Living close to the M25 and railway, I like both busy places and the countryside. I don't mind that my hair is going grey but hope my earlobes have stopped growing! When not writing, I teach at a museum or schools. I love experimental history and archaeology, and get ridiculously excited about poo and bones because they can hold information. I enjoy traditional crafts such as woodcarving, bow and rope making.

My pets have included a crazy hen (hmm, there's definitely a story to write about her!), and a rescued racing pigeon who I thought was a boy but turned out to be a girl. I truly do have a pet that's featured in this book - he's also a great window cleaner.

My idea of a good time varies from spending time with family and friends, including woolly ones (sheep); coaxing silly goats back into their pen; birdwatching and night searches for glow worms, going to the cinema and of course writing.

I can be serious or silly to my husband and twin teenage daughters' dismay. I think writing stories is an art and I'm still learning. This is my motto for life: I try, I try. I can, I can.