Mary Hooper

Says of herself: I was born in Barnes, South West London, which became expensive and trendy as soon as I left it. I often – nostalgically and rather lazily – use Barnes as a setting for my books. If I speak of a river then I’m thinking of the Thames, and if it’s a park or common then I picture Barnes Common. I was able to utilise all these local points and bring in Mortlake and Richmond, too, when I was writing two books about Queen Elizabeth I’s magician, Dr Dee, who lived in Mortlake.

I wasn’t very clever at school, although I was always good at English. I failed my 11-plus exam, and then my 13-plus, and after this there wasn’t a lot of hope for me, so I didn’t get any qualifications or certificates. My last school report says, “Far too noisy and talkative” and I think this was because, being an only child, I just loved having someone around to talk to. I left school when I was fifteen (you could in those days) but it wasn’t until many years later than I did a part-time degree at Reading University and began to get officially educated.

I started working as a window dresser, but soon went into an office and – very valuable, this, for a writer – learned to type. One day I read a short story, thought that I could do better and sat down and wrote one. I sent it to Jackie, a teenage magazine, and much to my surprise sold it for £14. I was launched as a writer! I went on to write lots of short stories, and then serials, and eventually decided to write a book. At the time, there were hardly any books for teenagers, so I found getting published quite easy, but it’s very different now. I’ve written perhaps seventy or so books for children and young adults, most of them set in modern times, but as soon as I began writing historical novels I realised how much I loved doing this, and decided I didn’t want to write any more modern ones. No, not even any Megans!

I’m married to Richard and we live in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire. I’ve still got a VW Beetle, but have upgraded it to a cabriolet version, which will be lovely when the weather improves and I can put the top down (if I can remember how to do it). My children are very grown up, my son is a writer and works for New Scientist and my daughter works for Microsoft - and has recently presented me with a gorgeous first grandson, Mackenzie. I look after him on Wednesdays so don’t ever bother me then! My hobbies are reading (of course), pottering around the house, painting furniture and being nosy (which goes with being a writer).

If you like Mary Hooper you might also like to read books by Judy Blume, Melvin Burgess and Lynne Reid Banks

Velvet Mary Hooper A richly atmospheric novel set in the Victorian period and perfect for fans of the hugely popular Fallen Grace. Teens will love this romantic, thrilling and exciting new novel from the acclaimed and much loved historical novelist. It's also... Format: Paperback - Released: 05/09/2011 Lovereading Price: £7.49 - Saving £2.50 (25%)

Fallen Grace Mary Hooper Highly Commended for the Teenage Book Prize 2010. Grace Parkes has just had to do a terrible thing. Having given birth to an illegitimate child, she has travelled to the famed Brookwood Cemetery to place her small infant's body in... Format: Paperback - Released: 06/06/2011 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

Megan Book One: The Biggest Decision of All Mary Hooper Tender and thoughtful, Megan charts the welter of complex emotions Megan goes through from the moment she discovers she’s pregnant. At only fifteen she has to deal with the impossibly difficult choices that it throws up as well as coping... Format: Paperback - Released: 16/03/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

Megan Book Two: And Then There Were Two Mary Hooper Having had a baby at fifteen, Megan has to make the most difficult choice. Everyone thinks she shouldn’t keep the baby but Megan feels quite differently. Can she really bear not to? What choice Megan should make and how she... Format: Paperback - Released: 16/03/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

Megan Book Three: Two's Company, Three's a Crowd Mary Hooper Settling into her new life as a young mother, Megan loves Jack but she also misses the life her contemporaries lead. Reluctantly and not without resentment she settles to the limitation of her unusual situation but, when someone threatens Jack’s... Format: Paperback - Released: 16/03/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)