I always wanted to be a writer, right from being seven or eight. I wrote my first book at 13, about an alien called Zwetty Zox. Wonder what happened to that?!

After I’d been to university, though, the only things I ever wrote were boring old work reports. I spent fourteen years in human resources, training and management before I suddenly remembered that, even though I loved it, there was something I’d rather be doing…

In 2000 I had what I called my ‘millenium moment’. I gave up the job, took an MA in Writing for Children, left the UK and let out all these stories that were caged up in my head. And I haven’t stopped since.

Now I have a lovely life in Auckland, New Zealand, with my darling daughter, my daft dog, and lots of wonderful friends, both real and imaginary. I hope some of them are your friends too.