Kaye Umansky

Kaye Umansky is the author of over 130 books for young readers. She lives in London with a nice husband (Mo) a nice daughter (Ella) and two crazy cats called Heathcliff and Jeremy. When asked about her inspiration for Clover Twig, she said: "I am really scared of heights, ever since getting stuck up a cliff as a kid. I can't even do step-ladders. But, funnily enough, I'd love to be able to fly! That would be my chosen super-power. When I was small, we used to go on long country walks, and the only way I could drag my aching little legs up the endless hills was to imagine that there was a flying carpet/horse with wings/wizard in an air balloon waiting for me around the next corner. I know I would be scared rigid in a flying cottage in real life, so I let my characters do it, which is the next best thing. Although even writing about it makes me feel air-sick!"