About Olivia
I’ve always dreamed of being a writer, with one of my earliest memories being waking my parents up to hand over library fines from my meticulously organized book shelves. We moved frequently and so I was always the new girl, which might be why I like writing from the outsider’s perspective. After gaining a degree in English Literature at Royal Holloway I utilised my bossy side to become an English teacher. One day, I decided it was about time I wrote a book of my own.
I took a year off school to write my first novel which now lies in a dusty folder under the bed in my parents’ spare room. The Island, my debut novel for young adults, was my third book, but the first to be published.
Many years and books later, my dream of being an author has come true.
I still love teaching though, and enjoy running creative writing workshops during school visits and mentoring emerging writers on the editing process.
‘Olivia is queen of writing flawed characters with compassion and nuance.’
—Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy, People Like Stars
When it comes to writing . . .
I try to fully immerse myself in my characters by living their experiences, eating their meals, and writing in their setting. I foraged like my main character in The Island, writing scenes by a beach fire, and volunteered at a homeless centre to learn what it is like to sleep rough like Willow and Suz in The Circus. The ‘no contact’ rule on Silver’s star ship was inspired by social distancing during Covid lockdowns.
Based in the Midlands I regularly visit West Wales for coastal binge-writing sessions. I also run half-marathons, believing that the stamina and discipline of long-distance running is not so different from writing a novel! I have two grown-up sons and an imaginary dog called Tulip.
Being an author has given me the chance to share my stories, and I am forever grateful to see my books—Silver, The Island, and The Circus—on the shelves of libraries and bookstores.
‘We adore this profoundly moving novel for young adults about what it means to love and be human. It has the power to reduce the reader to tears.’
―Review for Silver, The Sunday Post
About Olivia
I’ve always dreamed of being a writer, with one of my earliest memories being waking my parents up to hand over library fines from my meticulously organized book shelves. We moved frequently and so I was always the new girl, which might be why I like writing from the outsider’s perspective. After gaining a degree in English Literature at Royal Holloway I utilised my bossy side to become an English teacher. One day, I decided it was about time I wrote a book of my own.
I took a year off school to write my first novel which now lies in a dusty folder under the bed in my parents’ spare room. The Island, my debut novel for young adults, was my third book, but the first to be published.
Many years and books later, my dream of being an author has come true.
I still love teaching though, and enjoy running creative writing workshops during school visits and mentoring emerging writers on the editing process.
‘Olivia is queen of writing flawed characters with compassion and nuance.’
—Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy, People Like Stars
When it comes to writing . . .
I try to fully immerse myself in my characters by living their experiences, eating their meals, and writing in their setting. I foraged like my main character in The Island, writing scenes by a beach fire, and volunteered at a homeless centre to learn what it is like to sleep rough like Willow and Suz in The Circus. The ‘no contact’ rule on Silver’s star ship was inspired by social distancing during Covid lockdowns.
Based in the Midlands I regularly visit West Wales for coastal binge-writing sessions. I also run half-marathons, believing that the stamina and discipline of long-distance running is not so different from writing a novel! I have two grown-up sons and an imaginary dog called Tulip.
Being an author has given me the chance to share my stories, and I am forever grateful to see my books—Silver, The Island, and The Circus—on the shelves of libraries and bookstores.
