Ruth Symes
Encyclopedia
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.
. 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.
The Hoobs
The Hoobs is a BAFTA-winning children's television programme created and produced by The Jim Henson Company. It stars five creatures called Hoobs from the fictional Hoobland, and their interactions with Earth and the human race...
and award winning animation show PicMe. One of her books Mondays at Monster School was read on the BBC by Jenny Seagrove
Jenny Seagrove
Jennifer Ann Seagrove is an English actress. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and rose to fame playing the lead in a TV dramatisation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance and the 1983 film Local Hero...
as part of the bedtime story hour.
Biography
Raised in Enfield where she attended the Bishop Stopford's School at EnfieldBishop Stopford's School at Enfield
There is also a school of a similar name in Kettering.Bishop Stopford's School at Enfield, commonly known as Bishop Stopford's or just Bishop's, is a voluntary aided co-educational secondary school specialising in mathematics and computing, and engineering, with a sixth form. The school has...
. Symes initially taught children with special needs before becoming an author. Her first novel was the Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
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
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
- 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
Mother Goose
The familiar figure of Mother Goose is an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes which are often published as Mother Goose Rhymes. As a character, she appears in one "nursery rhyme". A Christmas pantomime called Mother Goose is often performed in the United Kingdom...
.
She has also worked with Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
as the Writing Coach and Write a Children's Short Story competition Judge on the Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
show.
In 2006 she moved to Kempston
Kempston
Kempston is a town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. Once known as the largest village in England, Kempston is now a town with its own town council. It has a population of about 20,000, and together with Bedford, it forms an urban area with around 100,000 inhabitants, which is the...
. She is married to Eric Wainwright and is writing adult novels under her married name of Ruth Wainwright.
Novels
- The Master of Secrets (Puffin BooksPuffin BooksPuffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...
; 1997) - The Mum Trap (Andersen Press ; 2000), which was voted in the top 100 children's books of 2000
- Frankie's Romeo (Orion Children'sOrion Publishing GroupOrion Publishing Group Ltd. is a UK-based book publisher. It is owned by Hachette Livre. In 1998 Orion bought Cassell.-History:Full history of the group can be found on Orion Publishing Group is owned by -Imprints:...
; 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 978-0807546369
Radio
- Big Toe Radio Show for BBC 7BBC 7BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital radio station broadcasting comedy, drama, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC's archive of spoken-word entertainment...
- Adapted The Sun, Moon and Stars for BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...