It shouldn’t have happened. As the Drivers watched the meteor streak towards the blue-green planet, they knew they were watching the end of a world. They knew it was their fault. And they knew what they had to do … It’s no secret that the Mountain walks – but now, unbelievably, catastrophically, it has started to walk backwards! Pema’s … Continue reading
Hi everyone, I’m so happy to have been asked to join GirlsHeartBooks as one of their guest bloggers for the next few months. What a fabulous place to talk about books and writing – and other things! So a little bit about me; ‘I’m a writer.’ There, I’ve said it! That tiny sentence is surprisingly … Continue reading
It has been a crazy crazy month! The Secret of Nightingale Wood was published on 6th October and was lucky enough to be picked as a Waterstones Book of the Month. This means I’ve been seeing lots of pictures of the most wonderful window displays featuring my little book. Take a look at these wonderful … Continue reading
Well, just a few weeks ago I had what I can honestly describe as one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I went to see my book being printed. It was a bit like being in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, except rather than magical sweets and chocolates whizzing around the conveyor belts, … Continue reading
Hiya! I bet you’ve all heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but often it’s hard not to, isn’t it? After all, what makes you pick up a book by an author you’ve never heard of? Do you prefer pictures or photos – or neither? Does the colour of the cover make … Continue reading
My new novel for 9-12s – How Not To Be Weird – is out this month. (Happy face!) My main character is nearly-12 year old, Woody. Poor old him – he’s completely had ENOUGH of being nicknamed Weirdy by some mean girls at his primary school. Now he’s starting secondary school, he just wants to … Continue reading
Of course you need to know a lot about your characters, and by the time you finish writing the first draft of your book you will, – but 100%, inside-out, every breath and thought and reaction they could ever have? And work all this out before you dare put pen to paper – or these … Continue reading
Mel Foster is an ordinary Victorian orphan who just happens to live with monsters. That was the concept that kicked off the process that has resulted in my new book, out in July: Mel Foster and the Demon Butler. It’s a Victorian fantasy romp through a London peopled by weird and wonderful creatures. I remembered loving James … Continue reading
What’s in a name? asked Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet. Answer – Quite a lot for an author as the title is the first thing along with the cover that someone knows about your novel. Will it be love or hate at first sight? That’s why discussions with my publishers about the right title for the … Continue reading
Growing up in the era before email and texting, I came to appreciate the value of a good letter. At boarding school, I would watch my pigeon hole every day, to see if something had arrived from home. My mother, luckily was and still is a wonderful letter writer, filling page after page with beautiful … Continue reading
GirlsHeartBooks 