Jacky got her first job working in magazines when she was just seventeen. She was such a typical teenager that they called the magazine 'Jackie' after her.

She spends so much time visiting schools that nowadays she writes most of her stories on trains. Luckily she writes all her books by hand in a little notebook so she can keep on writing.

Jacky has always loved telling stories. When she was young she made hundreds and hundreds of paper dolls. These were her first 'characters'. They were the kind of girls who had a lot of problems in their real lives but they coped with them by escaping into the inner world of their imagination.

Jacky's first book was published when she was 24. She started by writing crime novels for adults but has been writing for children since 1973. She has written over 50 books for children and has won many prizes, including the Children's Book Award twice, which gives her great pleasure as it is voted for by children. In 2005 Jacky was made the Children's Laureate.

Of her own books she likes Double Act and The Illustrated Mum the best. When Jacky's not writing, she's reading.

She never travels without her rings (well, she's wearing them) or a book, even when she's just nipping down to the shops!

Jacky swims 50 lengths before breakfast every morning and gets the rest of her exercise from line dancing, which she loves.