When I was a kid in Texas, we didn't have computers, mobile phones or even color television. But we had books, which I loved because they took me to imaginary places. My two favorite books back then were "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hogdson Burnett and "The Princess and Curdie" by George Macdonald. When my own kids started reading I became a big fan of Roald Dahl. My top authors now include Frank Cottrell Boyce and Eva Ibbotson. 

My first piece of writing was at age eight, a puppet show for my class at school. (Actually I dictated it to my mother, so maybe that doesn't count!) I've always known I wanted to be a children's writer. My early stories and poems weren't especially good, but I kept on writing. If you like to write, don't give up! You will get better and better if you keep on trying.

Some things I like:

• eating popcorn and mint chocolate chip ice cream (not at the same time!)
• hiking in scenic places
• libraries - all those lovely books, which I can read for free

Some things I don't like:

• sitting still for very long (oops, not good for a writer)
• cleaning the kitchen floor
• having to remember what day it is, if I've got a story buzzing in my brain 

What embarrassed me most as a kid:

• My feet. They were huge! I would tuck them under my desk at school because I was sure everyone was staring at them.