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Which book is the first in the series, The 13 Treasures or The 13 Curses?
Will there be another book about Tanya, Fabian and Red after The 13 Curses?
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer and why?
Where did you get your ideas for The 13 Treasures from?
Do you believe in fairies?
Where do you go or what do you do when you're looking for inspiration?
What did you do before you were an author?
What kind of person were you at school?
What was your favourite childhood book?
What is the best thing about being an author?
And what is the worst thing about being an author?
Who from the past would you most like to have met?
Have you met any other authors? If so, who?
Did you illustrate your book covers?
Do you visit schools?
I've written a short story/manuscript. Will you read it and give me your opinion?
Where can I get review copies of your books?
The 13 Treasures was written first.
Yes, I'm working on a third book in the series, The 13 Secrets. It's due out in January 2011.
I've always loved stories, so it felt natural to me to want to tell them as well as read them. I started writing short stories when I was about fourteen, and by the time I left school I knew I wanted to be an author and illustrator.
Lots of places. I based the character of Tanya on my niece, who, according to a fortune-teller, would grow up to be psychic. This, combined with a lifelong love of fairy lore and tales gave me the idea of a girl who has the ability to see fairies.
The catacombs in the story are based on deneholes in woodland near to where I grew up. From the first time I saw them I was both fascinated and scared by them; these cavernous holes in the ground with no real explanation as to how they got there.
The Thirteen Treasures is an old legend I came across during my research. The list of objects differs from one reference to the next, both in the items and the magical powers they have. The legend sparked my imagination and led me to my own interpretation.
The rest of the story and characters are from my imagination, though I've woven in a fair few references to common fairy legend, such as the deterrents Tanya uses to keep fairies at bay.
I've never seen one, but I won't say I don't in case a fairy drops down dead somewhere. Plus I like to keep an open mind, just in case . . .
I don't really go looking for inspiration - I tend to be inspired by things that fall into my path. For instance, the charm bracelet in The 13 Treasures is inspired by one I found in a second-hand market. I immediately wondered who'd owned it, what their life was like, what their secrets were. What did each charm stand for? I get inspiration from most things: newspaper stories, pictures, old places and objects, or things people do and say.
I've worked as a barmaid, an art gallery attendant, and a children's bookseller for Waterstone's. Other jobs include working in a bakery and in a second-hand record shop. I currently work for a children's publisher three days a week, and have two days a week to write.
I got on with most people, and worked hard in lessons I enjoyed such as English and Art. I always hated - and was terrible at - maths, and never put much effort in until the final year. Instead I had fun making up songs about teachers with fellow maths-haters.
I loved Enid Blyton's Famous Five stories. They were the books that made me into a reader. But my favourite book was probably The Witches by Roald Dahl. It's scary in the best possible way!
Knowing that your imagination can take you anywhere, and hearing from people who've enjoyed the book.
Having a good idea, but having to change or abandon it because someone else got there first.
Jack the Ripper. Obviously not in a dark alley - but I'd like to know who he was, and why he committed those terrible crimes. I'm fascinated by unsolved mysteries.
Yes, I've met Malorie Blackman, Cathy Cassidy, Gillian Cross, and Julia Golding, to name a few.
No. The cover artwork is by an illustrator called Christopher Gibbs. You can visit his website here.
Yes, I do visit schools but must be invited by a teacher or school librarian. See the Events page for details.
I'm really sorry, but for various reasons - one of which is time - I'm unable to read other writers' unpublished work.
All requests for review copies should be directed to my agent, who will then forward them to the relevant publisher. The address can be found on the Contact page.