Biographical note

As a child, Julia loved dressing up and making up stories, and her life has revolved around storytelling ever since. She has read stories on radio and TV, narrated stories for audio book companies, run drama workshops for young people and toured schools with Theatre-in-Education productions. Living in the UAE for 45+ years has inspired Julia to write more than 30 stories for children. Her first story, The Pearl Diver,is now read and enjoyed in Primary schools throughout the Gulf and beyond. Julia won Best International Children’s Book at the Sharjah International Book Fair twice, for The Turtle Secret in 2014 and The Secret of The Cave in 2019. The Leopard Boy was awarded a Kirkus star in America, and Michael Morpurgo called it “A beautiful story, a wise and wonderfully told tale”. Aisha’s Pearl published in 2022, was her first collaboration with illustrator Maitha Al Khayat. This year they’ve got together again to bring you the story of Aisha’s Cake. As well as writing Julia enjoys swimming, theatre, wildlife and French markets! Most of all, she loves to spend time with her son and daughter and five grandchildren.