From green fingers to ink stains

Former Kingsley School pupil and Oxford modern languages graduate Nicola Palmer had already changed career once, setting up a landscape gardening business at the age of 30, winning prizes and exhibiting at Hampton Court Palace.

But she always wanted to write books for children, and had the chance when she was unable to work during recent bitter winters.

Her creation was teenager Alice Parker, plagued by mysterious aches and pains and uncontrollable sugar cravings but top of the class in every subject.

In her first book, Alice Parker’s Metamorphosis Alice learns she’s part of a race that has evolved over centuries to function in modern society with hidden abilities, and in its sequel Alice Parker and the Mind Magician, she is beginning to enjoy her abilities - until a sinister enemy begins controlling people around her.

Nicola, 34, said: “There are a few coming of age issues in there. It’s about fitting in, that sort of thing.

“There are probably elements of my own childhood, but she is genuinely quite a strong minded 13-year-old. I’ve tried to turn that around and make being different something positive.

“I’m trying to write for children of ten and over who have had enough of wizards and who aren’t quite ready for vampires and werewolves.”

The Alice Parker books are available from Kenilworth Books.