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- OUR SERIES
- 321 Go!
- Boffin Boy
- Cold Fusion
- Cutting Edge
- Dark Man
- GirlFriendZ
- Goal!
- Hairy Mole
- On the Ball
- The Outer Reaches
- PIG
- Professional Development
- Reading Stars
- Reluctant Teen Fiction
- Shades 2.0
- Siti's Sisters
- Spook Squad
- Starchasers
- Starstruck
- Steve Sharp
- Streetwise
- Thunderbolts
- Toxic
- Trailblazers
- Vampire Dawn
- Zone 13
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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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Barbara Catchpole
The PIG SeriesBarbara started teaching as soon as she left university, and her first post was at Pilgrim School in Bedford, teaching English. The birth of her second son, who was born profoundly deaf, inspired her to take an interest in special educational needs teaching and communicating with hard to reach pupils. She became involved with the Bedfordshire National Deaf Children’s Society and won the Duke of Argyll Award for services to charity.
Barbara is now an established writer, in addition to working as an educational consultant, supply teaching and working for charity.
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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 Child, Unlocking the Writer 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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Heather Hollands
The Hearsay Adult Literacy SeriesHeather works on a freelance basis as a consultant and a writer. Her specialist area is adult literacy and she is qualified as a dyslexia tutor. She has experience in most areas of adult education including Further Education, offender learning, learners with disability, family learning and ESOL (English as a Second Language). She led the writing team for the successful DfES Embedded Learning Materials project and her experience in authoring learning resources is extensive.
Together with June Lewis and Linda Richards, Heather is now part of the Skills for Life Materials partnership, publishing learning resources and completing commissioned work for the TUC and for training providers.
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Roger Hurn
The Spook Squad SeriesRoger was born in south east London and has an MA in Education. He has taught at all levels from nursery to university, and has been a consultant advisor to the Home Office and the Children’s Directorate. His previous publications include the 'Mystery Mob' series and the 'You Can Do It' series.
His interests include playing 7-a-side football for his local team, playing the guitar and travelling. He lives with his wife Pamela and has two children and two grandchildren.
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David James
Be the Best & A Very Odd Sort of Job, from the Goal! SeriesDavid is a footballer who currently plays for Bristol City. He had 53 England caps between 1997 and 2010, and was first choice goalkeeper during both Euro 2004 and the 2010 World Cup.
He has played for Liverpool, Aston Villa and Portsmouth, and holds the Premier League record for the most clean sheets, with 173. He also writes a regular column for the Guardian.
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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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June Lewis
The Hearsay Adult Literacy SeriesJune has worked in education for over 40 years. She started out as a primary teacher, and later moved into the Further Education sector, where she ran a successful Second Chance provision for many years. In her role as an education consultant, she has worked in a wide range of settings, delivering training, completing research and authoring materials for adult learners. Her specialist area is creating and delivering training on the subject of dyslexia, but she has experience in most areas of adult education.
Together with Heather Hollands and Linda Richards, she is now part of the Skills for Life Materials Partnership, publishing learning resources and completing commissioned work for private training providers.
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Anita Loughrey
(as Cathy West) The Starstruck Series (with Stephen Rickard)Anita was a primary school teacher for seventeen years. She decided to become a full-time writer after the birth of her third child. She now has over 40 books published in the UK. She has written teacher resources, educational fiction and non-fiction and is the co-author of the Starstruck series for reluctant readers. She also has a monthly column in the national writing magazine Writers’ Forum where she interviews writers about their research.
Her interests include writing, reading children’s books, knitting and camping with her family in their VW campervan. She reckons there is nothing better than sleeping under the stars and cooking in the great outdoors, as long as it isn’t raining.
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H. L. Dube
The Steve Sharp SeriesI was born in Southern Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. I attended a school and church run by the London Missionary Society in Zimbabwe. I came to England and had a chance to further my education in ways denied a girl in rural Zimbabwe. I am a qualified teacher and have 2 degrees from the University of Huddersfield.
Work experience has included: primary school teaching in Zimbabwe; Welfare Officer for Anglo-American (de Beers) in Zambia; United Nations Development Programme in Botswana; teaching in UK, mainly at FE level.
