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Elizabeth Kay

Elizabeth Kay, born July 9, 1949 in London, is an English writer. She is the author of The Divide trilogy, a series of children's fantasy novels.

Before going to art school she attended Nonsuch High School for girls in Cheam. Then went to art school and in her mid-twenties started writing radio plays, which were broadcast on BBC Radio 4. She also wrote stories which were published in newspapers and magazines and broadcast on Capital Radio in London.

Kay has an MA (Distinction) in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, and has taught both Creative Writing and Art for a number of years. She has illustrated several books and produced nearly all the artwork for her own website. An avid wildlife enthusiast, she has travelled extensively to places as diverse as the Ivory Coast, Borneo, Iceland and India.

She has won several awards, including the Cardiff International Poetry Competition for a sestina "Pond Life" and the Canongate Prize for her short story "Cassie".

The Divide, her first book for children, was published in 2003. She was a keynote speaker at Accio 2005, the Harry Potter conference, and spoke at a children's book conference in Ukraine in 2007. She has appeared at other literary events, including the Cheltenham and Edinburgh festivals. Her latest book, Fury, was published by Barrington Stoke in March 2008. She has two grown-up daughters.

Elizabeth's first major work was the fantasy novel 'The Tales of Tivaria', published in 1994. This is a series of stories about a magical kingdom, with characters such as knights, wizards and unicorns. The novel was received well and was followed by four more in the series. The last in the series, 'The War of Winter', won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in 2003.

Elizabeth's stories often focus on the power of friendship and the courage to overcome difficult obstacles. 'The Dragon slayers', for example, tells the story of two young girls who join forces to fight an evil dragon. These themes are important to

Elizabeth, who says that they are "important to help children realise that they have the power to help others and conquer their fears".

Elizabeth's books have become popular across the UK and Europe and have been translated into numerous languages. She has received many awards for her writing and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2011.

Elizabeth Kay has made a lasting contribution to modern children's literature. She helps to inspire young readers with her tales of courage and the power of friendship. Her stories will undoubtedly be enjoyed by children around the world for years to come.

The Divide, her first book for children, was published in 2003. She was a keynote speaker at Accio 2005, the Harry Potter conference, and spoke at a children's book conference in Ukraine in 2007. She has appeared at other literary events, including the Cheltenham and Edinburgh festivals. Her latest book, Fury, was published by Barrington Stoke in March 2008. She has two grown-up daughters.

Bibliography

• The Divide(2000)
• Back to the Divide (2004)
• Jinx On The Divide (2005)
• Furry (2008)
• Hunted (2009)
• Missing Ling (2009)
• The Tree DEvil(2010)
• Ice Feathers(2014)
• Lost in the Desert (2011)