Mary Chapman has written a range of books for children and young adults including picture books, quick reads and the historical novel Paupers. After attending University College London and Leeds University she taught English in secondary schools. After some years in teaching Mary decided to train as a social worker, and later as a family therapist. In recent years she has achieved her ambition to become a writer. When she is not writing she enjoys discussing books with friends in a book group, art exhibitions, aerobics, walking, and gardening, although she would rather look at other people's gardens than work in her own.