting and am still open to that idea.
Now that I'm older I feel much more accepting of things in life.
So these days I don't try to control my body like I used to – I do a lot less exercise and my value system has changed.
And I've learned that you have to take risks in life.
If you give a hundred per cent to something and it fails at least you've put yourself out there.
Another thing I've realised is it's important to listen to my gut instinct.
So now I do what I think feels right deep down, as opposed to doing things for the sake of just pleasing other people.
I started writing books when I was pregnant with Bluebell
And she's still my greatest inspiration. My heroine Ugenia Lavender, who – surprise, surprise – has red hair and bright blue eyes, is definitely my alter ego but I like to think of her as 'my inner brat'.
I'm quite mischievious and I've got a childish sense of humour.
So it's great that through the Ugenia Lavender books I've found a new way to communicate girl power.
The six-part Ugenia Lavender series by Geri Halliwell, published in paperback and on audio CDs by Macmillan Children's books, is available from www.tesco.com.