Reading Champion: Grandad's Magic Torch

I am Jill Atkins, an escaped teacher, now writing for children with 46 books published so far, ranging from early reading material to teenage novels.

I'm married with two grown-up children and five grandchildren, no pets, though I used to have three beautiful cats, guinea pigs and rabbits. When I was a child, we kept chickens and I loved them, too.

I always have my nose in a book. I read both adult's and children's books. My favourite children's books include The Railway Children by E Nesbit, Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson, River on the Say by Philippa Pearce. My adult reading varies from Charles Dickens to many modern authors. I enjoy listening to music, classical, jazz and some pop.

Andy Elkerton is a highly talented illustrator who has now turned his hand to writing. He has illustrated many fabulous readers on the Franklin Watts list. One of his recent titles, I Love this Tree, was shortlisted for the SLA awards.
He lives on the west coast of Scotland with his family.