The New Hide-out

After working as a designer for Usborne Publishing, I left in 2000 to concentrate on illustration. I now live in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy in Manchester with my teacher husband Steve and two daughters, Lara and Natasha.

I've just started to dip my toes into writing children's stories, heavily influenced I'm sure by my favourite books as a child, The Faraway Tree trilogy by Enid Blyton, which my daughters now love too, and pretty much every Roald Dahl book written. I love illustration, and try and buy every beautiful book I come across to add to my collection. Illustrators like Nicoletta Ceccoli, Benjamin Lacombe, Charles Fuge and Shaun Tan are just utterly fabulous! Plus, I love the line work of Quentin Blake and Chris Riddell. I love music, and working alone, listening to it keeps me sane! I try and get out to live gigs when I can, also the cinema when I can beg, borrow or steal a babysitter for the evening!

Catherine Coe grew up in the most easterly town in the UK, Lowestoft, and as a result loves the sea (take her anywhere near a beach and she's likely to run off for a paddle, no matter the time of year). Her childhood was full of imagined games and adventures, often taking place on the beach or over craggy rocks. These far-flung worlds and make-believe dreams fuel her writing today.

Catherine has written eight books in the fun and action-packed Kid Cowboy series for young readers. The stories are full of adventure and child appeal and feature fantastic full-colour illustrations by Jan McCafferty.

Catherine is also a children's book editor with many years of experience. She adores her jobs and feels very lucky indeed; spending most days reading and writing children's books is a dream come true.

Catherine lives in London with her partner. As well as books (and the sea), she also loves sushi, running, making clothes and travelling. Her favourite book is The Hobbit and her favourite place to travel is California.