Gina Wilson was born in Abergele, North Wales in 1943. She was educated at Manchester High School for Girls and Edinburgh University and did post-graduate studies at Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA where she worked as a trainee journalist. She was, for seven years, an Assistant Editor of the Scottish National Dictionary, before publishing her first novel for young adults, CORA RAVENWING in 1980.

Six more highly-acclaimed teenage novels followed, including ALL ENDS UP, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and THE WHISPER, JUST US and RIDING THE GREAT WHITE.

Gina has also written a collection of poems for children, JIM-JAM PYJAMAS, as well as five picture books, including PROWLPUSS, illustrated by David Parkins, shortlisted for the Kurt Maschler Award and the Smarties Prize; and IGNIS, illustrated by P J Lynch, which was shortlisted for the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. GRANDMA’S BEARS, illustrated by Paul Howard, was published in 2004.

Gina has taught Creative Writing in schools and on residential courses for children as well as for the Arvon Foundation. She writes adult poetry (winner of the Frogmore Poetry Prize, 1997, and the Lace Annual Open Poetry Competition, 1999) and also works as a psychotherapist, with her own practice in Oxford.

Nat's Grandma shares her cottage with bears, and tonight Nat's going to meet them for the first time. Nat's Grandma says he'll love them, but when he meets them he's not so sure! They all seem to be a bit grumpy. Can Nat cheer them up?