My greatest passion is to write, and I am in love with the power of words, and how they soothe a troubled mind, ignite the imagination, offer strength, give hope and above all, make a difference.
My name is Mandy and I live with my family and wonderful dogs in London. I’m a Montessori teacher with over 25 years of experience. When I’m not writing, you will find me cooking an extravagant dish, or curled up in a corner reading my favorite book.
My debut picture book, Janey just in Case was dedicated and named after my late sister and was published in 2020 by Book Reality. It was closely followed with a second in the series, Just Janey’s Way.
Each book has a message in it that children can relate to and understand, with unforgettable and lovable characters, both promote self-belief, confidence, kindness, friendship, teamwork, and above all hope.
I was very proud when the Janey series received a Literary Titan Gold Book Award, A Readers View Five-Star Award, a Readers Favourite 5-Star Award, and Janey just in Case was a winner of the Clara J Johns Literary Awards 2022. I knew then that my sister was smiling down at me.
A few months ago, I lost my mum suddenly and it left a gaping hole in my heart, writing helped keep the pain at bay and gave me the strength to carry on.
Bertie the Bouncy Beachball was dedicated to my mum and was the first in the toy library series.
The story offers a beautiful lesson in kindness, empathy, and compassion and encourages acceptance and self-worth.
There are questions at the end of the book to offer food for thought, and open up the floor for meaningful discussion about looking for the best in each other, and how our actions can affect others.
I was very excited to receive a Readers View 5-star award and a Readers Favourite 5-Star Award for Bertie the Bouncy Beachball.
A second book in the series features Bertie on a Christmas adventure, where he discovers courage whilst sacrificing a little of himself to help others. The story models self-confidence, friendship, and the beauty of kindness and will be out at the end of November.
I am now working on a few more writing projects, including a third book in the Janey series, a book about the grief and loss of a loved one to help children communicate their feelings and understand what is happening around them, in a gentle and honest way. And a selection of story poems and picture books.
