I was born in Leeds and lived there until I was 18 and went to Newcastle University to study Botany. I worked abroad at various jobs before settling to teach Biology in secondary schools. I took the MA Creative Writing at Bath Spa (Distinction) and I write full time.
I have written 20 books for children ranging from chapter books with pictures for newly confident readers to longer historical fiction for older children.  The books for younger readers are mainly fantasy, usually funny with lots of black and white illustrations but with something meaty at the heart of the story to provoke discussion.
Workshops
I prefer to talk to groups of up to 50 children.  I offer a PowerPoint presentation with images of all sorts of things including my list of Secrets when I was 7, the first book I wrote age 10 and various book illustrations and cover designs.  The talk lasts about 40 minutes and I can adjust it to suit key stages 1 or 2. They are interactive talks with lots of writing tips and inspiring ideas for budding writers.  I do three groups a day maximum, preferring two only in the morning.  I don’t do school assemblies.
Feedback
Tockington Manor School, Bristol:  Yr 5 was expecting Rebecca Lisle to be ‘just another speaker’ visiting school but she was really interesting and much better than they expected. They loved the interesting facts about her own life and how she got into writing. They thought it was fantastic that she includes her own children and dog in her stories as it makes the stories a lot more personal and ‘real’ to read. They thought it was fascinating that she stops to doodle pictures of dogs when she gets a bit stuck and that this often helps her finish writing a book.
Clifton High School, Bristol:  Thank you very much for coming to see us at Clifton High School.  Not only did you inspire the children but the staffroom became the latest branch of your fan club!  Hope you will come again soon.”  Alison Dobson, Librarian
The children just loved seeing the first book you wrote as a child and you planted the seed in many of them to write themselves.  The idea of  buying a beautiful book to write in has already inspired some budding authors.   The children were rapt, listening. They loved the book you wrote in French and illustrated. They were absorbed in the stories behind the books and how your characters came about.
You gave them more in that one session than I could have done over many months.
Many thanks and I look forward to reading aloud many more Rebecca Lisle stories to future classes!
Fran Barnard
Paragon School, Bath: “The children were spellbound.  It was a fantastic talk and the children had a marvellous day.”
Sunninghill Prep School, Dorchester:  The children were thrilled to meet you and wre talking about it long after you had gone.”
“The children had already read many of her books in the run up to her visit.  There were squeals of excitement as they realised that here was the author of the book they had so enjoyed… She had storyboards and sketch books with drawings that showed the development of the first drawings through to publication.
Book List
The Dog in the Diamond Collar & The Boy in the Big Black Box are both books featuring Joe, Laurie and Theo, three brothers who along with their black and white dog, solve some very peculiar mysteries.
The Practical Princess – A princess story with a difference.  Molly the farm girl thinks it would be wonderful to be a princess but when she wins the Princess Competition and meets the Prince, she changes her mind!
The Toad Prince – a toad that wants to be a Prince, well the princess is a bit fishy, so why not? thinks Pong the Magician’s dog.
For older/confident readers:
Copper - an exciting, mysterious story about Copper,a girl who knits to mend her unravelled’
feelings.  Her world is turned upside down when she is packed off to the Marble Mountains by her aunt Ruby.Dragons, lost treasure, lost parents and a talking cuddly toy, this book has everything!
Amethyst – also features Copper from the first book, but it is a stand-alone read too.  Very exciting!Amethyst is from the Rock clan.The evil Granite uses her in his dastardly plan to outwit Copper and steal her pet wolf cub.