About The Author

I have been writing stories all my life. My very first “novel” was entitled Jade and the Magical Jewels. The story was handwritten in wonky blue ink on torn scraps of paper. I cut these pages up into jagged rectangles and stapled them inside a sheet of blue plastic I found in the home office. Using a black Sharpie, I scrawled the book title on the slippery cover and stood back to marvel at my masterpiece. My self-publishing itch has always longed to be scratched.

Fast-forward to 2023, when I embarked on a journey I could have never imagined the year before. I started writing Nicki Cottage and the Onkydonks, an idea that had lived in my head as long as I have been able to form coherent thoughts. I wrote my debut children’s novel at a time in my life where I felt no real sense of direction - I had only been an adult for nearly 2 years, and still didn’t have a clue what I was destined to be. Returning to the age-old question of “what do you want to be when you grow up” proved incredibly useful in this moment.

My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years before I began writing my debut novel, and this catastrophic diagnosis served as a prime source of inspiration when writing my story. Dedicated to my grandad - who has since passed away in October of 2025 - memory loss is a core theme of Nicki Cottage and the Onkydonks, alongside friendship, resilience and bravery. My favourite Onkydonk, Davey, was named after my grandfather and deals with memory loss throughout the novel. His fellow Onkydonks support him with this troublesome condition and offer kindness at all times. I wanted to show young readers the importance of patience and empathy when communicating with someone who might be more forgetful than most. I think it’s crucial that the younger generation understand that we are not all the same, and just how far a little love can go.

And now, on 1st November 2026, Dybo Boy will officially be released to the world. My first ever picture book written in rhyming prose, I am so proud of this story and hope that it helps young Type 1 Diabetics realise their new strengths and powers with this gift of a diagnosis. I have a personal family connection to Type 1 Diabetes, with my younger brother being diagnosed with the condition at the age of 9. This was a scary time for him and our family, but we came together as we always do and supported him through thick and thin. I wished there was a book like Dybo Boy to show him that he need not fear and that Dybo Boy was here. Alas, there were no illustrated picture books with funny rhyming jokes inside when my brother was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, but now there is thanks to my brilliant illustrator Sarah Lambate.

I am proud to partner with the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation this Diabetes Awareness Month to donate 100% of profits from every sale of Dybo Boy during November to this wonderful charity. Their mission is to spread awareness of Type 1 Diabetes, provide correct and up-to-date information on the condition, and support our young Type 1 Diabetics in every way possible. I am thrilled to be a part of this journey with them and hope to make an impact on the youth of today. No matter how great or small, the impact of a good book is insurmountable.