Seeing how people all over the world are trying to make a difference with climate change, saving animals and plant life – I was reminded of an extraordinary man, Mr Prida Charoenpak. Living in Thailand, he is dedicating his life to saving the endangered Hawksbill Sea turtles. While researching my second book in the Stunt […]
I love bookshops and libraries. I can spend hours looking at the different books, wondering which one to buy or borrow. But how do you make your choice when there are so many on offer? Do you go straight to the section that has your favourite author? Do you look at books that are aimed […]
Do you ever write purely for enjoyment and nothing else? Do you ever write knowing that no one but you will see the words? I do. And it is such a freeing experience. I can be anywhere in the house with my laptop or I can find a warm spot in the sunshine outside. I […]
When I first started writing, I had no idea what being an author in this day and age actually meant. I thought I could hide away in a writing shed at the bottom of my garden (not that I have one!) and create exciting fantastical stories. Every so often I would emerge into the real world […]
I thought I would share a writing tip with you today about SHOW NOT TELL. Have you ever heard of that phrase? It’s when writers show their character’s emotions rather than tell them. It makes the story far more enticing, giving the reader a chance to share in the same feelings. This can be done […]
On a recent school visit, a child said they really liked my first page of Cat Burglar (and the rest of the book – phew!). And they asked me what I thought made a great beginning to a story. This was such a brilliant question, and so I decided to share with you my own […]
Where does your inspiration come from? This is the most popular question I get asked when I visit schools. Actually that’s not true. The most popular question is this: Where did you get your night vision goggles and grappling hooks from? Just to explain, I turn up at schools dressed as a cat burglar. Please […]
Characters can come alive with great dialogue. They can jump off the page, surprise you, make you laugh or make you cry. And it’s so much fun to write. Through what your characters say, their personalities shine through. Let me show you what I mean. Imagine a teacher asking the class if they have done […]
When I’m in the midst of writing a book, I’m a little odd. (Actually people who know me might say I’m a little odd all the time!!) I go to sleep with the story whirring around my head and then wake up at… Yes – I know. It’s a ridiculous time to get up. But […]
Have you ever been writing a story when suddenly your ideas seem to vanish into thin air? Only a short while ago the words were flowing, but now your creative brain seems blanker then a blank page. It’s like it’s gone on strike. This has happened to me many times, but I’m going to let […]