I have published plays with Longman/Pearson, and a play was produced on BBC World Service. There have been 9 novels for youth in Anglophone Africa from Pearson and from Macmillan. I have contributed to textbooks for China (Yilin) and Turkey (Pearson), and collaborated on book on teaching from Continuum International.
I am married. My children are adults and all successful.
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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
The majority of the Goal! seriesTony 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
The Boffin Boy, Starchasers and Zone 13 Series, as well as the majority of the Trailblazers, Thunderbolts and Streetwise Series; Unlocking the Poet in Every Child and How Do We Know Anything? (with Stephen Rickard).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
The Siti's Sisters Series as well as part of the Trailblazers, Thunderbolts and Streetwise Series; Don't Even Think It (Cutting Edge)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
The Hairy Mole SeriesI’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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Linda Richards
The Hearsay Adult Literacy SeriesHaving begun my working life in London as a literacy coordinator in both primary and all age special schools, I moved to Shropshire where I became involved with adult literacy. I worked with adults in a range of discrete provision including both literacy support and NVQ support as well as with hard to reach groups such as army cadets, young drug and alcohol abusers, people with mental health issues and the long-term unemployed.
My interest in providing much needed literacy resources for the individuals on these various learning programmes inevitably led to my developing published literacy materials to support essential reading and writing. That interest continues to this day.
Together with Heather Hollands and June Lewis, she is now part of the Skills for Life Materials Partnership, publishing learning resources and completing commissioned work for private training providers.
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Stephen Rickard
The 321 Go! series, The Goal! and Dark Man Teacher's Guides, Dark Man Workbooks, Motivating Reluctant and Struggling Readers, How Do We Know Anything (with David Orme), Why Haven't We Seen Aliens 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 bands This Heat and The Camberwell Now.
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Anne Rooney
The Vampire Dawn SeriesI write fiction and non-fiction for children, and non-fiction for adults. I’ve published around 150 books, many of them for less confident, struggling or reluctant readers. I most like writing gritty or scary books for young teenagers. My blog, Stroppy Author’s guide to publishing, looks at all aspects of writing and publishing. I’m also a Royal Literary Fund fellow, helping students and university staff to develop their writing skills.
I live in Cambridge, trying to keep some level of control over daughters and animals - ferrets, a tortoise, a pig, chickens and a crow. A lot of the time I write in cafés, where someone else is making the coffee and cakes and clearing away the mess. I enjoy travelling around Europe by train and going to places it’s probably wiser not to go to.
You can find me (all too often) on twitter - @annerooney - or Facebook.
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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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John Townsend
Never Odd Or Even (Cold Fusion Series)John was born in Chelmsford, Essex, and discovered his enchantment with books at an early age. As a child, he wrote mini dramas, silly poems and stories to tell the cat. Whether or not the cat wanted to hear them is another matter!
His love of hiking and the outdoors led him to become a geography teacher in Gloucestershire, writing pantomimes and plays for the annual drama productions. His first publication was inspired by his rusty old Morris Minor, and nearly 200 books later, he is now a full-time writer.
Mainly focusing on non-fiction, he is a National Literacy Trust ‘Reading Champion’, and runs boys’ literacy projects in schools.
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John Utaka
From Africa to Wembley (Goal! Series)John Utaka is a Nigerian footballer who played for Portsmouth from 2007 – 2011, and now plays for Montpellier in France. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka, who plays for a Danish side. He played in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, in which Nigeria placed third, and was part of the Nigerian national team that participated in the 2010 World Cup.
The John Utaka Foundation helps to educate and empower children in marginalised communities.
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Fanie Viljoen
Scarred Lions and Mind F**k (Cutting Edge Series)Fanie 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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Rachel Yankey
Coach Yanks and Yanks at the Top (Goal! Series)Rachel plays football for both Arsenal and England, and is currently the most capped player in the England team. She was nominated for the Vauxhall England Women’s Player of the Year in 2011 and has appeared in the BBC’s online masterclasses, teaching young people soccer skills.
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