Award-winning Children’s author living Bridport, Dorset with experience of working previously with mainstream and EBD students, knowledge and understanding of autism and disadvantaged groups.Trained as English teacher (middle/secondary). Workshops including a series with libraries throughout Dorset, Young Cultural Creators (two middle schools studying my book Fish, involving visits to museums, libraries, art galleries and activities with me), judged the first Bridport Prize Junior, ran workshop and competition for children “Write a short story in 24 hours”. Positive, motivational and encouraging approach to writing for all abilities.
I am also an artist/sculptor so happy to combine this in cross-curricular work (as in The Young Cultural Creators project).

I was born and brought up in the industrial West Midlands but on the edge of countryside. My parents were born in Devon and Bridport, Dorset, where I now live. I have a strong interest in the environment and am a keen supporter of curriculum links to local history and dialect (wherever the school is based). My books cover many social/philosophical issues including war, environment, climate change, racism/cultural intolerance (gypsy /Roma), dealing with bereavement, being “different”, homelessness and much more.

Workshops
I will do workshops/talks tailored to the school’s needs. Small groups or whole classes with adequate teacher/learning support ratio. Age from 10 up is suggested. Primary or secondary. Do not do performances as such, am happy to do readings/talks - these might be incorporated into an assembly, but I don’t offer to plan and organise entire assemblies.

Awards
Fish won The Fidler Award, was Highly Commended for the Branford Boase and other awards, and was nominated for a Carnegie Medal and Lamplighter Award. It is one of the ALA Notable Books 2005 and Publishers Weekly Best Books 2004. It is published and translated all over the world.
The French edition of Fish, (L’histoire du poisson dans sa bouteille) , published by Gallimard, was shortlisted for the Prix Sorcieres 2006. This makes it one of the four best books published in France last year for the 9-12 category, according to the panel of French booksellers that attributed the prize. Its Iranian translation also won an award.
The Outcasts was shortlisted for the NASEN (National Association of Special Educational Needs) and TES (Times Educational Supplement) Award for a Children’s Book.
A Dog For Life won its category in the Betty Bookmark Children’s Book of the Year Award.
Ottakar’s Book of the Month January 2006
Winner of The Bad Iburg Castle Award in Germany for the German edition, Ein Hund furs Leben (voted for by children).
Lexi won Lancashire Fantastic Book Award 2008
After The Flood has been nominated for the Rotherham Book Awards 2009.
Books
Fish
The Outcasts
A Dog For Life
Lexi
After the Flood
“The Game” and “Deadly Night” two short readers: Livewire Fiction series, Hodder Arnold produced in association with the Basic Skills Agency to suit the abilities of readers with special needs. They provide teenage/adult interest level books for those with reading ages below ten, colour-coded for different levels of difficulty