Siobhan Dowd

Siobhan Dowd was born to Irish parents and brought up in London. She spent much of her youth visiting the family cottage in Aglish, County Waterford and later the family home in Wicklow Town.

She attended a Catholic grammar school in south London and then gained a degree in Classics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. After a short stint in publishing, she joined the writer's organisation PEN, initially as a researcher for its Writers in Prison Committee.

She went on to be Program Director of PEN American Center's Freedom-to-Write Committee in New York City. Her work here included founding and leading the Rushdie Defense Committee USA and travelling to Indonesia and Guatemala to investigate local human rights conditions for writers. During her seven-year spell in New York, Siobhan was named one of the "top 100 Irish-Americans" by Irish-America Magazine and AerLingus, for her global anti-censorship work. On her return to the UK, Siobhan co-founded English PEN's readers and writers programme, which takes authors into schools in socially deprived areas, as well as prisons, young offender's institutions and community projects.

During 2004, Siobhan served as Deputy Commissioner for Children's Rights in Oxfordshire, working with local government to ensure that statutory services affecting children's lives conform with UN protocols.

A Swift Pure Cry, Siobhan's first novel, was published by David Fickling Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, in March 2006. In May 2007, it won the Eilis Dillon award in Ireland for a first-time children's author. It was also long-listed for the Guardian Children's Book Prize and short-listed for the Booktrust Teenage Fiction Prize and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

In May 2007, Siobhan was named one of "25 authors of the future" by Waterstones Books as part of the latter's 25th anniversary celebrations. Siobhan died on 21st August 2007 aged 47. She had been receiving treatment for advanced breast cancer for 3 years and, did not go gentle into that good night.

Solace of the Road Siobhan Dowd Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award 2009. Costa Book Awards 2009 Judges' comment: "We were captivated by this beautifully-written, poignant and ultimately heart-warming story." Beautifully written and achingly moving, Solace of the Road is the poignant and desperate story of one... Format: Hardback - Released: 05/02/2009 Lovereading Price: £8.24 - Saving £2.75 (25%)

Bog Child Siobhan Dowd New and challenging book full of mystery and shadows from recently deceased author Siobhan Dowd. Both terrifying and fascinating from the start, Bog Child is a must-read for 2008. The plot follows Fergus a boy who finds the body of a child, and... Format: Paperback - Released: 05/02/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

The London Eye Mystery Siobhan Dowd Shortlisted for the Nasen and TES 'Special Educational Needs Children's Book Award' 2007. When Salim mysteriously disappears while on a ride on the London Eye everyone is frantic and even the police are baffled. Ted has his own theories, and... Format: Hardback - Released: 07/06/2007 Lovereading Price: £6.74 - Saving £2.25 (25%)

A Swift Pure Cry Siobhan Dowd Winner ofthe Branford Boase Award 2007. A superb first novel, beautifully written, deeply moving and full of heartbreak. When Shell Talent’s mother dies everything around her begins to fall to pieces. Tired of looking after her younger brother and sister... Format: Paperback - Released: 04/01/2007 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)