WHO HAS BEEN TRAPPED BY MONSTERS?

David Melling

Imagination is a wonderful thing!

When I was a small cowboy I was ready for trouble, whenever it came. It could be bandits, bears or broccoli and if I didn’t think I could win, I’d run away. Of course stories have always helped my imagination. After all, you don’t get to be sheriff without a little help.

I was born in Oxford in 19-never-you-mind, but grew up in London. It took me around thirty years to end up back here. My dad was a sculptor so I’m guessing some of his artistic ability rubbed off on me.

I studied photography and worked in a gaggle of animation studios in the mid 80’s before settling into the world of children’s books. After 8 years illustrating a variety of authors work I wrote my first picture book, The Kiss That Missed, in 2002.

David’s website: www.davidmelling.co.uk

Joe Craig

Joe Craig was inspired to write by being so impatient he couldn’t get past the first two pages of any book, so he decided to come up with the most gripping story in the world. That turned out to be the first book in the best-selling, award-winning and generally excellent Jimmy Coates series. He’s quite pleased about that.

Until that point in Craig’s life, he’d been a musician, which is probably why he’s being punished by monsters now.

When he’s not writing, (or even when he is writing) Craig is probably eating sushi, playing the piano, watching a movie, reading, playing snooker, playing or coaching cricket, inventing a new snack, cooking, painting or sleeping. That’s unless he’s been trapped by monsters, of course. But Joe Craig has had plenty of experience duelling with monstrous beings, having studied Philosophy at Cambridge University.

Joe’s websites: www.joecraig.co.uk & www.jimmycoates.com

Mark Robson

Mark Robson spent his school years dreaming and planning to become a pilot … which is why he’s an author! (Sort of!)  He realised his dream in 1984 and spent 21 years flying jets in the RAF, but got bored while in the Falkland Islands (some interesting monsters there!) and started writing.  Since 1996 he’s written: The Darkweaver Legacy (4 books), The Imperial Trilogy and Dragon Orb (4 books).  He writes fantasy because that was his first reading love, and although he reads widely, fantasy remains his favourite genre.

Over the years Mark has: shot .22 target rifles at national level, made three century breaks at snooker, got his golf handicap down to 10.6, just gained his 7th straight ‘A’ grade at Tae Kwon Do (now red tag), let off professional firework displays, tried fencing, archery, knife-throwing, picking locks, (for research purposes only) indoor sky diving and much, much more.

Mark’s website: www.markrobsonauthor.com

Ali Sparkes

Ali Sparkes meant to be a superstar singer and actress by now, but that never quite happened…

After many drama school rejections, National Service as a Pontin’s Bluecoat, a stint in cabaret and then singing in cheesy cover bands Ali finally got a proper job in local newspapers before absconding to the BBC in the late 90s. A bit of local radio presenting and producing followed before she chucked in the day job and started writing comedy stuff for Radio 4 (Woman’s Hour & Home Truths).

She also knocked out a 22 quarterly magazines for BBC Radio Solent, learning to edit, do photography and make crosswords along the way. But since The Shapeshifter: Finding The Fox came out in 2006, she’s found her groove.  If you were to snap her in half she would read CHILDREN’S AUTHOR through the middle, like Brighton rock.  (Monsters – please do not try this)

Ali’s website: www.alisparkes.com

Barry Hutchison

Barry Hutchison had many small roles in American soap operas before rising to fame in the 1980s TV action series, Knight Rider.  Following the success of the show, Barry went on to star in lifeguard drama …

Actually, hang on, I’m thinking of David Hasselhoff.  Barry, on the other hand, did none of these things, and has instead lived a relatively quiet life in the Highlands of Scotland for the the past 31 years.

After trying three or four ‘proper jobs’, Barry decided enough was enough, and in 2007 he set out to become a children’s author.  Since then he has written a range of books for Egmont Press, including several novelisations of the popular cartoon series, Ben 10.

His six-book horror series for 9-12 year olds – INVISIBLE FIENDS – was recently purchased by HarperCollins UK.  Book one will be released in early 2010.  He’s dead excited.

Barry’s website: www.barryhutchison.com

Tommy Donbavand

Tommy was born in Liverpool, but knows hardly any of The Beatles.  When he was 9, his parents moved to Lancashire and, because they didn’t trust him to forward their mail, he had to go with them.

Originally an actor, Tommy spent eight years in the hit West End musical Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, where he played the Clearlake MC.  When Buddy closed, Tommy moved to the north east of England to write and act for a children’s theatre company.

Eventually the writing took over and Tommy penned five titles in Egmont’s Too Ghoul For School series, several episodes of the popular CBBC show, Planet Cook and many, many magazine articles on the subject of keeping children entertained.  Tommy is now hard at work on his exciting Scream Street series of novels and has started to see sleep as a waste of good writing time.

Tommy’s websites: www.tommydonbavand.com & www.screamstreet.co.uk

Sam Enthoven

For ten years Sam Enthoven worked in a big London bookshop: evenings and weekends he helped customers to find the most thrilling books in the whole world; the rest of the time he spent chasing his dream of becoming a published author himself.

In 2006 that dream at last came true with his rollicking debut The Black Tattoo. Since then he’s been touring schools and libraries all over the UK inspiring hundreds more budding readers with his passion and enthusiasm. His 2008 follow-up (but not a sequel) Tim, Defender of the Earth was, as he arrogantly put it, ‘Phase Two of my sinister masterplan to conquer the universe!’

Dream on, Enthoven, we tell him, our mocking laughter echoing around the cave as we pelt him with snotballs. The monsters have you now…

Sam’s websites: www.samenthoven.com & www.timdefenderoftheearth.com & www.theblacktattoo.com

Andy Briggs

Andy started writing with his brother Peter Briggs – working on movie projects such as Judge Dredd, Freddy vs Jason and Foreverman for Spiderman creator Stan Lee and legendary producer Robert Evans.

Andy went on to work with Gregory Novac and Bruce Timm on Warner Bros. Aquaman – while at the same time landing a four-book deal with Oxford university Press for Hero.com and Villain.net

Currently he’s working with Markosia Comics on several titles, creating an action-packed TV pilot for German producer Michael Smeaton, working on a true life World War II action-bio picture based on the fascinating life of SBS commando Anders Lassen and finishing work on a Sci-Fi Channel movie of the week: Creature.

Andy’s websites: www.andybriggs.co.uk & www.whichsideareyouon.co.uk