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- Zone 13
- Goal!
- Boffin Boy
- 321 Go!
- Starchasers
- Trailblazers
- Siti's Sisters
- Dark Man
- Cutting Edge
- Teacher Resources
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Our Authors
The following authors have all written for - or are currently writing for - Ransom.
Many of our authors are very happy to offer interviews, workshops and school or library visits. For more details please contact us.
Emily Andrews
The Finer Points of Becoming MachineEmily was born in Southern California and currently resides in Seattle, Washington. Her interests include writing fiction and poetry, indie/punk rock and industrial music, journaling and old horror movies.
Emily has had several of her poems published through the International Library of Poetry and Poetry.com, and has also had her poetry featured on one of their spoken word albums.
The Finer Points of Becoming Machine is her debut novel.
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Sherryl Clark
Bone SongSherryl has been writing poems and stories for over 20 years, and her first children’s book, The Too-Tight Tutu, grew from a writing exercise in a class. Her other titles include a number of Aussie Bites, Nibbles and Chomps such as The Littlest Pirate, Boots and All and Batter Up, and novels for upper primary – Tracey Binns is Trouble and Tracey Binns is Lost.
Sherryl’s verse novel Farm Kid won the 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Award for children’s books, and her second verse novel, Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!) was an Honour Book in the 2008 CBCA Awards. Her books have been published in Australia and overseas.
Sherryl teaches in the Diploma of Arts – Professional Writing and Editing at Victoria University TAFE. She also teaches writing in Hong Kong and online.
Sherryl’s website is at www.sherrylclark.com
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Frances Cross
Marty's DiaryFrances was born and brought up in beautiful North Wales. She started writing on a very old typewriter when she was fifteen. She went on to study for an honours degree in English Language and Literature, and also achieved a diploma in both Creative Writing and EFL.
Frances has lived across the world, including Moscow, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana - where she taught in a private primary school. In Moscow, she set up and ran a British A-level school. Later, she taught Creative Writing part-time for the University of Wales and was a member of Writers on Tour, which was organized by the Arts Council of Wales.
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Susan Elkin
Unlocking the Reader in Every ChildEducated at Sydenham High School for Girls GPDST, Bishop Otter College and Open University.
Teacher of secondary English in five schools and three local authorities for over 30 years.
Journalist, author and writer of articles, features, books, reviews etc etc with frequent work in all the nationals, including Daily Mail where she wrote regularly about education from 1995-2007. Now Education and Training editor at The Stage among many other things!
Married with two grown up sons, Susan lives in Kent.
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A.C. Flanagan
EcstasyAlice believes that the ancient tradition of storytelling is still one of the most powerful means of communication. It allows us all to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and with this gain a better understanding and tolerance of the people we share this planet with.
A. C. Flanagan is a Sydney-based author and mother of two. Born in Newcastle, NSW she is the middle child of seven. She grew up in a era where imagination was the main source of entertainment. In the 1960s, playing makeshift games in the streets of the inner city, she and the friends she grew up with made their own fun. In these streets the art of make-believe was cultivated and her passion for storytelling began.
With the death of her mother in 1977 Alice, at the age of fifteen, and her three younger siblings made an early transition from childhood to the responsibilities of an adult world. Running their own household like a mini commune, fitting in school work with part-time jobs, there was little time for make-believe. Text books replaced fiction and after High School Alice went on to study Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University. In the years that followed, her career path was far from that of a writer and included several years as a teacher followed by a career as a computer programmer and then a Business Analyst.
Her desire to write came when she was in her mid-twenties but was not realised until she reached her late thirties. A time when her life took an unexpected turn as her second marriage broke down a short time after the birth of her second child. Faced with the many challenges and emotions that go hand in hand with raising children as a single parent she was drawn, once again, to her own childhood and the desire to write was rekindled.
In a world which faces many environmental and social issues, Alice’s writing is inspired by the experiences and emotions which shape the human spirit.
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Joanne Hichens
StainedI was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but as my father was a diplomat for many years I travelled quite a bit to new countries my parents were posted to – not that I objected of course! I’ve lived in Greece, New Zealand, America amongst others.
We finally settled in South Africa, and I studied art, as well as psychology at university, and did a Masters degree in creative writing at the University of Cape Town.
