Carol Hughes grew up in a seaside town in the north of England where her family ran a small hotel. At college she studied Fine Art, but spent most of her time writing extremely bad poetry in her sketchbooks instead of sketching. After graduating she worked in an unemployment office, a biscuit factory, an architectural antique emporium and several animation studios in London, including Animation City where she met her lovely husband, John. In 1991 they moved to California, where, because she had no work permit, Carol started writing every day. Her first book “Toots and the Upside Down House” was published in 1996 by Bloomsbury UK. Lots of other books followed. She now lives in London with her still lovely husband, their delightful daughters and their two almost adorable dogs.