Sue Palmer
Based in South Oxfordshire, Sue has worked with school and pre-school charities for a decade, and she now writes full time adventure stories for 7 to 12-year-olds. Sue studied German and International Studies at the University of Warwick, before a career in sales and skills training.
Sue runs KS2 space and creative writing-themed workshops to primary schools, prep schools, libraries, festivals and bookshops, weaving the space research she carried out for her writing into her fictional stories.
Her characters are ordinary children who display extraordinary traits as they look for answers and chase their dreams.
Creating her May's Moon adventures has given Sue a real interest in past, current and future space exploration and she loves meeting astronauts. As part of Sue’s research she was involved with local primary schools in Tim Peake's rocket science project and two European Space Agency initiatives as well as meeting several astronauts!
Sue runs KS2 space and creative writing-themed workshops to primary schools, prep schools, libraries, festivals and bookshops, weaving the space research she carried out for her writing into her fictional stories.
Her characters are ordinary children who display extraordinary traits as they look for answers and chase their dreams.
Creating her May's Moon adventures has given Sue a real interest in past, current and future space exploration and she loves meeting astronauts. As part of Sue’s research she was involved with local primary schools in Tim Peake's rocket science project and two European Space Agency initiatives as well as meeting several astronauts!
Ali Sparkes
Ali is a journalist and BBC broadcaster who regularly exploits her sons, as an in-house focus group for her children's novels. She was a local newspaper reporter and columnist before joining BBC Radio Solent as a producer and presenter.
Though she wrote stories from the age of 6 to make her friends and family laugh, she grew up adoring adventure stories about kids who mess about in the woods and still likes to mess about in the woods herself whenever possible. She lives in Southampton with her husband, two sons and Willow the labradoodle.
Through childhood. Ali always wanted to be an Actor and a singer. She worked backstage in London's West End and sang in bands, before going into journalism and then starting to write books.
Her first book was "The Shapeshifter: Finding a Fox", the first in the 'five part' series of adventures about Dax Jones, published in 2006. She has now published more than 40 books. She regularly visits schools and is featured in book festivals.
Ali’s stories capture the imagination of children everywhere, and her novel Frozen in Time won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award in 2010.
Though she wrote stories from the age of 6 to make her friends and family laugh, she grew up adoring adventure stories about kids who mess about in the woods and still likes to mess about in the woods herself whenever possible. She lives in Southampton with her husband, two sons and Willow the labradoodle.
Through childhood. Ali always wanted to be an Actor and a singer. She worked backstage in London's West End and sang in bands, before going into journalism and then starting to write books.
Her first book was "The Shapeshifter: Finding a Fox", the first in the 'five part' series of adventures about Dax Jones, published in 2006. She has now published more than 40 books. She regularly visits schools and is featured in book festivals.
Ali’s stories capture the imagination of children everywhere, and her novel Frozen in Time won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award in 2010.
Libby Jackson
Libby Jackson is one of Britain’s leading experts in human spaceflight, having spent over a decade working at the forefront of the field. Space was a childhood passion and after completing degrees in physics at Imperial College and astronautics and space engineering at Cranfield University, she has worked in the space industry ever since. Libby spent seven years working at the European Space Agency’s Mission Control for the International Space Station in a number of roles including her dream job as a Columbus Flight Director. She played a key role in Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station and continues to work in the field. Libby is a frequent contributor on television and radio, including Stargazing Live, The Big Think: Should We Go To Mars? and Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? Libby is passionate about sharing stories of human spaceflight and encouraging young people to follow their passions in life. Her first book, A Galaxy of Her Own: Amazing Stories of Women in Space was published in 2017. Space Explorers: 25 Extraordinary Stories of Space Exploration and Adventure published in September 2020 with Wren and Rook.
Lilian Hobbs
Lilian studied and specialised in computer database development. Though has a wide interest in cycling, motorcycling and golf, her key interests are photography and astronomy, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society early 2021. She has a collection of telescopes at home, recently homing on the Lunar surfaces.
Catherine Barr
Author of ‘The Story of Space’, ‘Pocket Manual Space’ and ‘The Beautiful Blue Planet’.
Following a degree in ecology, and with a passion for environmental issues, Catherine worked for Greenpeace and the Natural History Museum in London before becoming a children’s author. She has written about 25 narrative nonfiction picture books, published in many languages. All of her books are aimed at inspiring children's curiosity about the natural world. With colourful pages created by extraordinary illustrators, her stories spark conversations, questions and action to protect our planet.
Following a degree in ecology, and with a passion for environmental issues, Catherine worked for Greenpeace and the Natural History Museum in London before becoming a children’s author. She has written about 25 narrative nonfiction picture books, published in many languages. All of her books are aimed at inspiring children's curiosity about the natural world. With colourful pages created by extraordinary illustrators, her stories spark conversations, questions and action to protect our planet.