Do you do school visits?

I do, although not very many as my writing work takes up a lot of my time. Please go to this page for more information on what I can offer.

Can you read my book and offer feedback?

Unfortunately not! I just don’t have time, but please do check out some brilliant peer networks online like Write Mentor and SCWBI.

Do you live in the wild?

I live in the wilds of London, if that counts! In October, October, my main character lives off-grid in a wood, and that forest is real! It belongs to my father-in-law, who actually does live off-grid. I love writing about nature but I also love London a lot too.

How many books have you written?

At time of writing (April 2023) I have published three books with Bloomsbury, one with Bloomsbury Education, and one novella with Barrington Stoke. However, 2023 is a busy year for me - I have my new junior fiction series THE THAMES AND TIDE CLUB publishing in May, a new novella called NIGHTJAR coming out with Barrington Stoke in June, and my next Bloomsbury middle grade novel FOXLIGHT arrives in September.

Do you have any advice for writers?

Read! Reading teaches you so much - how to structure a book, how to create believable characters, how to plot, and how to play with language. If you’re an adult who wants to write for children, make sure you’ve read some recent publications and know what’s going on in the market. Finally, know that you will be rejected! There’s no avoiding it in this business, but if you stop the second that it happens then you’ll never succeed. Deep breath, chin up, keep going.

What’s your favourite book?

SKELLIG, by David Almond. I think it’s perfect and magical and every sentence feels so light and beautiful and yet full of rich meaning. Genius.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Lie-ins! And also when a reader gets in touch to say that one of my books meant something special to them. That’s the best feeling in the world.