Linda Chapman

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Linda Chapman was born in Liverpool, U.K. in 1969. As a child, Linda wanted to be a writer, a Shetland Sheep Dog breeder, or a groom at an Arab horse stud. After finishing school, she trained to be a teacher, worked as a theatre stage manager, and did many other jobs - including being a nanny, a dog trainer, and teaching after school drama classes - while writing and sending off manuscripts to publishers. After seven years, she finally had her first book published in 1999, it was called Bunny Bonanza. Since then Linda's written well over one hundred books under various pen names, and encourages anyone wanting to write not to give up! She currently lives in Leicestershire with her husband and three children.

Author's Comment: Q. What is the first book you read and loved? A. 'Shadow the Sheep Dog' and 'Five on a Secret Trail' both by Enid Blyton. When I was growing up I loved Enid Blyton's books and pony stories by the Pullein-Thompson sisters and Ruby Ferguson, E Nesbit and Noel Streatfeild.

Q. What are your top tips for writing? A. Always write something you would like to read. Make it exciting, if you are using chapters make sure each one ends at an exciting point. Try to give the reader a feeling for what is happening inside the main character's head. Describe what is happening, everything you see, as if you are watching a film. If I am trying to think of an idea I think of something that would be an amazing thing to happen, something I would really like to happen.

Nationality: British