Beth Shoshan was born in Brighton. She never seemed destined to be 
a childrens writer, after all she 
had failed English Composition.
 But everything changed when she
 was challenged by Meadowside 
to write the most inappropriate
 childrens book imaginable - it
 should contain sweets, explosions 
and arcane English words. She 
did, and Smidge became an instant 
best-seller. Now with over 30 titles 
to her name, Beth has become one
 of the most successful childrens
 authors of the past few years.

- excerpted fromRead Less