Nicola Davies started her career as a Zoologist. She then worked for the BBC Natural History Unit for ten years as a researcher and presenter for a number of natural history programmes including ‘The Really Wild Show’, before becoming a freelance writer.

Nicola’s first children’s book, BIG BLUE WHALE, one of Walker Books’ award winning Read and Wonder series, won a number of awards on publication by Candlewick in the U.S. and continues to be reviewed in the U.K. today. Since then Nicola has written a number of other books for the Read and Wonder series including BAT LOVES THE NIGHT and ONE TINY TURTLE (plus a one-off title WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS). The most recent title Nicola has written for this series SURPRISING SHARKS has recently been honored in the non-fiction category of the Boston Globe-Horn Book awards. ICE BEAR SEA BEAR, Nicola’s new title about Polar bears illustrated by Gary Blythe, was published in December 2005.

Nicola’s book POO: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE was published in August 2004 in the UK and September 2004 in the US. An exhibition based on this title ran at the Rothchilds Museum.

‘POO’ was followed in 2006 by EXTREME ANIMALS, a book about animal survival tactics, and in 2007 by WHAT'S EATING YOU? a book about parasites, all of which have been illustrated by Neal Layton.

Her first children’s novel HOME is now published by Walker.

Nicola is currently an associate lecturer in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University College.

Under the pseudonymn Stevie Morgan, Nicola is the author of three novels for adults published by Hodder and Stoughton: DELPHINIUM BLUES, FLY AWAY PETER and CHECKING OUT.

Review quotes for Nicola’s children’s titles:

‘Breaking the mould of children’s non fiction’ RADIO 4.

‘A marvellous meeting with a Blue Whale...fills the reader with wonder...stranger than any fiction...' THE OBSERVER

'Nicola Davies is an author who gets the balance exactly right. Her scientific love of the particular translates into the precise well chosen language that so appeals to children. There is not a word too many, there is not a word out of place ... near-poetic narrative' TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT

'...I was caught, hook, line and sinker...' THE GUARDIAN

Review quotes for Nicola’s adult fiction

'... I loved this book so much I could have eaten it!' DAILY MAIL

'... unpredictable, a lot more than can be said of most popular fiction.' THE BIG ISSUE

All three stories in this collection deal with young children at a crisis in their lives.

Maxy's mum is pregnant and has been taken into hospital with complications; Rose's family life has suddenly become difficult and different and she blames herself; and Lolly's mother has died and she and her grandparents are finding life very hard.

Despite their difficulties, all three children eventually find strength and confidence through caring for animals on their farms.

Praise for UP ON THE HILL

'A gem. Well-told, moving and realistic narratives... Nature is a benevolent influence as children deal with family issues'
The Sunday Times

'There are tough issues here... but a lightness of touch in the writing... make this a satisfying read'
The Glasgow Herald

'Touching, uplifting stories'
Primary Times