I was born and brought up in the village of Newbald in East Yorkshire. My first novel, My Summer of Love won a Betty Trask Award and became a BAFTA award-winning feature film, directed by Pawel Pawlokowksi. My short stories have appeared in various magazines and anthologies, and my plays and stories have been broadcast on Radio 4. My second novel, The Secrets She Keeps is now available in paperback, and my third novel, Spilt Milk, Black Coffee is published by Bloomsbury in May 2009. My first original screenplay, Stratford Road, is currently in development with Red Room Films - and is due to commence filming in autumn 2009In addition to my own writing, I am an experienced teacher of creative writing in schools and universities both in the UK and abroad. In 2004 I was awarded an Arts Council International Fellowship to live and work at the Banff Centre in Canada’s Rocky Mountains, and in January 2007 I traveled to India to be Writer in Residence at the University of Mumbai. I have recently returned from working in Hong Kong with the British Council, where I delivered a variety of lectures and talks about my work.

I am a permanent part-time lecturer in creative writing at Leeds Metropolitan University, and in February 2009 I was Writer-in-Residence at Shandy Hall in Coxwold, delivering a special project for boys who are reluctant readers and writers. I am currently working in Birmingham with the Write On! project, with groups of primary school pupils and with Creative Partnerships. From September 2009 I will be working as Writer in Residence with First Story.

Workshops

I offer readings, talks and writing sessions, and particularly enjoy delivering creative workshops designed to encourage children’s creative confidence and imaginative skills.

In my workshops I often use drama games, acting, ‘hot-seating’ and role play to stimulate writing. I place a continued emphasis on speaking and listening skills, because I believe that until a child has confidence with spoken self-expression, they will have great difficulty with any form of creative writing. I often develop writing skills through an exploration of autobiographical writing, imaginative storytelling and poetry.

Though my workshops have links to areas covered in the curriculum and the literacy framework, they are designed to work beyond formal boundaries to push and expand a child’s creative thinking and skills. I am always trying to discover and strengthen each child’s unique creative voice.

In most classes we choose to explore character, story structure, language and style through a range of fun, interactive group exercises. Most classes start with group work, move to working in pairs, then finally to a period of quiet individual writing time.

I have worked with groups from Year 1 through to adult groups. I have also hosted INSET sessions for teachers, exploring all aspects of creative learning, and particularly how creative writing can be delivered in the classroom.

I am happy to work with up to 30 children in a class-sized group, or with smaller groups, who may have special requirements - for example a group of lower-ability boys who need targeted sessions to build their speaking and listening skills. In Bath I recently worked with a group of ‘shy’ children, with a special range of activities designed to increase their personal confidence, and their confidence in their written worlds.

I am happy to do any number of groups a day, and host whole school assemblies. I find that children like to see copies of my books, and those that have been translated into different languages. They also find it illuminating to hear about the process of adaptation, and my experience of having a novel turned into a film.

Books
My summer of Love - Bloomsbury 2001
The Secrets She Keeps - Bloomsbury 2005
Spilt Milk Black Coffee - Bloomsbury 2009