About Me

Ten things you might not know about me:

I was born in Sheffield but spend most of my childhood in Bedfordshire.
My addiction to chick-lit started early on, when I devoured Judy Blume’s books at top speed, and then progressed into the Sweet Valley High/Sweet Dreams series. They didn’t sit too well with my other teen reading choices, which were mainly horror books by Stephen King and Dean Koontz!
My books are often inspired by my own excruciatingly embarrassing teenage experiences. These include dying my ears bright pink, getting stuck in a snow drift the first time I attempted skiing and sending the boy I fancied flying after a wave knocked me over in the sea (doubly humiliating as swimsuits were involved).
I graduated from Warwick University in 1999 with a teaching degree.

At school I was rubbish at maths and PE. I still believe trigonometry and cross country running are actually forms of torture.
I experimented with lots of different professions before I realised I should just focus on what I really loved (writing). My past occupations included primary school teacher, PR executive, researcher for a environmental mail-order catalogue and communications associate for a children’s picture book house.
I went back to university in 2004, and did an MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. I was taken on by Fraser Ross Associates in 2007, and hope a publisher will accept my book any day now.
I live in Bath with my lovely husband and hope one day he’ll let me get a dog.

I’m on the committee for the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature, and now have the claim to fame that I’ve made cups of tea for lots of famous authors, including Eoin Colfer, Neil Gaiman and Darren Shan.
I love to travel and see different countries – especially if they’re hot. I hate being cold.

My Favourites…

Books – I love so many! So I couldn't possibly just pick one. Check out the Recommended Reads page for some of my favourites.

Films – Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Miss Congeniality. The Wedding Singer. Sweet Home Alabama. 13 Going on 30.

Animals – I dream of owning a Labrador, they’re so gorgeous and I’m always tempted to stage a kidnap when I walk past one in the street. I also have a fondness for goats. I love guinea pigs too. They’re cool. And squeaky.

Foods – I could live for the rest of my life quite happily on a diet of potatoes (in all their different forms), cheese and chocolate.

Musics – Urgh. I hate having to tell people what kind of music I like because I have the worst music taste EVER! I love lots of eighties stuff, and those ‘hairbrush hits’ compilation CDs – basically, if it’s cheesy, and poppy, I’m headed for the dance floor…

Shops – Bookshops feature pretty highly, obviously. I’m very fond of newsagents too, as they sell magazines and sugary treats all under one roof – heaven!

Colours – When I was a teenager, I went through a real phase of wearing only black, and hating all colours, particularly pink. In my early twenties I bravely ventured into other colours other than black – like white, grey, and dark red.Adventurous, hey?! Nowadays I love bright colours and am a real pink princess!My teenage self would have shot me.

Places – I like the countryside and being by the sea. And anywhere that's got sunshine.