A minute with Christy Lefteri Author

Where do you live?
London. Born in Islington and lived there all my life.

What did you have for breakfast?
I always have the same thing. English tea, ‘Greek style’, with cinnamon and cloves. Toast with honey.

Describe your perfect day
Just a simple day. Mild weather, wake up and go for a long walk in the forest and park with people I love.

Best book ever read?
I can’t pick one. One of my favourites is Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. How she uses language and takes you on the journey with the character has always been fascinating to me.
Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. I love how you don’t know what is around the next corner in Murakami’s work.

Best childhood memory?
The lovely the days I spent with my mum. Nothing in particular, but maybe sitting and having tea with her in the garden or going for a long walk. These memories of my mum are very precious to me.

What is always in your fridge?
Milk, cheese, loads of fruits. I will never be without milk or apples. I like the apples cold.

What music are you listening to in the car at the moment?
Baby music is the honest truth. The fact is when you have kids, you end up listening to baby music in the car.

What’s your spirit animal?
A cat, because I love affection, but I need my independence as well. I like that they have quite complex emotions.

What are you most proud of?
Writing The Beekeeper of Aleppo because of the work I did with refugees, and my parents were refugees, so I could bring those two worlds together. I really am proud of that.

What movie scene has really stayed with you?
Breakfast at Tiffany’s. When she leaves the cat and then she finds it. She abandons him and then finds him, and it has always stayed in my head.

If you could pick anyone at all (alive or dead) to go out for the evening with, who would it be?
Einstein. I think it would be fascinating to have a meal with him and know his current thoughts on the state of the world.

If you could time travel when/where would you go?
The turn of the previous century. So much change during that time. So many advances in science and all areas, including literature and art.

What is your greatest fear?
Death. Not just mine but losing people as well.

What would you say to your 18-year-old self?
Believe in yourself more and don’t care so much about what other people think. Be more carefree.

Name the one thing that would stop you dating someone
Them being not kind or a lack of kindness.

If the world is ending in 24 hours what would you do?
Cry. I would be so scared, and I would phone people. Hug whoever is around me.