Clare is a former primary school teacher turned writing tutor and children’s author, living in South West England with her husband and two children. Clare does her best writing by the sea (or on the sofa with a dog on her lap!), which is lucky because she lives close to many beautiful beaches and the salty sea air (and has a dog called Hope!)
When Clare isn’t writing stories, she is inspiring children to write their own. She loves visiting schools, libraries, bookshops and festivals in her authormobile, giving her an outlet for her BIG ideas. Once she helped a class make a giant rice crispy cake that was so wide it wouldn’t fit through the door!
But her best idea yet has been putting pen to paper. Clare loves writing whacky, funny books but is also passionate about writing stories that help children deal with big feelings and difficult issues, including dementia, divorce and serious heath issues. She has recently started writing books that are a mix of fact and fiction, interweaving non-fiction with brilliant storytelling.
Clare is the founder of Books That Help – an initiative that aims to celebrate picture books and how they can be used therapeutically to navigate life’s up and downs..
Clare is represented by Alice Williams of Alice Williams Literary.
Clients include:
Andersen Press, Harper Collins, Ladybird, Little Tiger Press, Nosy Crow, Maverick Books, Pan Macmillan, Storyhouse Publishing, Quarto Ltd.
Awards include:
‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!‘ (Nicola O’Byrne, Macmillan, 2021) – shortlisted for the LOLLIES Picture Book Award 2023
‘Slime? It’s Not Mine!‘ (Nicola O’Byrne, Macmillan, 2022) – winner of Books For Topics’ Book of the Year (KS1 Best Curriculum Support 2022)
‘Poo! Is That You?’ (Nicola O’Byrne, Macmillan, 2020) – shortlisted for The North Gate Book Awards 2022
‘Sunshine At Bedtime’ (Sally Sowoel Han, Storyhouse Book, 2022) Finalist in the Teach Primary Awards 2002.
‘The Tide’ (Ashling Lindsay, Little Tiger Press, 2019) – winner of The North Somerset Teacher’s Book Award 2019, winner of SCBWI-BI Crystal Kite Award 2020, Honour Award for Illustration at The Children’s Book Awards, Ireland 2020.
‘The Perfect Shelter’ (Asa Gilland, Little Tiger 2020) – shortlisted for the InstaBookGrammies 2020.
Please get in contact if you’d like to book an event or visit. Clare loves all opportunities to work with young readers and their families. In fact, she loves doing events SO MUCH she has started keeping an ‘Event Count!’
*217 events and counting!*
EVENT COUNT
1.
Marldon C of E Primary School, Devon (Tuesday 9th June 2015)
2.
Summer Reading Challenge 2015 at Ivybridge Library (Saturday 11th July 2015)
3.
Newton Abbot Carnival (Saturday 11th July 2015)
4.
White Rock Festival of Learning (Saturday 19th September 2015)
5.
Dunstone Primary School (22nd September 2017)
6.
The Erme Primary School (24th September 2015)
7.
BBC Radio Devon: Interview with David Fitzgerald (Wednesday 30th September and Sunday 3rd October 2015)
8.
The Maverick Book Launch (1st October 2015)
9.
Sparkwell All Saints Primary School (Monday 5th October 2015)
10.
Lady Seawards Primary School (Tuesday 6th October 2015)
11.
Marldon Pre-school Playgroup (Tuesday 13th October 2015)
12.
Mr Biscuits Cafe, Newton Abbot (Saturday 17th October 2015)
13.
West Thornton Primary Academy, Croydon (Tuesday 20th October 2014)
14.
Waterstones, Drake Circus, Plymouth (Saturday 24th October 2014)
15.
Biscuit Book Launch, Daunt Books, Chelsea (Wednesday 28th October 2015)
16.
Ivybridge Library (Saturday 28th November 2015)
17.
White Rock Primary School- World Book Week (Thursday 3rd March 2016)
18.
Newton Ferrors C of E Primary School
19
Lady Seaward C of E Primary School- World Book Week (Friday 4th March 2016)
20.
The Launch of Libraries Unlimited, Kingsbridge Library (Saturday 24th April 2016)
21.
RHS Rosemoor with Entertainingly Different (Thursday 12th August 2016)
22.
Waterstones, Drake Circus, Plymouth (Saturday 23rd October 2016)
23.
St Cleer Primary School- World Book Week 2017(28th February -2nd March 2017)
24.
