Annie Dalton
About Author
Annie Dalton was born in Dorset and grew up in the country during the fifties. She claims she didn't intend to be a writer when she was young, but the discovery of a local library nourished her love of books from an early age.
Annie studied at Warwick University and soon began to write. She quickly established herself as a successful children's writer when her second story The Real Tilly Beany was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, as was Night Maze. The After Dark Princess won the Nottinghamshire Book Award and Naming the Dark and Swan Sister were both shortlisted for the Sheffield Children's Book Award. As a result of being asked to contribute a story for A Century of Stories, an anthology compiled by Wendy Cooling and published by Collins Children's Books, she created the angel Mel Beeby. From this one-off story the hugely successful Angels Unlimited series was created.
The Angels Unlimited series, rebranded and relaunched in 2005 as Mel Beeby, Agent Angel, focuses on the adventures of a feisty 13-year-old angel who travels through time and helps children in trouble. The first title, Winging It, has sold over 80,000 copies since its publication in January 2001. Losing the Plot, published in July 2001, sold 22,000 copies in just three months. Subsequent titles have included Flying High, Calling the Shots, Fogging Over, Fighting Fit, Making Waves, Budding Star and Keeping it Real, published in July 2005. Disney films have taken an option on the series.
In addition, Annie has written the delightful Lilac Peabody series for younger readers, focusing on the adventures of a little extraterrestrial busybody, who is a friend to all children who need her. Lilac Peabody and Sam Sparks (January 2004) Lilac Peabody and Bella Bright (June 2004), Lilac Peabody and Charlie Chase (January 2005) and Lilac Peabody and Honeysuckle Hope (June 2005).
Annie Dalton has worked as a waitress, a cleaner, a factory worker and as a Writer in Residence in a prison, an experience she claims changed her life: 'I was there for three years, on and off, and it changed me completely'. She now lives in Suffolk and her reputation as a successful children's author continues to grow. Annie's writing is lively, contemporary and witty; she tackles very real subjects with both humour and sensitivity.
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