Ann Pilling

She started writing poetry when she was eight. At twelve years old, she took herself to church because 'I had a strong sense of God'. Her religious faith is important to her but she more often chooses secular subjects. She studied English at King's College London and wrote a Master's thesis on C. Lewis, her first introduction to contemporary children's books.

• Born — 17 October 1944 • Occupation — Author and poet • Pen Name — Ann Cheetham • Awards — Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (1986) • Birthplace — Warrington, England • Education — King's College London

The first four books (Dark Powers series) were originally published as by Ann Cheetham. • Black Harvest (1983) • The Beggar's Curse (1984) • The Witch of Lagg (1985) • The Pit (1987) • The Empty Frame (1997)

• 'Growing Pains' (2008, winner of Smith/Doorstop Pamphlet Competition) • 'Home Field' (2008) Arrowhead Press • 'The Dancing Sailors' (2011) Indigo Dreams Publishing • 'Ground Cover' (2015) Indigo Dreams Publishing • 'Ways of Speech' (2020) Shoestring Press • In Flight' (2024) Mudfog Press

• The Year of the Worm (1984) • Henry's Leg (1985) • The Friday Parcel (1986) • No Guns No Oranges (1986) • Our Best Stories (1986), eds. Pilling and A. Wood • The Big Pink (1987) • The Beast in the Basement (1988) • Dustbin Charlie (1988) • On the Lion's Side (1988) • Stan (1988) • The Big Biscuit (1989) • The Jungle Sale (1989) • Our Kid (1989) • Getting Rid of Aunt Mildred (1990) • The Donkey's Day Out (1990) • Before I Go to Sleep: Bible Stories, Poems, and Prayers for Children, selected and retold, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton (London: Kingfisher, New York: Crown Publishers, Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1990); reissued 2000 as A Kingfisher Treasury of Bible Stories, Poems and Prayers for Bedtime • The Boy with His Leg in the Air (1991) • Vote for Baz (1992) • Considering Helen (1993) • 'Dustbin Charlie Cleans Up' (1994) • The Kingfisher Children's Bible: Stories from the Old and New Testaments, retold, illus. Denton (2003); reissued 2003 as The Kingfisher Book of Bible Stories • Realms of Gold: Myths and Legends from Around the World, retold, illus. Denton (1993); reissued 2003 as The Kingfisher Treasury of Myths and Legends • The Baked Bean Kids (1993) • Mother's Daily Scream (1995) • The Life of Jesus (1996) • Noah's Ark (1996) • Amber's Secret (2000) • Why Bear Has a Stumpy Tail and Other Creation Stories (2000) • The Catnappers: The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat (Collins, 2003), as by Ann Cheetham, illus. Clare Mackie

• A Broken Path (1991) • Considering Helen (1993)