The flying elephant - Liss Norton

When Fergus and his best friend, Doris, hear a strange noise, they fly off to investigate. What they don't expect to find is a thirsty elephant!

Liss Norton lives in a small village in rural West Sussex. She has an enormous garden where she grows organic fruit and veg and lots of flowers, and where she and her husband wage war on slugs! When Liss moved to her house, the garden had been badly neglected and she and her husband are gradually reviving it. They've had tons of concrete removed and have planted a small orchard, created raised vegetable beds and grown hundreds - or possibly thousands - of plants from seed. Their next project is to create a pond.

Liss is the author of thirty-one books for children of all ages, and she's just been commissioned to write her thirty-second. She used to write short stories for adults and won lots of prizes in writing competitions, including ?1,000 which she spent on a family holiday in California. She regularly visits schools to talk about her work and to encourage budding young writers. (She used to be a primary school teacher, and loves meeting children.)

Liss's favourite book is 'Marigold in Godmother's House' by Joyce Lankester Brisley, a magical story about a girl who goes to stay with her fairy godmother. It was first published years ago before Liss was born, but she discovered it at her local library when she was a girl and borrowed it over and over again. She was delighted when it was re-published a few years ago and bought a copy straightaway.

Liss works in the sunroom of her house. It has windows all around which look out over her garden. She thinks being an author is the best job in the world because she has so many adventures while sitting at her desk!