Ruth Symes


Ruth Louise Symes is the author of children's books and TV scripts including several episodes of Channel 4 / Jim Henson Company's series for pre-school children The Hoobs, and award-winning animation series PicMe. She has also worked with Channel 4 as the Writing Coach and Write a Children's Short Story competition Judge on the Richard & Judy show. One of her books Mondays at Monster School was read on BBC television by Jenny Seagrove as part of the bedtime story hour.
Ruth Symes also writes for both adults and children under the pseudonym Megan Rix, with eight novels published by Puffin Books and an adult memoir published by Penguin's Michael Joseph imprint.

Biography

Raised in Enfield where she attended the Bishop Stopford's School at Enfield, Ruth Symes initially taught children with special needs before becoming an author. Her first novel was the Carnegie Medal-nominated The Master of Secrets published in 1999.
Before writing professionally Symes had a variety of jobs, including teaching children with severe learning challenges, both in the UK and Singapore, where she was involved with the South East Asian Special Olympics.
Other jobs have included instructing aerobics, acting in a Chinese soap opera and playing the part of Jill Goose in the pantomime Mother Goose.
In 2006 she moved to Kempston with her husband Eric Wainwright.

Published works

Novels

  • The Master of Secrets
  • The Mum Trap, which was voted in the top 100 children's books of 2000
  • Frankie's Romeo, which received a PAWS drama award in 2001.
  • Bella Donna: Coven Road
  • Bella Donna: ''Too Many Spells
  • Bella Donna: Witchling
  • Bella Donna: Cat Magic
  • Bella Donna: Witch Camp
  • Bella Donna: Bella Bewitched
  • The Secret Animal Society: Cornflake the Dragon
  • The Secret Animal Society: Spike the Sea Serpent
  • The Secret Animal Society: Snowball the Baby Bigfoot''

    Picture books

  • The Sheep Fairy
  • Floppy Ears
  • Mondays at Monster School
  • Harriet Dancing
  • Little Tail
  • Little Rex
  • ''Little Rex, Big Brother''

    Young readers

  • Play - if you Dare
  • The Twelfth Floor Kids
  • Chip's Dad
  • Smelly Sock Soup
  • ''The Sarah Song''

    Radio

  • Big Toe Radio Show for BBC 7
  • Adapted The Sun, Moon and Stars for BBC Radio 4

    Writing as Megan Rix

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