Confession; I’m a blubber. Any of my friends will tell you that. I was famed for crying at every kiddie concert and play when my daughter was at primary school – my buddies knew to pass me the tissues, quick! If anyone shares their happy, sad, moving or inspiring stories with me, I’m guaranteed to … Continue reading
The books you read as a child help shape your personality, according to someone very clever on social media recently. Well, here I am, in 11 books. These are all the precious childhood favourites I’ve kept tight hold of, minus ‘Island of the Blue Dolphins’ by Scott O’Dell and ‘Down With Skool’ by Geoffrey Willams … Continue reading
My first ever book was published in 1998, which – of course – is forever ago. My latest book – ‘St Grizzle’s School For Girls, Goats and Random Boys’ – is my 85th published book. But whether it’s my first book or 85th, the “EEEEEEKKKK!” sensation I get seeing my book on the shelf of a shop or … Continue reading
Right. So I have a new book out this month (‘St Grizzle’s School For Girls, Goats and Random Boys’) and as of tomorrow, I am off to do a whole bunch of school visits for the next week and a bit. Now here’s the thing… I’ve been doing school visits for years. I LOVE doing school … Continue reading
So the holidays aren’t too far away, and it’s the perfect time for serious sofa-surfing and movie watching. Everyone will find a favourite film – or five – turning up on the TV listings somewhere, I’m sure. When I was at school, TV options were so much less (just the four channels) but I always looked forward … Continue reading
There are a whole bunch of children’s/YA authors in my patch of North London… SF Said, Sita Brahmachari, Keren David, Emer Stamp, Fiona Dunbar, Sophie McKenzie, Kaye Umansky, Ros Asquith, Steve Lenton and more. There was also Jonny Zucker, a brilliant author and all-round brilliant person (pictured here at a book festival a couple of years … Continue reading
This is often how I watch the news. Especially stories about the refugee crisis. And like most normal, non-millionaire, non-expert people, I think, but what can I do? How on earth can I make a difference? Well, author – and Girls Heart Books buddy – Fiona Dunbar felt exactly the same way, then had a lightbulb … Continue reading
I LOVE coming across random inspiration. And there was randomness galore at The End of the Road Music Festival a couple of weeks ago. Away from the bands and stages, there were the most curious things to be seen; art installations and oddities tucked in and around the woods and gardens. Here are a bunch of … Continue reading
Tomorrow, Ally Love turns 15. Like a proud mum, I can barely believe how time has flown… OK, to be more precise, it was 15 years ago tomorrow that the first of my ‘Ally’s World’ series – ‘The Past, The Present and the Loud, Loud Girl’ was published by Scholastic books. I’d written a bunch … Continue reading
This week I got asked by lovely book blogger Serendipity Viv to write about where my ideas flow… the answer is, they mostly flow in one of my two writing dens. Yes, TWO writing dens. I am THAT fancy. So I thought I’d ping pics here of writing den no.1 and no.2. No.1 den is my weeny back … Continue reading
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