Simon Cheshire
Encyclopedia
Simon Cheshire is a British writer of children's literature. His work has spanned a wide range of age-interest levels, but the majority of his books have been "action-packed comedies" for 8–12 year-olds.
in Coventry. He was enrolled in a local private preparatory school in 1969, Arnold Lodge School
, which he hated attending. He was only marginally less averse to Warwick School
, the public school at which he was educated from the age of thirteen. He studied Philosophy and Psychology at the University Of Hull
, graduating with a PhD.
His early titles, for Walker Books, were illustrated by the acclaimed cartoonist Hunt Emerson
. Among his most successful books have been the Saxby Smart detective stories, widely praised by readers and critics. This is a series of books in which a schoolboy sleuth asks questions of the reader, to create a highly original narrative in which reader and writer interact. There have been eight volumes of Saxby's advantures to date. The first two were published in the USA by Roaring Brook, complete with Americanized text and illustrations by R.W.Alley which show a version of Saxby rather younger than his UK counterpart
Simon Cheshire worked in the book trade until taking up writing full-time in 2001. He was a regular broadcaster on the now defunct national radio station Oneword
.
More recently, he has branched out into publishing, re-issuing his own edition of his first three books as "Jeremy Brown: Spy". Another six self-published titles have followed, the latest being "You've Got To Read This: A Beginner's Guide To Great Writers And The History Of Books", aimed at students up to GCSE level.
Simon Cheshire lives in Warwick, but "spends most of his time in a world of his own".
Childhood and education
He was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. At the time of his birth, his mother was an ex-flying circus wing walker, and his father worked for Alvis CarsAlvis Cars
Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd was a British manufacturing company that existed in Coventry, England from 19191967. In addition to automobiles designed for the civilian market, the company also produced racing cars, aircraft engines, armoured cars and other armoured fighting vehicles, the...
in Coventry. He was enrolled in a local private preparatory school in 1969, Arnold Lodge School
Arnold Lodge School
Arnold Lodge School is a co-educational independent school in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, founded in 1864.The school has approximately 280 day pupils, ranging from kindergarten, aged three, to GCSE pupils aged sixteen...
, which he hated attending. He was only marginally less averse to Warwick School
Warwick School
Warwick School is an independent school with boarding facilities for boys in Warwick, England, and is reputed to be the third-oldest surviving school in the country after King's School, Canterbury and St Peter's School, York; and the oldest boy's school in England...
, the public school at which he was educated from the age of thirteen. He studied Philosophy and Psychology at the University Of Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
, graduating with a PhD.
Writing and career
Inspired principally by the many books he'd read as a child, Simon Cheshire started writing stories while in his mid-teens. It was only once he'd passed his thirtieth birthday and, as he puts it, "finally accepted that his mental age would never exceed ten, he turned to children's books, and at last found his natural habitat". His first book was published in 1997, and since then his work has appeared in a number of different countries and languages.His early titles, for Walker Books, were illustrated by the acclaimed cartoonist Hunt Emerson
Hunt Emerson
Hunt Emerson is a cartoonist living and working in Birmingham, England. He was closely involved with the Birmingham Arts Lab of the mid-to-late 1970s, and with the British underground comics scene of the 1970s and 1980s...
. Among his most successful books have been the Saxby Smart detective stories, widely praised by readers and critics. This is a series of books in which a schoolboy sleuth asks questions of the reader, to create a highly original narrative in which reader and writer interact. There have been eight volumes of Saxby's advantures to date. The first two were published in the USA by Roaring Brook, complete with Americanized text and illustrations by R.W.Alley which show a version of Saxby rather younger than his UK counterpart
Simon Cheshire worked in the book trade until taking up writing full-time in 2001. He was a regular broadcaster on the now defunct national radio station Oneword
Oneword
Oneword Radio was a British commercial digital radio station featuring books, drama, comedy, children's programming, and discussion. The station was available in the UK via digital radio and digital television and was streamed on the internet 24 hours a day worldwide...
.
More recently, he has branched out into publishing, re-issuing his own edition of his first three books as "Jeremy Brown: Spy". Another six self-published titles have followed, the latest being "You've Got To Read This: A Beginner's Guide To Great Writers And The History Of Books", aimed at students up to GCSE level.
Simon Cheshire lives in Warwick, but "spends most of his time in a world of his own".