Theresa spent much of her childhood living in North Yorkshire and Cleveland. As a child she had little interest in writing, but did love reading. Her interests were art and dancing. She went to art college for two years, then after doing a few temporary jobs, including painting plaster Walt Disney characters, being a guide in a stately home and working in a hospital laundry, went to Kingston upon Hull Teacher Training College. Having qualified as a teacher, she then spent five years working in primary schools, before giving up teaching to look after her own three children.

It was during this period as a full-time mother that she started producing home made picture books with very simple stories to entertain her children. As the children grew, the stories got longer, until she realised that she was spending all her spare time writing and decided to try hard to get something published. She now writes full time and particularly enjoys working on historical themes. "I love to create a detailed picture of a chosen group of people living in a particular place and time."

Theresa's historical novels include THE HERRING GIRLS, THE FLITHER PICKERS and THE ROPE CARRIER, which evince Theresa's interest in Britain's industrial heritage. A feminist reworking of the Robin Hood stories became the foundation of THE FORESTWIFE trilogy and, most recently, Theresa has delved into ancient Greek history with THE MOON RIDERS. Theresa has twice been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, most recently with MEET ME BY THE STEELMEN.

When Grandad Jim comes to stay at Christmas, he brings the Blitz Baby - a tree decoration that he made when he was Jamie's age. That night, Jamie has a dream of what it was like for his grandad during the Blitz. Jamie realizes that the Blitz Baby is a very special decoration because it has so much history and puts it in a special place on the tree.