Barbara Mitchelhill

Author of Eric and the Voice of Doom (illustrated by Bridget MacKeith),

Barbara Mitchelhill was born and grew up in Lancashire. After training as a teacher, she taught English, Art and Drama in both comprehensive schools and primary schools. It was during this time that she began to write for BBC children's programmes and for educational publishers. She now works part-time as an editor for a small educational publisher and writes children's books the rest of the time.

Since giving up teaching to write full-time, she has written over a hundred books for children who are learning to read as well as books for older children.

Barbara is married with four grown-up daughters and lives in Shropshire with her husbband and two dogs called Jack and Jeff.

Some of her books include:

Eric and the Striped Horror (1996)
Eric and the Wishing Stone (1999)
Eric and the Pimple Potion (2000)
Eric and the Green-Eyed God (2001)

The latest Eric book is Eric and the Voice of Doom and the next book will be Eric and the Potent Pong, to be published in July 2003 by Andersen Press.

Damian Drooth, Supersleuth - and the Case of the Disappearing Daughter (2000)
Damian Drooth, Supersleuth - and the Case of the Pop Star's Wedding (2002) both illustrated by Tony Ross

Congratulations to Barbara on being one of our shortlisted authors this year.