Warberry C of E Primary School-World Book Week 2017 (28th February -2nd March 2017)
25.
Elburton Primary School- World Book Week 2017 (28th February -2nd March 2017)
26.
Beautiful Days Festival, Exeter (18th-20th August 2017)
27.
Exeter Waterstones with Picture Book Club (Tuesday 23rd August)
28.
Dartmouth Bookshop Crawl with Devon Book Club (7th October 2017)
29.
Story time at Exeter Library (27th October 2017)
30:
SCBWI Mass Book Launch, Winchester (25th November 2017)
31:
Maverick Book Launch and Christmas Party (3rd December 2017)
32.
Blackpool C of E Primary School (7th February 2018)
33.
Leigham Primary School (21st February 2018)
34.
Ipplepen Primary School, Newton Abbot (5th March 2018)
35.
Federation of Children’s Book Group, Ocean Studios, Plymouth (29th May 2018)
36.
Launch of Seamoor Lotto, Follaton House (30th May 2018)
37.
Brixham Library (31st May 2018)
38.
Leukaemia Cancer Society (6th July 2018)
39.
Torquay Library (24th August 2018)
40.
‘Waterstones, Gower Street, A Dog and Duck’ book launch
41.
The Dog and Duck, Soho, A Dog and Duck’ book launch
42.
‘ A Really Rude Event’ with Clare Helen Welsh, Brixham Library
43.
‘A Really Rude Event’ with Clare Helen Welsh, Totnes Library
44.
‘A Really Rude Event,’ at Ivybridge Library (With The Erme Primary School and
Stowford Primary School)
45.
‘A Really Rude Event’ Newton Abbot library (The Passmore Edwards Centre) (9th February 2019)
46.
‘A Really Rude Event’- Exeter library (22nd February 2019)
47.
Federation Children’s Book Group (FCBG)- Plymouth School Creative Arts
(26th February 2019)
48.
Roselands Primary School (5th March 2019)
49.
Marldon Pre-School Playgroup (6th March 2019)
50.
Polam School (7th March 2019)
51.
Murdishaw West Community Primary School (8th March 2019)
52.
Blackpool C of E Primary School (4th April 2019)
53.
Lyndhurst Primary School (9th April 2019)
54.
Ipplepen Primary School (20th May 2019)
55.
Newton Abbot Library (31st May 2019)
56.
‘The Tide’ Book Launch, Broadsands Beach (31st May 2019)
57.
Halberton Primary School, Tiverton (6th June 2019)
58.
Tidcombe Primary School, Tiverton (6th June 2019)
59.
Bampton C of E Primary School, Tiverton (6th June 2019)
60.
Wolborough Primary School, at Newton Abbot Library (11th June 2019)
61.
Torbridge and Cann Bridge Schools, at Torbridge Library (12th June 2019)
62.
CredLitFest ‘Pop Up’ Bookshop, Crediton (22nd June 2019)
63.
Blackpool C of E Primary School, Liverton (26th June 2019)
64.
Buckfast Abbey Children’s Book Festival (11-12th July 2019)
65.
Newton Abbot Library, Devon (23rd August 2019)
66.
Exeter Library, Devon (27th August 2019)
67.
SCBWI Mass Book Launch (2nd November 2019)
68.
North Somerset Teacher’s Book Award (9th November 2019)
69.
Wolborough Primary School, Newton Abbot (20th November 2019)
69.
Torquay Library (11th January 2020)
70.
Minehead First School, Minehead (2nd March 2020)
71.
Tidemill Academy, Deptford (3rd March 2020)
72.
Town Farm Primary School, Stanwell (4th March 2020)
73.
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Malmesbury (5th March 2020)
74.
Plymouth School Creative Arts Plymouth (6th March 2020)
75.
The British International School of Marbella (Skype, 10th March 2020)
76.
Virtual Story time with Torquay Library (13th April 2020)
77.
Virtual interactive storytelling with Rob Pudner, Entertainingly Different (17th April 2020)
78.
BBC Radio Devon: Interview with Pippa Quelch (Friday 17th April 2020)
79.
Virtual Book Launch and Duck Race for How Selfish, with Plymouth Children’s Book Group and Harbour Bookshop. (21st April 2020)
80.
Virtual interactive storytelling with Rob Pudner, Entertainingly Different (24th April 2020)
81.
Virtual Storytelling with Quarto Kids – How Rude! (15th May 2020)
82.
