Drake's special delivery - Karen Wallace

AT THE COURT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH is a humorous, new historical fiction series set in the court of Elizabeth I - where everyone lives in fear of the Queen's temper and in hope of her favour. Each story explores a different aspect of Tudor life and is based around a core of central characters. These books take a modern and humorous approach to the teaching of history and are supported by lively line illustrations, which are full of historical detail. In DRAKE'S SPECIAL DELIVERY, Sir Francis Drake becomes impatient as the Queen continues to prevent him from leaving England to chase the Spanish fleet - she's just too fond of him to let him go and loves to hear his stories at the weekly story sessions at the palace. Then, Sir Francis hears on the grapevine that the Spanish are about to invade. The Queen is in grave danger and the realm is at stake. How will Sir Francis persuade the Queen to let him go?

A Canadian, Karen Wallace gained a degree in English from London University. Shortly afterwards she and her husband went to Toronto and worked in the publishing business. A few years later they moved to Ireland with their two young sons, and returned to England in 1982. She now writes full-time for children and for children's television. She and illustrator Mike Bostock won the TES Information Book Award for THINK OF AN EEL (Walker Books). Her novel RASPBERRIES ON THE YANGTSE was short-listed for the Guardian Award. She is married to novelist Sam Llewellyn.