I’ve done quite a bit in my life as far as jobs go, including teaching art at university, running expressive art groups, running parenting workshops, and facilitating an eating disorder unit at a psychiatric hospital. Some people might say I have a short attention span, but all the experience I’ve had has been a very good grounding for becoming a writer! I now work as an editor and a writer, and enjoy doing both!
I am married and have three children. Being a mother of two teenage daughters really helps me also to understand young people of today, and gives me insight into the kind of issues and problems young people are facing.
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Peter Lancett
Gun Dog, Seeing Red, Hanging In The Mist and The Dark Man SeriesBorn in North Staffordshire, England. Moved to London aged 20 and worked at Pinewood Studios, creating background scenery for major film productions and television. Later directed music promotional.
Worked in the City for a major bank until emigrating to New Zealand, living in Auckland for six years. Attended University of Auckland achieving a Bachelor’s degree in Classics and Ancient History, awarded Senior Prize in final year.
Married Alexandra and moved back to England, living in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire.In England, published three novels for Bloodbinds Press and created the Dark Man series of illustrated books for Ransom Publishing.
Developed and edited the Cutting Edge series of short novels for Ransom, contributing three titles to the series.
Began writing for film and wrote/directed a first feature film, THE XLITHERMAN for Golden Dawn Films LLC/XlitherFilms.
Moved back to New Zealand in December 2007, now writing mostly for film, currently spending a lot of time in Los Angeles.
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Thomas Nealeigh
See You On The BacklotThomas Nealeigh grew up performing from the age of 5 with his parents’ traveling theatrical troupe. He received an undergraduate degree in English from California State University, and his Master’s degree in Theatre from Louisiana Tech University. Nealeigh’s articles have appeared in various publications, and his plays have been produced all over the United States. His search for adventure has led him to a variety of jobs, including: Accountant, Museum Curator, Marketing Director, Singer, Law Clerk, Exotic Dancer, Theatre Producer, Security Agent, Archivist, Schoolteacher, Bodyguard, Minister, Cabaret Performer and Writer. From living in his car, to riding with bikers, to residing in a Louisiana brothel, to wandering the plains of Africa (where he was adopted by a village in Senegal), Nealeigh has traveled extensively. Currently, he lives with his partner, Alice, and their two children in Hollywood, CA – where he runs the touring carnival-style sideshow troupe, FreakShow Deluxe, and performs as a talker and pain-proof man. Nealeigh eats glass, breathes fire, and lays on a bed of nails.
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Tony Norman
majority of the series Goal!Tony has had over 60 children’s books published in the UK, including the highly successful GOAL! series for Ransom Publishing. His work is also published in Australia, New Zealand, Poland and the USA.
Tony has spent much of his time writing for children, but he also writes for adults. In 2006, he worked with former England soccer captain, Alan Mullery MBE, on his autobiography. In 2009, Tony collaborated with BBC TV consumer expert Dominic Littlewood on his book, Don’t Get Done Get Dom. In 2010, he worked with Nicholas Parsons on a section of his memoirs.
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David Orme
Boffin Boy and Starchasers series, as well as the majority of the Trailblazers series and Unlocking the Poet in Every Child.David Orme’s first love was science fiction, and he spent his teenage years sending stories to SF fanzines. Mercifully, these stories no longer exist anywhere on the planet. With maturity came a measure of respectability and the need to earn money, and since leaving teaching in 1986 he has written over 300 books, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and educational books. His particular interest is in creating an enthusiasm for books among those who struggle with reading, or who are turned off the whole idea altogether. With fiction series such as Boffin Boy (Ransom) Starchasers, (Ransom) Shades (Evans Bros) and Zone 13 (Nelson Thornes) he has broken new ground in producing risk-taking, edgy, proper books with strong narratives that hit the spot with reluctant readers and raise their self-esteem.
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Helen Orme
Siti's Sisters series as well as a few books from the Trailblazers Series and Don't Even Think About It (Cutting Edge Series)I was a teacher for nearly thirty years, working as a SENCO in a large comprehensive school, as an advisory teacher for IT and as teacher-in-charge of a pupil referral unit. These experiences have been invaluable in my writing. I left teaching with the idea of taking a term off, but my husband David was overburdened with (boring) writing work so I helped him out – and have been writing ever since.
