Sian Pattenden is an author, illustrator and sometimes a journalist.
At 16 she entered a playwright competition to win a week with some professionals at the Soho Poly Theatre. The result, Steven Newman Doesn’t Eat Quiche, went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. SP was the youngest fringiest playwright ever.
Sian worked at Smash Hits then some other magazines. She wrote a book called How To Make It In The Music Business. 1,734 interviews with pop ’stars’ later, she was keen on writing fiction. Soon the most monstrous character was born – the eponymous arsonist in The Awful Tale of Agatha Bilke (launch fiction title for Short Books April 2006). Operation Ward Ten, the second book, was published July 2007. Next installment, Paris Match, is out now.

As an illustrator she has drawn the playing cards for ‘Unhappy Families’ by Portobello Games, as featured in the Daily Telegraph and London Evening Standard; and the jacket and inside drawings in the Agatha Bilke books. She won the 2005 ‘Inspired by’ Victoria & Albert museum prize in her category. Sian has just drawn the North London Arts Map, available in all London arts venues. She regularly exhibits her drawings and book artwork.

Sian writes for the Guardian Arts blog (link on links page), has taught music/lifestyle journalism at the London School of Journalism and visits schools and libraries, reading from her books and discussing story-telling and illustration. She has appeared at the Cheltenham Book festival, the Edinburgh Book Festival and others. Sometimes we crack a joke or two. If your school is interested in inviting Sian in to talk and crack these so-called jokes, please use the ‘contact’ page.

FACTS:
* Sian appeared in Doctor Who a billion years ago as Young Tegan (wearing a wig).
* She has written for publications including the Face, the Guardian, Select magazine, Smash Hits and NME, and regularly appears on telly as a pundit type.
* She was one half of 100% Ponies, signed to Kung Fu Fighting Records in Paris.

The Awful Tale of Agatha Bilke has been shortlisted for the Glen Dimplex New Writers’ award; the Branford Boase award and the Sheffield Children’s Book Award.