The King's Hats

I'm sitting at my desk, in my little blue shed in my garden, thinking, 'how lucky I am to be sitting in my little blue shed in my garden'. It's my favourite place, where I do my favourite thing - writing.

I was 50 years old when I had my first book published. My mother always said I'd be a late developer.

The first book I wrote was about a big, bad cat called Sam. It was for adults who had lost the ability to read and were learning to read all over again. I didn't envy them. I had enough trouble doing it the first time. Since then Sam, the big bad cat has been rewritten as a children's reading book. Now I have written several learning to read books, picture books and story books and am lucky enough to take my books to schools, read them and talk about them (another one of my favourite things to do). Some of my books have gone to faraway places like, China, Australia, Slovakia and America.

A famous writer once said that writing is the most fun you can have on your own. I think he is right. I also think that reading is fun when I'm on my own. I'd rather read a good book than watch the television, though I do watch films, Dr. Who and any science fiction. Oh yes, and absolutely anything to do with the Arthurian legends. I would love to meet Merlin. I think I own almost every book there is about Arthur and the knights of the round table. Perhaps one day I will be fortunate enough to be asked to write something about King Arthur and Merlin - who knows?

When I'm not writing I enjoy reading other people's books. I loved all the Harry Potter books and all the films that went with them. I like scary books, funny books and happy books.

I have always loved magic. Perhaps that is because my Grandfather was a magician.

When I have time I write pantomime scripts, plays and novels for adults. And sometimes I cook, clean, do the washing and spend time weeding the garden!

Mark Beech was born in Pendle, Lancashire and loved to draw from an early age. His very popular work regularly includes scary dragons, wild dinosaurs, grumpy witches and many other whacky creatures. He is the illustrator of all the Magic Faraway Tree books. Mark lives in the Forest of Bowland, where he enjoys walking with his dog Bungle.