I have always loved reading and I studied English at university just so that I could read a bit more. Next I found my way into secondary teaching and discovered that I loved it too: I got to read more books, show off and hang out with very funny teenagers. What a great job!
Teaching English also encouraged me to write. Soon I had planned and started lots of different stories, but they were all abandoned and shoved to the back of a drawer. Then, one day, the plot for Flirty Dancing came together; Bea’s story was so alive it was like a film running in my head and I knew it was a story I would finish.
Over the next few years, various exciting events distracted me from Flirty Dancing: I got married, travelled the world, was chased by an angry elephant (and a pack of dogs) and I had two babies. While I was sitting on trains, swimming in the Outback and raising two crazy girls, I kept thinking about Bea, and her friends, Betty, Kat and Pearl, until I realised I had planned three more books.
In 2013, after attending the Winchester Writers’ Festival, I plucked up the courage to send Flirty Dancing to Julia Churchill, a brilliant children’s fiction agent at A.M. Heath. With dazzling speed I was then signed by Bloomsbury to write the four books in the series.
Hello Jenny! My name is Scarlett and I’m ten. I have read your first two Roar books and I love them! I love dragons and fantasy and adventure so your books are perfect! Thank you for writing them!
I was wondering if you plan to write a seventh book and which of the books you think is the funniest?
Sincerely, Scarlett
Hi Scarlett, it’s lovely to hear from you and I’m so happy to hear that you love Roar… me too! It sounds like they really are the perfect books for you. I am planning to write a 7th book. Book 6 is out in February and will be called The Secret of Roar and book 7 is coming out the following year. I’m just about to start writing it… exciting!! x Jenny
Oh yay! I can’t wait to read the next books in the series!
sincerely,Scarlett
Hello Jenny,
I read The Land of Roar when it first came out and it was my favourite book at the time so I was so excited to read the second one and I remember counting down waiting until the third book came out. I am now 17 and I know I am definitely not your target audience but I found the fourth and fifth books in Waterstones a few weeks ago and couldn’t resist. I am now reading Dragon Riders of Roar even though I know I’m too old and I’m remembering how much I loved the first few books. I just thought it would be nice to let you know you have a loyal fan and apparently your books can also appeal to teenagers. Thank you so much for your writing, I look forward to reading them all, despite my age.
Hi Kayleigh, thank you for your kind message and I was thrilled to hear that you loved the first Roar books. I know exactly what you mean about the target age, although I very much write the books I’d like to read and I’m 50! I don’t think I’ve changed much since I was 17 – I love escaping inside a book and Roar is the ultimate escape for me. Also some times we read for different reasons – nostalgia, relaxation, curiosity – I hope you do read the next two books… and dare I say the two that are coming along after them. I’d love you to read the one coming out in 2027 – The Secret of Roar – because you finally get to see inside Grandad’s world! Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch. It meant a lot to me. x Jenny