I originally trained as an engineer - which is rather unusual for a children's author - and spent many years working for companies making and using plastics, in England, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and, more recently, Spain. I used to make notes for stories when I was sitting in boring meetings, or travelling on trains and planes. Now we live in Kent and I'm trying to spend a lot more time writing. I started writing stories for my children, when they were small, but it was a long time before I had anything accepted for publication. They have now grown up and left home, so I've been working on my writing for a long, long time. The first things I had published were poems - you might come across some of them in poetry anthologies for children. Here's one of my favourites(just to fill up the page!):
A tyrannosaur in Tesco's came stomping down the aisle,
Searching for the dental floss and practising his smile.
Did the stegosaur in Sainsbury's want a trolley or a basket?
No one knew, and no one really had the nerve to ask it.
A megalosaur in M&S was trying something frilly,
But checking in the mirror just to see if she looked silly.
The dinosaurs, all loaded down with boxes, bags and bits,
Then jumped into a taxi to take coffee at The Ritz.
My first picture book, Under the Bed, was published in 2003. The second book, Quiet! was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award - in the end it didn't win the award, but I did get a Blue Peter badge and was on the telly for about 5 seconds! I now have about 10 picture books published, with more on the way. I only write the words - if I drew the pictures nobody would buy them - but I get to work with some wonderful illustrators. You can find more details of my books and poems, together with a lot of fun activities, on my website www.paulbright.co.uk .
Happy Reading!
Paul Bright