Facts about Sophia

• I live in Wandsworth, which is a green and leafy bit of London.

• I have four children: two boys and two teenage step-daughters,

  who help me a lot with the books. My youngest boy is three, which

  is why I write in libraries and not at home, where I tend to be used

  as a human climbing frame

• I’m allergic to cats

• I’m sadly addicted to fashion magazines

• I have made some serious fashion mistakes over the years.

  Honestly. Many, many of them. And worn one or two outfits

  I’m proud of

• The most precious thing I ever wore was the grey wool pinafore

  dress my mother made for me when I was about five (see picture).

  My grannies also knitted and smocked. Anything they made for

  me is special

• My favourite colour is raspberry pink.

  My favourite fabric is velvet.

  (My wedding dress was … raspberry pink velvet. Actually more

  cranberry, but close.)

  My favourite word is ‘semi-autobiographical’

• I have lived in the South of England, the Midlands, Malaysia,

  Hong Kong, Berlin, Paris, Florence, Rome, Milan, Venice (briefly)

  and Oslo. And yes, I love to travel. Luckily

• I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was about seven. Writing is my

  passion and my ultimate dream has always been to make girls

  (and boys) get lost in my stories the way I got lost in books when

  I was growing up. And that’s happened. It’s weird – totally weird –

  when your ultimate dream comes true

• I love visiting schools and festivals, so if you’d like me to come

  and talk, ask me! I can’t promise I’ll come, but I’ll try

• When I grow up I want to be a children’s author. Oh look, I am!

  Yay yay yay!