I've been writing on and off for ever, but I only got down to it properly a few years ago. My first book, Spook School, was published in 2003 by A&C Black. Two more followed - Changing Brooms and Spooks Away - and then in 2006, Walker Books published The Willow Man.

Then came Warrior King. This is the story of Alfred the Great, the 9th century King of Wessex; his brave and disobedient daughter Fleda; his loyal servant Oswald; a magical Celtish woman called Cerys; and a whole cast of walk-on characters. At the heart of the book is the time Alfred spent in hiding on the mysterious Isle of Athelney. Most people thought he was finished, but they were wrong - Alfred came out fighting, and set about creating the new nation of the English.