I was born in Basingstoke, UK, and later went to Edinburgh University where I graduated with an MA in English Literature and Ancient History. I worked as a children’s book editor in London and New York, before becoming a full-time children’s author. I am married with two children. I have written all my life. In 1986 I won the Selfridges/Parker Pen poetry competition, and in 2004 Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award. My first published poem was in Island of the Children (Orchard 1987), and since then I have had poems and stories included in many anthologies, as well as a YA novel, Hootcat Hill which is published in paperback in March 2009. As well as writing, I also visit schools and libraries, reading stories and hosting poetry workshops for children. You can find out more at my website, http://www.lucycoats.com and I also blog on http://www.scribblecitycentral.blogspot.com and http://www.awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com  You can follow my tweets on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/lucycoats