Did you know that the Sophia character and her mum are based on real people? 

Yes, that's right! 

The Sophia character is based on my darling daughter, and the mum in the books is I, the author. 

Yes, I've been painfully told that Sophia looks nothing like her mum or dad. This is because Sophia is a loved child from a previous relationship. She's part Latina, part British, part Swedish - and a lot of fun! She could also be adopted... Who knows! ;)

"But the mum looks nothing like you!" This is because I'm a natural blond, but nowadays, I colour my hair in various shades of lovely red.

Red is my favourite colour, and shows up in the colour of my T-shirt in the books. Pink was my daughter's favourite colour, so that's why she's wearing pink and purple. I write it in the past tense, as she usually wears black, white and beige colours now - because she's all grown up. 

Another thing is that the books were written for both girls and boys, so I've mixed up the colours.

You'll especially notice that in my second book, Sophia & Mr Rocket. Sophia has a green coat and blue accessories. 

I don't follow girl colours and boy colours and let my daughter wear whatever she liked when she grew up. If it matters to you, that's totally fine, though. One of my best friends is transgender, and to her boy and girl colours are very important and real. I completely respect that. 

A fun anecdote is that when my daughter was very little, her favourite coat was blue. But when she started nursery in the UK, she came home one day and said, "Pink is my favourite colour!" She repeated it like a mantra to anyone and everyone. Thereafter, all had to be pink! 

Children should walk down their own paths, after all. =)