KPMG Children’s Book Ireland Awards – The Tide wins the honour award for Ashling’s illustrations (19th May 2020)
83.
Virtual Readathon with Torbay Libraries – How Rude! (28th May 2020)
84.
The Opening of The Summer Reading Challenge with Devon Libraries (2nd July 2020) – Watch the video here
85.
How Selfish! Library event with Devon Libraries and Libraries Unlimited (23rd July 2020)
86.
Poo! Is that you? performed by Cat and Hutch for The Bright Emporium (26th July 2020)
87.
#UKPBCHAT Twitter Chat- Animal Protagonists in Picture Books (26th July 2020)
88.
The Perfect Shelter; A project with Refugees- Erasmus/ All Saints Primary School (25th August 2020)
89.
WMChat Twitter Chat for Write Mentor (24th Sept 2020)
90.
WOWCON workshop – ‘Crafting a Standout Story’ (25th Sept 2020)
91.
WOWCON- Picture Book Panel with Ellie Farmer and Alice Williams (26th Sept 2020)
92.
YLG Panel 2020: Authors in the Picture (17th Nov 2020)
93.
Authors Aloud Virtual Party (18th Nov 2020)
94.
SCBWI BI Crystal Kite Award (28th Nov 2020)
95.
Virtual Visit to Prometheus School, Delhi – World Read Aloud Day (3rd February 2021)
96.
Storytelling Week with Twinkl – ‘The Perfect Shelter’ (10th February 2021)
97.
Virtual Visit to Torquay Library – ‘Poo! Is that you?’ reading and story session (19th February 2021)
98.
World Book Week at Bromham Primary School – ‘Aerodynamics of Biscuits’ (3rd March 2021)
99.
World Book Week at Minehead First School – Aerodynamics of Biscuits (4th March 2021)
100.
World Book Week at Akeley Wood School – ‘Poo! Is that you?’ (4th March 2021)
101.
World Book Week at Torbridge Primary and Ernesettle Community School – ‘The Masked Reader?’ (4th March 2021)
102.
World Book Week at Crossways Infant School – ‘Poo! Is that you?’ (4th March 2021)
103.
World Book Week with Snug Bookshop – ‘Poo! Is that you?’ (8th March 2021)
104.
World Book Week at Thorpe Acre Infant School – ‘Poo! Is that you?’ (March 2021)
105.
The Book Chain Project – Interview with Hannah Gold (10th March 2021)
106.
World Book Week with Snug Bookshop – ‘Poo! Is that you?’ ( 12th March 2021)
107.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and Marine Academy, Plymouth (29th March 2021)
108.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and Thomas Russel Infant School, Staffordshire (29th March 2021)
109.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and Lime Tree Primary Academy, Manchester (30th March 2021)
110.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and Spalding Primary School, Lincolnshire (30th March 2021)
111.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and Heronswood Primary Academy, Kidderminster (30th March 2021)
112.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and Carglaze Community Primary School, Cornwall (31st March 2021)
113.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and Stoughton Infant School, Surrey (31st March 2021)
114.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and The District CE Primary School, St Helens (1st April 2021)
115.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and St Helens Primary School (1st April 2021)
116.
Lenny On Tour! – ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ with Reading Rocks and South Hams Federation, Devon (1st April 2021)
117.
BOOK LAUNCH! ‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ hosted by Stories by the Sea (1st April 2021)
118.
How to Make a Picture Book!’ Claremont Primary School (27th April 2021)
119.
‘Poo! Is that You?/ Wee? It Wasn’t Me! event’ with Parish C of E Primary School, St Helen’s (30th April 2021)
120.
‘How Rude/How Selfish!’ event’ with Castle Hill Primary School, Suffulk (5th May2021)
121.
Interview with David Fitz, BBC Radio Devon (10th May 2021)
122.
‘The Tide’ workshop with Torquay Library for Dementia Action Week (20th May 2021)
123.
‘Poo! Is that you?/ Wee? It Wasn’t Me!’ event with St Bernadette’s Primary School, Birmingham (27th May 2021)
124.
‘Writing from Within’ workshop with Devon Carers (9th June 2021)
125.
‘Writing from Within’ workshop with Devon Carers (11th June 2021)
126.
Radio Interview with Rob Pudner Artz4U, Soundart Radio (5th July 2021)
127.
