About me
Who's the horse in the photo?
His name's Sampson and he's a Haflinger. He used to belong to a friend who let me ride him.
Have you got a horse of your own?
Yes. His name is Kubus and he's a Haflinger too so he looks just like Sampson. He's very sweet natured and I love him to bits.
How many books have you written?
About 35
How long does it take to write a book?
An Amy Wild or Princess Ellie book usually takes 2 months including the thinking time. Picture books are quicker - they take about 2 weeks. But sometimes a book takes much longer because I go wrong and have to start again.
Are you famous?
I don't know. I think my books are better known than I am.
Where do you get your ideas from?
Almost anything can trigger ideas - items in newspapers and on TV, things that have happened to me, things that have happened to other people. If I'm stuck, I go for a walk or read a book about creating plots to get me thinking. The best ideas often come when I'm not really trying. A few months ago, I had the best idea I'd ever had while I was having a shower, but I'd forgotten it by the time I got out!
Do you know any other authors?
Yes, lots. Children's authors are a very friendly bunch of people so we keep in touch with each other and get together when we get a chance. I often chat to Linda Chapman about horses because we're both pony-mad.
Are you going to write any more Princess Ellie books?
I'm not planning to at the moment so Princess Ellie's Secret Treasure Hunt is the last one for the time being.
Are you going to write any more Amy Wild books?
Yes. I've finished six already and I'm currently working on books 7 and 8.
Do you have any pets?
Only my horse and he doesn't really count as a pet because he doesn't live at home.
What are you writing now?
I've written a picture book about a horse that won't be out until 2011. The illustrator is drawing the pictures at the moment so I'm excited about seeing them. I wonder if he will have drawn the horse the way I imagined him.
I'm also working on a new pony book about a girl called Sasha Brown. That's going to be longer than the Princess Ellie books and aimed at slightly older readers. I've written the first chapter to check that I like the main character but haven't started written any more of the story yet. I'm only at the research and planning stage so I'm just writing notes.