Sian Pattenden is an author, illustrator and sometimes a journalist.
At 16 she entered a playwright competition to win a week with some theatre professionals at the Soho Poly Theatre. The result, Steven Newman Doesn’t Eat Quiche, went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sian was the youngest fringe playwright ever.
Sian worked at Smash Hits then many other magazines. She wrote a book called How To Make It In The Music Business. 1,734 interviews with pop ’stars’ later, she invented the most, er, challenging character – the eponymous “bad girl” in The Awful Tale of Agatha Bilke (Short Books, April 2006). There are now three books in the series.

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 and is working on a series of drawings of rock stars for Neil Strauss’ new book of rock interviews [out January 2011].

She regularly exhibits her drawings and book artwork. Sometimes she talks about music on telly. She also made a film for the Tate about her favourite painter Stanley Spencer.

*** WORKSHOPS!
“Highly recommended to get them on the literary bandwagon, and a great outlet for those creative energies.” The Guardian Guide

“The session went very well… Sian makes playing around with words fun….she’s a dynamic performer!” Helena McConnell, Programme Co-Ordinator Seven Stories centre, Newcastle

Sian often visits schools and libraries, discussing story-telling and/or providing illustration workshops. She has appeared at the Cheltenham Book festival, the Edinburgh Book Festival, The Big Draw workshops and at many schools. If your school or library is interested in inviting Sian in to talk, please use the ‘contact’ page.

PLUS!
You can also watch a very short film about eating snails, celebrating the last Agatha Bilke book where our heroine visits Franc…

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. It was Children’s Book of the Week in the Sunday Times.