Life
Misogyny is rife on social media

Misogyny is rife on social media

I think I’m being manipulated by social media into seeing things that it wants me to see so that it can elicit a reaction. The reason I think this is because the other day, I had, in the notifications section of my X account, a tweet from Joey Barton. I don’t even...

Is it time for a smartphone detox?

Is it time for a smartphone detox?

I recently did a smartphone detox. It was only for a week, but during that time, I only checked my phone once in the morning and once again in the evening. Doesn’t sound that difficult, does it? Well, what surprised me was just how difficult it was. It’s a habit, you...

The Benefits of Travelling Solo

The Benefits of Travelling Solo

The number of people travelling solo has significantly increased over the last decade. Statistics show that internet searches for solo holidays have quadrupled since 2020, cumulating at a new high in 2022. It is not only the younger generation but travellers of all...

What’s it like to give an author talk?

What’s it like to give an author talk?

It’s early. Just gone 7 o’clock. Much earlier than we would normally leave for school. But I’m dropping my son off at a friend’s house. I have a journey to make, a major task to complete. It’s pouring with rain and I can barely see out of the car window. It’s like I’m...

What would you tell your teenage self?

What would you tell your teenage self?

I’m raising my teenage daughters to be Much stronger than me. To know their strengths, hold themselves in esteem, To follow their dreams. To know that happiness comes in many guises, To get out and see the sunrises. To stand up for themselves and each other, To...

Why don’t children enjoy writing?

Why don’t children enjoy writing?

2019 saw daily writing rates amongst children and young people drop to the lowest levels since 2010 when the National Literacy Trust first began surveying. That figure was on the rise slightly, just before lockdown, when the 2020 survey took place. Last year, the NLT...

A Song of Hope

A Song of Hope

I went into last year with hope in my heart, Thinking it would be a new start, But it didn’t work out that way, And we all know why, so let’s just say, No one was expecting that. So, the year took on a different turn, And all of us had much to learn, Including how to...

Another lockdown, another period of uncertainty.

Another lockdown, another period of uncertainty.

As we head towards another lockdown starting this week and ending, who knows when, it feels like the nation is falling apart. Could this year get any worse? We're currently in a race to save the high street and support local businesses before we head into another...

How to help a reluctant reader

How to help a reluctant reader

As a mum of a reluctant reader, this is not a new challenge for me. I’ve been all around the houses and back again trying to encourage a love of reading in my daughter, but nothing really seems to work. In fact, I’ve even written in defence of the reluctant reader...

Back to school, back to ‘normal’

Back to school, back to ‘normal’

It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for isn’t it? With both anticipation and dread, parents up and down the country have been keeping everything crossed that come September, children would be able to go back to school. Now we’re into the first week, how do you feel...

Children’s Writing Habits During Lockdown

Children’s Writing Habits During Lockdown

Every year the National Literacy Trust surveys children and young people about their writing habits, and 2019 saw daily writing rates drop to their lowest since the survey began in 2010. The good news is, that figure was on the rise slightly, just before lockdown,...

Storymakers is Three!

Storymakers is Three!

Three years ago, in April 2017, my dreams of being a published author were realised when my first book, The Mystery of the Disappearing Underpants, came into the world. At the time, I was a mixture of emotions; I’d been so focused on getting to this point, when I did,...

Heartbreak and Hope – Voices of a Pandemic

Heartbreak and Hope – Voices of a Pandemic

Back in March, when the world seemed to have lost its way, a group of friends – women – mothers – writers – got together over Zoom to provide comfort to one another and to try to make sense of it all. Alice, Chrissie, Maddy, Nikki, Renee and Sophie – talked about...

100 days of lockdown.

100 days of lockdown.

It’s been 14 weeks and two days since schools closed their doors and the majority of us went into lockdown. That’s 100 days! I don’t know where the last few months have gone. It’s all blurred into one, each week seeming to go quicker than the previous. Considering the...

The Leaver’s Book with the Missing Images

The Leaver’s Book with the Missing Images

Year 6 in the English school system, the final year of junior school. The year before they make the transition to secondary education. Most will have been at their school since the age of 4. It is all they have ever known. Now 11, they have outgrown this place. It is...

Tips for using Zoom with Primary aged children

Tips for using Zoom with Primary aged children

My Zoom learning journey has been very steep indeed and there are a few things I've learned along the way that I'd like to share with you. For virtual learning, you'd find Zoom hard to beat and its recent surge in popularity is testament to that. Skype is great too,...