I was really pleased to see my novel Stick or Twist featured in the Oxford Mail. It gave me the chance to share a little about the inspiration behind the book and my journey in writing it. 

The story follows sixteen-year-old Niko, whose life takes a sudden turn when criminals target his father over secret government testing on the River Thames. With his friend Jacinta, he escapes in a canoe and heads towards London, uncovering strange clues that link gravestones, pollution, and murder to a dangerous mystery. 

The Thames has always fascinated me, and much of the inspiration for this book comes from its history and its secrets. I will admit that I rarely dare to swim in it. After many years working in publishing and now teaching GCSE English, it feels very special to have written a story that connects my love of books with a setting that means so much to me.