About Me!
I grew up on a farm in Somerset where I spent my formative years damming streams, riding ponies, losing my wellies in the bog and making tree houses.
Escaping into books ...
When I was forced to stay inside as a child, I escaped into the wonderful world of books; Tom's Midnight Garden, The Little White Horse
and The Secret Garden
were among my favourites*.
I was a proud member of The Puffin Club and The Tufty Club and can still remember the thrill of a visit from the mobile library, which came to our village once a week.
There was a boring chunk in the middle of my life when I tried to be mature and sensible, then my kids came along and gave me the excuse to pick up children's books again. They have long grown out of them, but I haven't been able to put them down since.
* Oooh - I hate choosing books - it's like picking my favourite child! Have to add Stig of the Dump, Charlotte's Web and Olga da Polga to the list as I'm feeling guilty about missing them out.
Escaping into nature ...
I am happiest out in the fresh air; on my kayak paddling up the Thames, jogging along the towpath or walking my dog Rumpole. I occasionally do a bit of cooking and enjoy that, as well as helping the kids with their six tortoises and four rabbits that crawl and hop around our garden. (I draw the line at feeding the tarantula.) I can also be found doing the odd headstand under a tree when the wind is in the east
A little bit more...
My body lives with its family on the river Thames in Bray, but my mind lives in a world of magical mystery, eccentric people and endless adventures that I struggle to shape into compelling characters and intriguing stories.
I am proud to be a Samaritans
listening volunteer and visit secondary schools as part of The Samaritans school team talking about emotional health. I am a big supporter of the #BookBuddy initiative
and am collecting books from far and wide to give to the local schools with whom I am linked. And I absolutely love my secret missions as The Bray Book Fairy, sharing stories and literacy in unlikely and unexpected places.
Any questions? Get in touch!
Adult Fiction & Me
I write adult fiction with a friend under the pen name Ginger Black. Our first novel,
Riverside Lane, was published by Momentum Press and is now available as a paperback and ebook.
Children’s Fiction & Me
I have written five children’s novels, one for each of my kids, but until now I have never looked for a publisher. When Riverside Lane hit the bookshops my kids persuaded me to give my children’s fiction an airing, and since I have written The Curse of the Witches’ Punchbowl, which I hope will be available shortly, and I am thrilled that, in 2020, I will be working with the fabulous Golden Egg Academy on my next children's novel.
You already know I review children’s fiction here on The Bookshelf, but you may not know I’m also regular guest on BBC Radio Berkshire, where I talk about some of my favourite children’s books on The Book Club
with another local author and the show’s presenter Bill Buckley.
Local Schools, Libraries & Me
"I was really inspired to try some of the new books Julia recommended"
"Julia gave some really good recommendations of books we should try"
"I am going to read The Boy With The Butterfly Mind thanks to Julia's suggestion"
"Julia's cartoons made reading books fun and her workshop has encouraged me to read more in the future"
I visit primary and secondary schools delivering workshops and assembly talks including 'Reading and Nature' and 'Reading and Empathy'. I can tailor sessions to a school’s particular needs. The sessions are ideal for class groups.
I also visit library clubs and school reading groups to discuss children’s fiction and I often use those occasions to solicit questions for interviews coming up on the website.
Get in touch
if you, your school or your library would like to join in.
