Shine

Tiff’s world comes crashing down when she discovers her mum is a con artist. And things get worse when she’s hauled off to prison and Tiff is sent away to the dullest place on earth.

I wrote this book on the discovery that thousands of kids each year face the prospect of suddenly being separated from a parent due to then being sent away to prison. It’s a unique situation that brings with it a gamut of intensely confusing and complex emotions. My research, both on the inside and outside of prison life, took me on an immersive exploration of what life is like for these families.

Glitter

Liberty’s family is super-rich, but when her work-a-holic dad loses his job, she faces the harsh reality that not all that glitters is gold.

I was inspired to write Glitter during the credit crunch of 2008. The news at the time was full of well established businesses going bust and apparently secure livelihoods being lost overnight. The media primarily focused on the affect this had on the adults, but I was curious to know what it would be like to view this through the eyes of a child.

A Millions Angels

Jemima’s dad’s in the Army and he’s off to Afghanistan to fight in the war. So whilst she’s sending him a million guardian angels through the sky to keep him safe, who is looking out for her?

I wrote A Million Angels in response to being Therapist to a number of children from Army families. In working with these children I noticed a common pattern of sleepless nights, school phobia, anxiety, and fear emerging as the day approached for parent to leave. My fascinating research took me knee deep into Army life and what it’s like for those at home.

A Sea Of Stars

Maya’s idea of a perfect family life is ruined when her parents adopt 10 year-old Cat. Angry and resentful, Cat resists Maya’s attempts at friendship - so how will they become sisters?

I wrote A Sea Of Stars after seeing a grid of sad faces in a Sunday supplement article that was shouting-out for foster carers and adopters. Having worked with many adopted children over the years I was curious to explore the effect adoption might have on birth children of the adopters. This book became required reading in a number of Counties across the UK for all prospective adopters and foster carers.

Invisible Girl

Caught between arguing parents and moving house, twelve-year-old Gabriella somehow slips through the cracks, and finding herself on the streets, is now more alone than ever before.

I was inspired to write Invisible Girl after seeing a statistic from the charity, Railway Children - 1 child every 5 minutes runs away in the uk - It was attached to an article written by Andy McCullough, who works for the charity, and I was so utterly shocked I contacted him immediately. Having been a street child himself, after a 3 hour phone call, I’d learned so much about the realities these children face, Invisible Girl tumbled pretty effortlessly onto the page. I joined forces with Railway Children & The Big Issue Foundation and created the talk that I still take into schools.

My Sister Is Bigger Than Me

This picture book explores sibling rivalry, and in-particular, the battles and joys of sisterhood.