‘Author Interview for The Tide’ Blackpool C of E Primary School (13th July 2021)
128.
HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall Devon Tour, Exeter Cathedral (19th July 2021)
129.
Book signing, East Gate Bookshop (4th Sept 2021)
130.
Book signing, The Ivybridge Bookshop (4th Sept 2021)
131.
Library Opening, St Ives Infant School (10th Sept 2021)
132.
St Ives Literary Festival, Stories by the Sea (11th Sept 2021)
133.
Interview with Emma Ruminski, BBC Spotlight (14th Sept 2021)
134.
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, St Peter’s Primary School (16th Sept 2021)
135.
First Pages Panel, Write Mentor’s WOWCON21 (24th Sept 2021)
136.
Write A Picture Book in Two Hours, Write Mentor’s WOWCON21 (26th Sept 2021)
137.
Storytelling at The Ivybridge Bookshop, Bookshop Day 21 (9th Oct 2021)
139.
Scissorella School Tour, Stowford Primary School (10th Nov 2021)
140.
Scissorella School Tour, Reading Rocks Virtual Event with Laura Barrett (11th Nov 2021)
141.
Scissorella School Tour, Shaugh Prior and Cornwood Primary School (16th Nov 2021)
142.
Scissorella School Tour, The Erme Primary School (16th Nov 2021)
143.
Scissorella School Tour, Sherford Vale Primary School (18th Nov 2021)
144.
Time to Move South for Winter Storytelling and Crafts at Torquay Library (20th Nov 2021)
145.
Time to Move South for Winter Storytelling and Crafts at Newton Abbot Library (20th Nov 2021)
146.
Storytelling and Crafts at Little Lambs, Wroughton (24th Nov 2021)
147.
Behind the Scenes with Scissorella – Q & A with Chicken And Frog (15th Dec 2021)
148.
Storytelling Day – with Ivybridge Bookshop (29th Jan 2022)
149.
Library Adventures! – Scissorella event with Kirlees Library (1st Feb 2022)
150.
Scissorella Storytime – Newton Abbot Library (12th Feb 2022)
151.
Scissorella Storytime – Torquay Library (26th Feb 2022)
152.
The Grove Primary School, Totnes, with East Gate Bookshop (28th Feb 2022)
153.
Minehead Primary School (1st March 2022)
154.
Old Cleeve Primary School (2nd March 2022)
155.
Seaton Primary School, with Owl and Pyramid Bookshop (3rd March 2022)
156.
Musbury Primary School, with Owl and Pyramid Bookshop (3rd March 2022)
157.
Cornerstone Academy Trust – virtual visits (4th March 2022)
158.
St John’s Primary School, Totnes (8th March 2022)
159.
English Riviera Literature Festival at Palace Theatre, Paignton -Lenny The Lemur (12th March 2022)
160.
English Riviera Literature Festival at Palace Theatre, Paignton -Dot and Duck (12th March 2022)
161.
Picture Book Workshop for SCBWI, Bristol (19th March 2022)
162.
Interview with David Sheppard, BBC Radio Devon (29th March 2022)
163.
Instagram Live with Ian Eagleton from The Reading Realm (13th April 2022)
164.
Launch for Sunshine At Bedtime with The Ivybridge Bookshop (14th April 2022)
165.
Write Mentor Picture Book Weekend (7-8th May 2022)
166.
Sharpham Re-Wilding Festival with East Gate Bookshop (14th May 2022)
167.
Interview with Shelly Mac, Instagram Live (Wednesday 25th May 2022)
168.
Visit to Kersall Drive, Heathfield Primary School, Nottingham (26th May 2022)
169.
Visit to Scotland Road, Heathfield Primary School, Nottingham (26th May 2022)
170.
Slime? It’s Not Mine event at Stories By The Sea, St Ives (28th May 2022)
171.
How Messy event at The Ivybridge Bookshop (4th June 2022)
172.
‘Slime? It’s Not Mine!’ event at The Ivybridge Bookshop (11th June 2022)
173.
Sunshine At Bedtime/ Aerodynamics of Biscuits ‘Summer Reading Challenge‘ event at Torquay Library (7th July 2022)
174.
Sunshine At Bedtime/ Aerodynamics of Biscuits ‘Summer Reading Challenge’ event at Crediton Library (28th July 2022)
175.
Double Book Launch with Write Mentor for ‘Everything Changes’ and ‘All The Animals Were Sleeping’ (4th August 2022)
176.
