Meet March Hamilton's authors!
Beth Webb
Beth Webb is the author of 15 titles for children and teenagers including the Fleabag trilogy, Dragons of Kilve, and the Star Dancer quartet (which are all published by March Hamilton).
When she was little, her dad taught her that stories come out of heads, as well
as out of books. She ‘wrote’ her first book when she was three – pages of
scribbles sewn together with a cardboard picture of a ballerina on the front.
Beth studied sociology and psychology at university, then became a hippy on an
Amsterdam houseboat. She’s been a radio producer and journalist. She also
illustrates and is a professional storyteller.
Beth gets her ideas from daydreaming, listening to people, and watching life.
She has four grown-up children and lives in Somerset, firmly under the paws of
her two cats.
Find Beth:
Twitter @bethwebbauthor
Facebook @bethwebbauthor
Instagram @bethwebbauthor
Website
Ellen-Arwen Tristram
Ellen-Arwen Tristram was the first new author to sign with March Hamilton after our re-launch in March 2018, with her debut contemporary YA novel FRUIT FORBIDDEN.
She has written many more books though: from her first 'book' at five about a princess (named Ellen) to various forays into fantasy, sci-fi and children's novels, written from age fourteen and up.
She has always been a voracious reader, and writing always seemed to be the natural progression. Words have been an important part of her life for as long as she can remember; she is eternally grateful for her parents' houseful of books. Courses spent at Kilve Court studying creative writing gave her the push she needed, and the life-long devotion to being a writer.
Ellen lives in North Somerset with two cats, twelve sheep and approximately 3000 books. The most common dilemma is whether to move the cats when they settle themselves firmly on the keyboard...
Find Ellen:
Instagram @arwenauthor
Sarah Mooney
Sarah Mooney been an award-winning storyteller for 20 years. She started storytelling at the National Portrait Gallery after being spotted performing in Northern Stage Ensemble’s production of Grimm Tales.
She went on to become Storyteller In Residence at Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books. She then performed and ran workshops in hundreds of schools, theaters, museums, National Trust properties and ancient woodland sites until 2008, when she was appointed Storyteller In Residence for the Roald Dahl Foundation.
For the last few years she has been telling stories with Whispering Wood Folk, an outdoor theater and circus group, as well as creating her own work and recording many stories.
In 2015, she sailed across the Atlantic with an all-female crew as part of eXXpedition, creating stories embedded with environmental science, love of the earth and adventure.
In 2016, she was appointed Bard of Glastonbury – a yearly competition for poets, storytellers and songwriters who live within walking distance of Glastonbury Tor.
March Hamilton will be publishing three transcribed stories by Sarah in picture book form.
Find Sarah:
Facebook: Mooney Stories
Twitter: @mooneystories
Website:
Poppy Kamel Sall
Poppy Kamel Sall grew up in Sheffield and worked as a lawyer in local government before studying for an MA in Creative Writing.
She writes short stories and has been published in Litro magazine and shortlisted for the Chipping Campden Short Story competition.
She is currently working on a longer novel and teaches on the BA English and Creative Writing course at Coventry University.
March Hamilton will be publishing Remembering Sophia, a picture book about Suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, co-written by Poppy and Jen Elvy.
Find Poppy:
Twitter: @PoppyKamel
Jen Elvy
Jen Elvy is a former secondary school art and drama teacher, who now illustrates children’s books and draws commissioned portraits.
She is a member of Wax Myrtles Special Structure, a band writing and performing original music.
She is currently writing and illustrating her Graphic Memoir.
Jen is studying an MA in Creative writing and teaches on the BA English and Creative Writing Course at Coventry University.
Jen is the co-writer and illustrator of Remembering Sophia.
Sally Doherty
Over a decade ago, fresh out of University with a degree in French and German, Sally started working in corporate research in London. A year later, she was struck down with M.E. out of the blue. Being tied to the house and often her bed, however, has sparked a cauldron of stories bubbling inside her imagination.
When not unravelling mysteries or flying on broomsticks, she can be found living in leafy Surrey with her two-legged husband, three-legged Labrador and four-legged Jack Russell Terror.
She writes middle grade novels, flash fiction and articles about living with chronic illness which have been published by Metro, MSN, Yahoo News, The Mighty, Action for ME and ME Association.
Her debut book TOBY AND THE SILVER BLOOD WITCHES will be published by March Hamilton.
Find Sally:
Twitter: @Sally_writes
Facebook: Sally Doherty Writes
Louise Davies and Colin Mackenzie
Louise began her working career in the print and design department of the local council where she first met Colin Mackenzie, the illustrator for her stories.
An avid reader from a very young age, she began volunteering at her children’s primary school and within a couple of years, she had decided on a career change. After a year at Durham University, she began work as a specialist teaching assistant working predominantly with children with special educational needs.
Reading daily to her son, daughter and a class full of children was a highlight of her day and so the writing seed was planted. Redundancy then provided Louise with the opportunity to put pen to paper and the Doris and Maggie stories were born!
The Doris and Maggie characters are based on her mum and her aunty Margaret (who really did ride a motorbike with a golden retriever called Fred in the sidecar!) and their adventures are inspired by Louise’s concerns about climate change and the world we are leaving the next generation.
Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson has always loved words and stories - reading them and writing them. When he was a child he wrote short stories, which would certainly entertain him if he re-read them today. When going out with his wife-to-be, he would frequently be seen sitting close up with her, scribbling away in his notebook! On holidays in hot countries he likes to sit beside the swimming pool... writing. “It’s in my blood,” he says.
Ian was educated at Oxford University, where he studied Classics and French Language and Literature. He loves sport. He captained Oxford University at tennis, and now enjoys playing league table tennis and golf. Ian is married, with a son, daughter and a ‘naughty tortie’ cat called Jazz. He lives amidst the canals, rivers and woodlands of beautiful Worcestershire.
Ian’s debut middle grade children’s novel NOODLEBAG AND THE STICKY GRENADE will be published by March Hamilton. It is an exciting and fun adventure/fantasy and was selected out of 150 open submission entries. It is inspired by Ian’s computer-loving son Paul.
