Stutton CE Primary School in Suffolk is full of die-hard Treehouse fans. These books are constantly in motion, being borrowed and then passed along to friends. When the opportunity came to send author Andy Griffiths some questions, I knew those questions should come from the children at the school. They spent some time thinking about what they wanted to know and the results are below. Thank you to Andy Griffiths for taking the time to answer these and to Macmillan for sending the 156-Storey Treehouse to me for sharing with the children.
Did you have a treehouse? Is this what inspired you to write the books?
I didn’t have a treehouse but my cousin David did and I had a lot of fun playing in it with him. Working with Terry and Jill is a lot fun and reminds me of what it felt like playing as a kid, so I thought it would be fun to put us as characters in a story and what could be more fun than to live in an amazing treehouse?
Why a treehouse?
Because treehouses are cool. I think they appeal to the long lost monkey inside of us all. Also, despite the many dangers of a treehouse, there’s a safety to them as well: you can see out but people on the ground can’t see in. They are perfect spaces for dreaming and playing imaginative games.
Why did you start at 13?
Because that just happens to be how many levels Terry drew when he did the initial sketch for the world’s greatest treehouse! You’ll have to ask Terry the reason, but I suspect he doesn’t even really know himself.
Why did you choose to write the books?
One day Terry and I were working on a story and it was going to be about the two of us trying to write a book but getting distracted and I asked Terry to draw a fun treehouse for us to live in with stuff like a tank full of man-eating sharks and a bowling alley. His first sketch had 13 levels and he added even more great things, like the see-through swimming pool and catapult. So that’s how it all started. We enjoyed writing the book so much we decided to do another one, maybe a series, and to go up by 13 levels each time.
Do you like writing books?
I love writing and always have, ever since I was young. I was always writing something … cartoons for my friends, silly greeting cards for my family, making a joke magazine for my class. Writing a book is like a really challenging puzzle, really, where you invent all the pieces and then figure out the best way to put them together.
How old were you when you started writing the treehouse series?
Well, I was born in 1961 and the first Treehouse book was published in 2011 so I guess I was 50. (I hope that’s right; I’m not that good with numbers.)
Are the characters in the book based on real people?
Some of them are. Andy is based on me, Terry is based on Terry and Jill is based on Jill, my wife and our editor. Mr Big Nose is made-up though. In real life our publisher is a very nice woman. Bill the postman is sort of made-up. A man called Bill worked at our local post office and he was always angry and bossy and Jill and I were scared of him. So we called the Treehouse postman Bill, but we made him nice and friendly. All the villains in the stories are made up. Thankfully in real life I don’t know any wooden-headed pirates, un-inventors, brain-draining fortune-tellers or sea monsters.
Will you write any more books?
Yes, it’s one of my favourite things to do. I can’t imagine not writing. It’s like having a second life alongside my everyday one.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It takes me, Terry and Jill (my wife and also our editor) about a year to write each book. I spend months roughing out the plot and talking it over with Jill. Then we type it all up and lay out the pages. Then Terry does rough sketches. We then rewrite and edit the story until we are happy with it. It goes back to Terry for the final pictures. This takes him 3–4 months. And then it all goes to the publishers and it takes a couple more months to do the cover and print the books.
When will the series finish? Why?
I think the series will finish with the13th book (The 169-Storey Treehouse) in 2023. Given that we started with the 13-storey treehouse, we have 13 chapters in each book and we go up by 13 storeys each time, this just seems like the right place to finish.
Are you planning any new books?
Yes! I have some ideas and have started jotting down notes. But I still don’t know what the story will be—it’s too early to tell!
Do you have a notebook to record ideas?
Yes, I always have notebook with me in case an idea strikes. I like to use a cheap exercise book. I have suitcases full of old idea books going right back to primary school!
Why are the books not longer?
Because if they were any longer they’d be too long. And if they were any shorter they’d be too short. They’re the EXACT right length!
Why did you start writing the books?
One day Terry and I were working on a story and it was going to be about the two of us trying to write a book but getting distracted and I asked Terry to draw a fun treehouse for us to live in with stuff like a tank full of man-eating sharks and a bowling alley. His first sketch had 13 levels and he added even more great things, like the see-through swimming pool and catapult. So that’s how it all started. We enjoyed writing the book so much we decided to do another one, maybe a series, and to go up by 13 levels each time.
What inspired you to write books?
Reading other people’s books. I just loved reading so much that it made me excited about stories and storytelling and I wanted to do it myself.
How do you come up with the ideas?
I get ideas from everywhere: from books I read, TV shows and movies I watch, music I love, comedy shows I go to and also ideas from our readers. There are ideas all around you—it’s just a matter of keeping your eyes—and ears—open.
Is the treehouse real?
Absolutely! Everything is completely 100% true (except for the made-up bits of course).
My Shelves Are Full 