‘Slime? It’s Not Mine!’ event at Torquay Library (24th August 2022)
177.
Reading Zone ‘Reading For Pleasure’ Conference (22nd September 2022)
178.
WOWCON 2022 PB Draft to Acquisition (24th September 2022)
179.
Virtual Story time- Grade 1- with Shinagawa International School, Japan (3rd October 2022)
180.
Virtual Story time- Grade 2- with Shinagawa International School, Japan (3rd October 2022)
190.
Visit to Marlborough and South Huish VW Primary School (6th October 2022)
191.
Bookshop Day Storytelling Festival at Ivybridge Bookshop (8th October 2022)
192.
South Dartmoor Edge Festival, Ivybridge (15th October 2022)
193.
‘Books That Help’ Webinar with Elie Farmer and Little Tiger Press (19th October 2022)
194.
Light Project with Entertainingly Different (24th October 2022)
195.
Storytelling and crafts with The Bookery (28th October 2022)
196.
Visit to Kenton Primary School (10th November 2022)
197.
Visit to BookStop, St Helens (17th November 2022)
198.
Visit to Parish CE Primary School, St Helens (18th November 2022)
199.
SCBWI Mass Book Launch, Manchester (20th November 2022)
200.
Visit to St Marychurch C of E Primary School (9th December 2022)
201.
Visit to Ipplepen Primary School (30th January 2023)
202.
Visit to Herne View Primary School (2-3rd February 2023)
203.
Visit to Denbury Primary School (7th February 2023)
204.
Visit to School for Inspiring Talents (9th February 2023)
205.
Visit to Ugborough Primary School (23rd February 2023)
206.
Visit to Blundels School (27th February 2023)
207.
Visit to Christchurch Primary School (28th February 2023)
208.
Visit to Minehead First School (1st March 2023)
209.
Visit to Wonder Bees Childcare (2nd March 2023)
210.
Visit to Bassett Farm (2nd March 2023)
211.
Visit to By Brook Primary School (3rd March 2023)
212.
Visit to Old Cleeve Primary School (10th March 2023)
213.
Visit to The Grove Primary School (13th March 2023)
214.
Radio Interview with Terrie-May McNulty , Riviera FM Radio (13th March 2023)
215.
English Rivera Literary Festival (18th March 2023)
216.
Reading Rocks Event with Jenny Lovlie (28th March 2023)
217.
Picture Book Party with Plymouth FCBG (28th March 2023)
Can’t wait to have a read once the book is out later this year!
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Thank you, Helen! I am wondering how slowly the next eight months will go…. Will have to visit for baby cuddles to pass the time! X
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Hello miss, you might not remember me but you taught me in foundation. My name is Isabelle and I went to the Erme in ivybridge. I just saw you on TV reading your new book and I wanted to say congratulations. As my old primary school teacher, I looked up to you as a student, but now I look up to you as an author as that is what I wish to be when I am older. I am writing my first novel now, I know I’m only twelve but why not start now so you can be ready for the future?
Sincerely,
Isabelle Parsons
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Well your energy and positivity never ceases to amaze me! You are an amazing teacher -to both children and students, wife, mother and you still have time to come up with this! I can’t wait to read it. Well done x
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Rrrrr, Kate what a lovely comment! Thank you! You are so kind :-))) I had to do a reading last week in London and I wanted a practice, so Bella had a sneaky peak at Story Club! Xxx
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She told me today! She said it was brilliant and she is loving Story Club 😉 I can’t wait to buy a copy. And it’s true you deserve it for all your hard work xx
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I am so excited to have been made aware of your site by your cousin, or one of your cousins. She was fundraising today at Oxford Train Station for Prostate Cancer UK. Such a lovely lass. I fund and run a cancer not-for-profit (essentially just a website with various tips on how to live, work, travel etc. with cancer) in Jersey and am always looking for resources I can recommend. I don’t have children so children with cancer, or cancer patients with young children, are not subjects I can speak on. So I am looking forward tp reading a few of your books that, I hope, are perfect for those situations and which I will be able to recommend to people.
Thank you for what you do. And thanks to your cousin for letting me know about your website.
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Thank you for your message, Lorna. I really hope some of the resources are helpful. I also run http://www.booksthathelp.co.uk, which might be of use (especially the illnesses section). Thank you for spreading the word and for the work that you do. Clare
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