Crazy Pets and Secrets Revealed

Troublesome but loveable pets turn Hugo's world upside down, almost as much as family life does.

Hugo adores Nan. He adapts to her odd ways, such as having two goats in her home, better than Mum does. He worries Nan doesn't always pay for things, and thinks something will happen to her one day.

Hugo has no idea why slipping him bars of chocolate is so important to Nan, or where an American fits into anything. At least Hippopotamus can be relied upon to take care of things, unlike his other, rude, grandparent.

Set in multicultural Britain, discover how Nan's past has affected her life, and what Hugo has to face in this informative story full of adventure, humour and crazy pets.

Living close to the M25 and railway, I like both busy places and the countryside. I don't mind that my hair is going grey but hope my earlobes have stopped growing! When not writing, I teach at a museum or schools. I love experimental history and archaeology, and get ridiculously excited about poo and bones because they can hold information. I enjoy traditional crafts such as woodcarving, bow and rope making. My pets have included a crazy hen (hmm, there's definitely a story to write about her!), and a rescued racing pigeon who I thought was a boy but turned out to be a girl. I truly do have a pet that's featured in this book - he's also a great window cleaner. My idea of a good time varies from spending time with family and friends, including woolly ones (sheep); coaxing silly goats back into their pen; birdwatching and night searches for glow worms, going to the cinema and of course writing. I can be serious or silly to my husband and twin teenage daughters' dismay. I think writing stories is an art and I'm still learning. This is my motto for life: I try, I try. I can, I can.