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Chris Owen
Hairy Mole AdventuresI’m from Colchester, Essex and left home when I was 19 to go to college in Southampton. After a flirtation with work and London I spent three years in Tuscany living in a tent while ‘working’ as a holiday rep. I wrote the Hairy Mole adventures for my nephew while I was in Italy and when I came back to England I moved to Brighton. I got married and took the train to Asia where I worked for a year in Taiwan as an English teacher. While in Asia I wrote the 4th Hairy Mole book about the Pirate Olympics. My wife and I have returned to Brighton and live quite happily by the sea. I’m currently writing books and short films for an older audience and work for an educational travel company near Brighton pier. I regularly visit book shops/cafes and schools and read the Hairy Mole books to children, this is really good fun and I especially enjoy the plethora of cakes and coffee.
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Stephen Rickard
321 Go! series, Goal! and Dark Man Teacher's Guides, Dark Man Workbooks and about 25 or so out-of-print multimedia CD-ROMs.I'm not really a writer. I just happen to write now and again. I work for Ransom Publishing: it's my job to put the books together, finding or commissioning illustrations, designing layouts, working with the authors, etc. etc. I tend to pick up a lot of the more pedestrian writing - Teacher's Guides and Workbooks that nobody else is very keen to do.
I'm from Newport, South Wales (I've never been back) and got into publishing after about 25 years of doing other stuff, including studying Law (LLB Hons Nottingham University) MBA (Cass Business School, London), BBC Studio Manager, then about 8 years on the dole working in music: especially with This Heat and The Camberwell Now. Then consultancy bits and bobs and now here I am.
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Edwina Shaw
Thrill Seekers (Cutting Edge Series)Edwina Shaw grew up in Brisbane, Australia, on the banks of a dirty mangrove creek. She's worked as a house cleaner, a clerk, a kitchen hand, a teacher in a maximum security juvenile justice detention centre, Special Schools for the disabled, and ran an English Language School in Cambodia. The worst job she ever had was selling dagwood dogs in sideshow alley at the Brisbane show. The best job she's ever had is being a writer. When she's not writing she's looking after her kids and teaching yoga.
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Donna Shelton
Breaking Dawn (Cutting Edge Series)Donna Shelton was born in Chicago and currently resides in Joliet. Donna is the mother of two children, a herd of dogs, a colony of cats, a handful of turtles and two rats. She is addicted to buying books and learning new things. Donna has been writing since she was 11 years old. Her first story was CRYSTAL THE CRYSTAL WING PEGASUS. It was never published, but she keeps the original handwritten story near her desk to remind her of when her passion started.
Donna has had several articles and some short stories published in magazines, newspapers and online over the years. She's also written several columns in The Joliet Herald News. Her interests outside of writing include: dancing, walking on a beach or in the woods, watching favourite TV shows on DVD, and of course having fun with her kids.
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Gary Stevens
How To Be A Star At The Back, How To Be A Star Striker, How To Be A Star Keeper and How To Be A Star In Midfield (Goal! Series)Gary first came to prominence when he broke into the Brighton & Hove Albion first team whilst still a teenager. A series of controlled and intelligent performances soon established him as one of the rising stars of the First Division.
Gary joined Tottenham Hotspur for £300,000 later that Summer. He went on to make nearly 200 appearances for Spurs over the next six years, winning the UEFA Cup in 1984. He also won seven full England caps during his time at White Hart Lane and played in the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico.
Gary Stevens is also a successful soccer coach. He holds the UEFA ‘A’ coaching award, among others.
He was the Assistant Academy Director at Charlton Athletic FC. Gary was also head coach of the club’s reserve team.
They won their league in Gary’s first season in charge. In recent years Gary has also developed the successful Ball School in Tunbridge Wells, were he coaches young players in the skills of the game.
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Fanie Viljoen
Scarred Lions and Mind F**kFanie Viljeon is a well known Afrikaans author, living in Bloemfontein, South Africa. A fulltime writer, illustrator and artist, Fanie has written numerous short stories, radio plays and books for children and teenagers. Three of these books have won awards for youth literature - the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature, and the M.E.R. prize for youth literature. Scarred Lions has been developed for Ransom's Cutting Edge series.
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