N. C. Noel started writing in response to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Having completed the Gold award many years ago, it was time to respond to the challenge when it was announced that a Diamond challenge was being launched to celebrate 60 years of the scheme. So what challenge did she choose: abseil down the Shard, run the London marathon, climb Everest? No, she chose to write a children's book. And so her story started.