Kate writes books for teenagers, and believes that this age group needs a particular literature that caters for them alone.

“Adolescence is a real transition time. You’re consolidating who you are and at the same time looking forward into the future. It’s a scary, demanding time....It needs books to match.” For her, one of the first rules of writing is that you should want to read it yourself, “It’s no good churning out what you think other people want to read. It’s got to come from you: it’s got to be what matters to you, what moves you...” Kate realises that teenagers don’t just want entertainment and escapism, but fiction that helps them anticipate and prepare for what lies ahead.

Kate studied English and American Literature at Kent University, and went on to work as a copy editor and writer. She decided to go as a freelance editor whilst looking after her two children, who are now teenagers themselves.

Her first book for Scholastic was Footloose, a summer blockbuster set in Greece, a hot beach book packed with sun, relationships and friendships. Fiesta is another great summer read about three girls who set off for sunny Spain ready for the three ‘S’s: Sun, sangria and sex.

Kate has also produced two sets of tremendous teenage trilogies:

Moving Out and the sequel Moving In follow the exploits of Rich who finally gets himself lots of money which is just burning a hole in his pocket. And with it comes everything else: clothes, freedom and sex. The third part of the trilogy is Moving On which follows Rich and Bonnie on a road trip – one they will never forget... These are being re-issued in August 2006 with fantastic new fresh jackets!

Diving In focuses on Coll, who thinks the boy she sees swimming every Thursday night is completely gorgeous. And then he asks her out! Art is strong and powerful, and he's also quite pushy. Just what is Coll getting into?
In The Deep End sees Coll and Art back together again, and the question of sex is also back on the agenda. But it's different now - Coll feels the time is right. She is unprepared for the powerful new emotions that sex produces, though, and has to make sure she keeps her head above water...
Sink or Swim - Coll and Art have had a passionate relationship but Coll is starting to feel that it's no longer what she wants. It's hard to contemplate the end of things but if they stay together, she just might find herself sucked under completely...

Leaving Poppy is haunting and psychological thriller about Amber, who leaves home to escape the controlling grasp of her mother and psychotic sister Poppy. When Poppy unexpectedly turns up at Amber’s new home the evil presence in the attic suddenly begins to permeate everywhere…

Kate’s latest book, Sea Change, will publish in June 2007 and tells the story of Chloe, who is obsessed by Davina – She’s beautiful, glamorous, rich and sexy – everything Chloe wants to be. So she’s thrilled to be invited on Davinia’s ‘boring’ family holiday. But Chloe will soon find out there’s another, uglier, side to her heroine…

Kate writes for about 3 to 4 hours a day. She loves her word processor, and the potential that it gives her in her books. Apart from writing, she enjoys reading running, long walks, long conversations and English pubs. She lives in Twickenham right by the River Thames, with her husband, daughter, son, cat and a semi-trained beagle called Scully.