Like most writers I've read prolifically since childhood and have had a life-long love affair with books. These days there are many different competing forms of entertainment for young people such as computer games and DVDs and that's fine. However I still believe that books are a fantastic, portable and relatively cheap form of entertainment and education. My hope is that if we provide teenagers with books which they find relevant and enjoyable they will be encouraged to keep on reading.

And finally... As a teacher and parent I have drawn the adult characters in my novels, seen through the eyes of teenager Kelly Ann, very authentically (some say too authentically as suspicious friends, family and colleagues threaten to sue). In fact these novels were written as much for adults as teenagers (my oldest fan so far is seventy-seven). So don't just leave these books for your pupils or daughters to enjoy. Grab one yourself and read it. You'll laugh, really. But you're not in it. Honestly.