In 2015 I have 6 upcoming titles, 4 books in the brand-new series from Piccadilly Press (Grosset and Dunlap/Penguin Young Readers in the USA), an early reader called The Little Green Drum from Orion and my first proper YA novel, Cleo, from Orchard. is a mixture of historical and paranormal, and follows the teenage Cleopatra on her journey to become pharaoh. Im very excited about it indeed!

I was born in a small village in Hampshire, England. I loved reading from an early age, and was never found without some kind of book in my hand from the time I could turn and page and make sense of what was written there. My first job was as an editor of childrens books, but I soon jumped the fence and started writing my own. My first picture book was published in 1992, and now I write for all ages (two to teen). was shortlisted for the BBC Blue Peter Book Award in 2004. It is the most comprehensive collection of Greek myths ever written for children. My first novel, which was described as “A lyrical fantasy full of old, dark magic entertainingly bound up with ordinary life.” by the Sunday Times.

The book I would take to a desert island is . Ive lost count of how many times Ive read it, and I am still finding new things to marvel at in it.