Thousands of writers dream of hitting the big time with their first novel. And that’s exactly what Beth Reekles has done. The su...

My last pressing book review is done and dusted - so now I can’t wait to get down to some pre-Christmas read...

The hall’s full of bike bits, there’s a ton of washing (make that two tons) scattered across the floor and a well-thumbed copy o...

My children are both at university now – but out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind. Far from it. The fact that I don’t see the...

I’ve interviewed Professor Tanya Byron several times over the years and she talks more sense about children and teenagers than a...

A glorious Lake District hotel is just about the last place I’d expect to start offering facials, massages and manicures to the ...

There’s an autumn chill in the air, the garden is covered in leaves and the traffic in Oxford has resumed its usual snail-like craw...

Like thousands of other teenagers, my son is counting the days till he starts university. He’s bought the Freshers' Week...

School’s out for my teenage son, who’s finished his scary exams and plans to spend the next six weeks on his bike. His new obsession has co...

The windscreen wipers were going at top speed as we drove home from the stupendous Laura Marling concert on Saturday night. But the singer...

The National Literacy Trust has revealed that boys are falling behind in reading. Sixty thousand boys aren’t reaching the required levels o...

Selfridge’s, Cos, Space NK, The Hambledon in Winchester – just a few of my favourite shops. But I reckon the emporium I’m going to be freque...

It was my birthday yesterday and the last day of my son’s exams – so what better way to celebrate than afternoon tea in Oxford? And what b...

As the credits rolled my daughter took a long sideways glance at me and groaned. “I can’t take you anywhere,” she joked. “Why do you alw...

When I’m not reviewing books, writing novels or blogging, I have a day job as an education journalist. My children have never been keen on m...

I’m not David Cameron’s number one fan but I do feel a bit sorry for him and his wife Samantha right now. The papers are full of the day ...

Phew, what a scorcher… I’ve wanted to write those words ever since my newspaper days.  But deep down I wish the azure blue skies and swelte...

Even though it was my number one ambition in life, I didn’t start writing my first novel till my thirties. But that’s late...

As the exam season kicks in with a vengeance, my student daughter hit on a brilliant idea to revise for her impending French oral. She and ...

Did you know there’s a new syndrome called “competitive tiredness?” Apparently loads of us spend our lives bickering about who is the most t...