Children's books are often seen as the poor relation of literature. But children are just as demanding as adult readers, if not more so. I should know. I'm a children's writer myself.

When I was a child I devoured every book I could get my hands on. I loved losing myself in colourful and dramatic stories - and my absolute favourite was 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.' Everything about it electrified me, and when I re-read Roald Dahl's books as an adult it surprised me.

Everybody knows, nobody's talking - from LIE --debut novel coming September 1st from St. Martin's Press

A childhood without books – that would be no childhood. That would be like being shut out from the enchanted place where you can go and find the rarest kind of joy.

I don't know what I'll be like when I'm 60. I already have the traits of a retired gentleman.

Don’t just teach your children to read…
Teach them to question what they read.
Teach them to question everything.