Aiden, Phillipa, Joseph, Niamh, Ayda, Monique and Nancy Mae – the elite of Beta Readers

I’d like to introduce you to some very important people. Those amazing kids up there all played an important part in Alfie Slider vs the Shape Shifter getting into print. Three of them were the inspiration for characters in the book (Alfie, Amy and Lizzie) and all of them read the story and told me what they liked, and what they didn’t. And yes, you will notice a certain family resemblance between me, Aiden and Niamh; they’re my children. Write what you know 😉

These kids (especially Joseph, the young man nearest me wearing the black coat) kept me going through the grind of editing, through the rejection from agents, through the uncertainty about whether, having written one I could do another. They asked interesting questions, they answered my questions, and they showed me that kids really love Alfie, Amy, the Monkesto and Mr Monk.

With just two days until the book launches, I’m feeling incredibly grateful to lots of people for helping me along the way but I will always have a special place in my heart for these guys. They’re amazing, they really are.