Ruth Symes
Ruth Symes is the author of children's books and TV scripts including several episodes of The Hoobs and award winning animation show PicMe. One of her books Mondays at Monster School was read on the BBC by Jenny Seagrove as part of the bedtime story hour.
Biography
Raised in Enfield where she attended the Bishop Stopford's School at Enfield. 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 turning to writing professionally Ruth had a variety of jobs including teaching children with severe learning challenges – both in the UK and Singapore - where she was actively 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.
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.
In 2006 she moved to Kempston. She is married to Eric Wainwright and is writing adult novels under her married name of Ruth Wainwright.
Published works
Novels
- The Master of Secrets (Puffin Books ; 1997)
- The Mum Trap (Andersen Press ; 2000), which was voted in the top 100 children's books of 2000
- Frankie's Romeo (Orion Children's ; 2002), which received a PAWS drama award in 2001.
Young readers
- Play - if you Dare
- The Twelfth Floor Kids
- Chip's Dad
- Smelly Sock Soup
- The Sarah Song
Picture books
- The Sheep Fairy (Chicken House ; 2003)
- Floppy Ears
- Mondays at Monster School (Orion Children's ; 2005)
- Little Tail (Orion Children's ; 2006)
- Little Rex, Big Brother (Albert Whitman and Company; 1 September 2010) ISBN 978-0-8075-4636-9
Radio
- Big Toe Radio Show for BBC 7
- Adapted The Sun, Moon and Stars for BBC Radio 4
References
- "Ruth Louise Symes (profile)". BBC, Big Toe Radio Show. Retrieved 2006-12-07.