Do you ever write purely for enjoyment and nothing else? Do you ever write knowing that no one but you will see the words? I do. And it is such a freeing experience. I can be anywhere in the house with my laptop or I can find a warm spot in the sunshine outside. I just allow … Continue reading
I’m very excited to share with Girls Heart Books the cover of my latest book, Stunt Double. It comes out July 6th and is the first of a brand new series. Finn is a free-running champ and karate black belt, with a talent for acting – but when his big break arrives, it’s not the role he … Continue reading
I thought I would share a writing tip with you today about SHOW NOT TELL. Have you ever heard of that phrase? It’s when writers show their character’s emotions rather than tell them. It makes the story far more enticing, giving the reader a chance to share in the same feelings. This can be done through physical and … Continue reading
I love bookshops and libraries. I can spend hours looking at the different books, wondering which one to buy or borrow. But how do you make your choice when there are so many on offer? Do you go straight to the section that has your favourite author? Do you look at books that are aimed … Continue reading
Where does your inspiration come from? This is the most popular question I get asked when I visit schools. Actually that’s not true. The most popular question is this: Where did you get your night vision goggles and grappling hooks from? Just to explain, I turn up at schools dressed as a cat burglar. Please don’t think I’m … Continue reading
Characters can come alive with great dialogue. They can jump off the page, surprise you, make you laugh or make you cry. And it’s so much fun to write. Through what your characters say, their personalities shine through. Let me show you what I mean. Imagine a teacher asking the class if they have done their … Continue reading
On a recent school visit, a child said they really liked my first page of Cat Burglar (and the rest of the book – phew!). And they asked me what I thought made a great beginning to a story. This was such a brilliant question, and so I decided to share with you my … Continue reading
Researching my second book in the Stunt Double series, I was really fortunate to visit Thailand. And while we were there, we witnessed something incredibly magical that we never expected. Desperate to snorkel, we booked a night on an island, called Koh Talu. During the boat journey there, we discovered there were only going to be 8 … Continue reading
I’ll put my hand up – I’m superstitious. I don’t walk under ladders, I make a wish if I have a loose eyelash, I would be distraught if I broke a mirror, and I’m always on the lookout for shooting stars or a lucky penny. On the other hand, black cats crossing my path don’t … Continue reading
When I first started writing, I had no idea what being an author in this day and age actually meant. I thought I could hide away in a writing shed at the bottom of my garden (not that I have one!) and create exciting fantastical stories. Every so often I would emerge into the real … Continue reading
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