An interview with Cerrie Burnell

Cerrie Burnell - writer, actor and children's TV presenter, is releasing the fourth title in her Harper series, Harper and the Fire Star. The Harper books are a magical series set in the City of Clouds, an ethereal world filled with music. The stories follow Harper as she uses her musical gifts (and a little bit of magic!) to help protect her loved ones and the world they live in. Cerrie, a popular CBeebies presenter who has long been a pioneer for diversity, left the channel earlier this year to focus on her writing career. Rachel Benson from Primary Times caught up with Cerrie on the eve of her latest publication.

What inspired you to write the Harper series?
It came out of a project that I did for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. They wanted a writer and presenter to write something that they could put classical music to. What I find startling about orchestras is the musicians' talent - it’s like a magic display! Lots of musicians can play multiple instruments so the character of Harper became someone who could play anything. Her instrument is a harp, hence her name. She doesn’t know this at the beginning and it’s a journey for her about discovering which instrument is for her.

Which character do you most relate to?
Probably the kids. I think all of the four children have some element of me in them. Liesel is that one kid who doesn’t want to do what everyone else is doing. She’s independent and does her own thing. I relate to Ferdie's poetic-ness, his wanting to be a writer and carrying a pencil because he thinks that then he is a poet. Nate is wise beyond his years. He has a relationship and reliance on a wolf. Yeah I’d love to have a wolf! I think I probably know all the children best. Everyone’s very creative and slightly bonkers.

You’ve spoken before about having dyslexia, how has this affected you?
I think we have this really negative connotation which goes with dyslexia and that’s put upon us by schools who don’t have the funding to manage dyslexic children, but it doesn’t mean it’s an excuse. I was really lucky that I had an amazing headmistress at the primary school I went to, Crofton Junior School, who realised that I wasn’t stupid. This was in the 1980s when no one knew what dyslexia was. Eventually my mum got me privately assessed and following that I had four years of extra tuition. That's the only way I learnt how to read, and I was reading within three months. I was 8 and a half and I couldn't read anything and by the time I was 9 I was reading Enid Blyton. It's a completely different way of teaching and what really saddens and disheartens me is that parents still have to pay to get their children recognised as dyslexic and that shouldn't be the case. Parents aren't being given the support. Self-esteem is so fragile in children and it can go right down and it's really unnecessary. Somehow I've got to try and do more about that, now I've got a bit more time. It's something that really, really irks me.

Looking forward, what would you say is your dream?
Definitely to write more and to tell stories that perhaps haven't been told. By that I mean looking at dyslexia and children that are on the spectrum. Writing not necessarily for children but trying to write in a way that can evoke empathy in people. I want to keep creating work really and see where that goes. I'd still like to do a bit of acting but it'd very much need to be the right thing.

If you could give one bit of advice on achieving dreams and being inspired, what would you say?
Everyone's dream is unique to them and no one can question you on your dream because it's yours, and if someone doesn't agree with you, you don't have to convince them, you don't have to take that to heart. Your dream is specific to you, no one can tell you that you can't do it. If you really want it then you'll find a way.

Harper and the Fire Star is available to buy now at £5.99 online and from all good high street retailers.