For a hilarious read with a touch of magic, check out the fresh writing style of Susan Gates. Susan has already won the Sheffield Book Award and has been shortlisted for both the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Fiction Prize. Her novels are ideal for 8-11 year-olds and have definite boy appeal.

THE BASICS
Born: Grimsby, 1950
Jobs: Teacher, Writer
Lives: County Durham
First Fiction title: The Burnhope Wheel, 1989

THE BOOKS
Pick up a book by Susan Gates and you are guaranteed a good read which is screamingly funny and takes you into a new and wonderfully surreal world. There's a common theme running through Susan's fiction that it is OK to be different and that, in many instances, what you see is not necessarily what you get. In Sea Hags, Suckers and Cobra Sharks, George has to cope not just with a great-aunt who's a legendary monster and plans to take him to live with her under the sea, but with the fact that he's inherit...

For a hilarious read with a touch of magic, check out the fresh writing style of Susan Gates. Susan has already won the Sheffield Book Award and has been shortlisted for both the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Fiction Prize. Her novels are ideal for 8-11 year-olds and have definite boy appeal.

THE BASICS
Born: Grimsby, 1950
Jobs: Teacher, Writer
Lives: County Durham
First Fiction title: The Burnhope Wheel, 1989

THE BOOKS
Pick up a book by Susan Gates and you are guaranteed a good read which is screamingly funny and takes you into a new and wonderfully surreal world. There's a common theme running through Susan's fiction that it is OK to be different and that, in many instances, what you see is not necessarily what you get. In Sea Hags, Suckers and Cobra Sharks, George has to cope not just with a great-aunt who's a legendary monster and plans to take him to live with her under the sea, but with the fact that he's inherited the family fishy trait. In Revenge of the Toffee Monster, Susan reworks the legend of Frankenstein; Lenny confronts a seven-foot toffee monster and finds that there is true nobility under a warty exterior. In Killer Mushrooms Ate My Gran, Maggot battles to save the world from the spores of an exotic mushroom and discovers that his hero is a battered old man with a bottle top necklace.

WHAT SHE SAYS…
“I love writing funny books like Revenge of the Toffee Monster. I can’t say I find it easy – humour’s a tricky and complex business. But my son has an expression: “winged it, Mum,” he’ll say, if he managed to soar above any expected difficulties. Sometimes, when humorous writing works, I feel like I’m flying along, from one wild idea to another. It’s really exhilarating. I’m ‘winging it’ as my son would say!”

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SUSAN GATES…
“Sharp and alive… I admired its comic energy and perfectly observed emotions and characterisation.” Independent on Sunday on Criss Cross

“A skilful blend of humour and suspense that will appeal directly to boys.” The Bookseller on Cry Wolf

“Full of suspense, the characterisation is strong and lively and the vivid illustrations make this a terrifying tale that children will love.” Leicester Mercury on Fisherwitch

“A beautifully crafted, spine-tickling and melodramatic story.” The Times on The Hummingbird Secret

“Susan Gates’ The Hummingbird Secret provides vivid drama in a concise, impassioned novel.” Sunday Times

“Strikingly original.” The Observer on The Hummingbird Secret

“What could be just a story of the odd and unusual is the basis for a more subtle exploration of difference where human gifts are balanced out in new ways… This book is both exciting and thought-provoking.” Books For Keeps on Iron Heads

“Heart-wrenching stuff… a strongly written, exciting tale.” Bookchat (South Africa) on Raider

“I enjoyed every page.” Term Times on Sea Hags, Suckers and Cobra Sharks

“Very funny and a great read for eight to ten-year-olds.” Lancashire Evening Gazette on Sea Hags, Suckers and Cobra Sharks

AWARDS
Sheffield Children's Book Award 1995 for Beware The Killer Coat
Carnegie Medal 1995 Commendation for Raider
Shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize 1995 for Raider
Stockport Children’s Book Award 1998 for Ironhead

PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH:
Grimsby, 1950

FAVOURITE BOOK:
Main Street by Sinclair Lewis

FAVOURITE SONG:
Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

MOST TREASURED POSSESSION:
Guitar

FAVOURITE FILM:
The Blues Brothers (Original not remake)

When did you start writing?
In 1983 - textbooks for secondary schools.

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?
Everywhere and anywhere! By keeping my eyes and ears open - reading, talking to people, especially my children. Watching television, listening to radio, eavesdropping on conversations on buses etc. etc. Generally being alert to what's going on.

Can you give your top three tips to becoming a successful author?
1. Open your mind
2. Work hard, be determined
3. Be professional, keep to deadlines
And the rest is luck!

Favourite memory?