Kate Poels

I am a children's writer, creative writing workshopper and book reviewer. My second book for children, Mima Malone and the Mad Bad Inventor, was published in 2020 and my new book The Pie-Rats will be published in November 2021, illustrated by the brilliant Sarah Horne I review and recommend books on BBC Berkshire regularly as part of the Tuesday afternoon book club and feel privileged to be able to use this platform to shout about the wonder that is children's publishing. You can also find me hanging out on Instagram @katepoelswrites where I post video reviews of children's books I've loved several times a week. If you're lucky you might also stumble across a book giveaway there too! I began my adult life training as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital and then moved to Reading where I took a teaching degree. I've worked in several primary schools, both mainstream and special needs, and continue to spend lots of time in classrooms and school halls one way or another. When I took a break to have my two daughters I began following my other love and wrote my first book. I haven't stopped writing since! I spend a lot of time attending writers' festivals, workshops and book events and I am a member of all sorts of fabulous groups such as the FCBG, Children's Book Circle and SCBWI (all worth googling if you have an interest in children's books and writing.) I now live in Reading with my two sprouting daughters Lily and Jemima, husband Will and the true head of our family... one utterly bonkers collie cross, Pippi.