I taught English and Drama for several years to 11-18 year olds before leaving to have my two children and to write full time. I wrote my first novel whilst still teaching and managed to get picked up off the slush pile by Bloomsbury publishers. I now have four books published by Bloomsbury and am currently working on my fifth novel.
I have reviewed children’s books extensively for several publications and have written articles about fiction in education.
School Visits
I now work with NAWE (National Association of Writer’s in Education) on their ‘Artists into schools project’. I devise creative writing workshops tailored to each school’s curriculum needs and topic area. I also create workshop programmes based around my novels. I work with schools for either one day or for one day a week for a month as a writer in residence building up relationships with either one class or a whole year group depending on the school’s needs. I work with KS2-5. I have worked with both gifted and talented students and those who are underachieving, particularly boys.
I work as a guest author in both Primary and Secondary schools giving readings and talking about life as a writer with KS2, 3, 4 and 5 students, either to individual classes or year groups.
I teach creative writing for the Open University to classes of adults.
I have also taught creative writing to 18 year olds as part of a youth services creative initiative run through the local authority.
I thoroughly enjoy going into schools to help in any way I can to get children reading, excite them about writing stories and help them to want to become better writers.
BOOKS:
When Isla meets Luke meets Isla
The Telegraph’s Top 5 Books of the Year
‘A gritty and poignant story.’
William Leith, The Telegraph
Isla and Luke: make or break?
‘This little gem of a book follows teenagers Isla and Luke on their journey through elation, confusion, angst and all that other heart stuff. It’s a cracking read.’
Dare Magazine
‘This is a very engagingly written and honest book.’
Adele Geras, TES
The Bad Girls Club
‘This a great idea for a book: four very different girls are chosen to do a radio book club; the story is narrated by each girl in turn.’
Books for the Summer - Financial Times
Top 5 Summer Reads - Daily Mirror
‘Mary, Bea, Meena and Atlanta are the founders of an on air book club, chaired by the hugely cool Jazz. But Mary goes after Bea’s boyfriend and the cosy foursome begins to fall apart.’
Henry Sutton, Daily Mirror
True Colours
‘A highly entertaining and perceptive novel which in addition to its value for individual reading provides many important group discussion points for KS2/3 PSCHE.’
Write Away!