The Ruby of Carminel

A Londoner by birth and a Devonian by adoption, Roger Mortimer originally worked for an advertising agency, where he met his wife; they have been married for over forty years. He then became an actor, training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and working in theatres up and down the country. Finally he became a teacher at Highgate Junior School in North London, where he started the school library, taught History, English and Drama and directed over twenty plays. (One of his former pupils is Tom Hooper, director of 'The King's Speech'.) While teaching at Highgate, Roger wrote the Mouse Kingdom trilogy.

He has now retired from teaching and he and his wife live in Devon. One of their daughters is a teacher in a North London primary school; the other is an actress, currently on a world tour of Richard III.

Roger enjoys gardening, photography and reading novels: his favourite author is Bernard Cornwell, author of the Sharpe series. When his wife allows him into the kitchen, Roger also enjoys cooking - curries are his speciality. He loves archery, and spends Sunday mornings at his local archery club, pretending he's at Agincourt. He volunteers as a reader for talking newspapers for the blind, and he particularly enjoys his role as a volunteer Steward and Guide at Exeter Cathedral.