Martyn Beardsley has lived in Nottingham all his life. A civil servant for many years, he is now concentrating on his writing career. As well as being a children's author, one of his great passions is history. In 2002 he published a biography of Sir John Franklin, the Arctic explorer. A committed Buddhist, he is interested in reading, sport, keep-fit and yoga. Martyn Beardsley is married with one daughter and a mad dog.
MARTYN BEARDSLEY Q&A
What would you rather be – a smuggler or a Revenue man?
A Revenue man – most smugglers were very poor, and anyway I’d like to dress up in the uniform!
What’s the most dangerous trip you’ve ever been on?
On the A1 to Cambridge stuck in a traffic jam and needing to go for a wee. I almost didn’t make it!
What would you most like to find hidden in an old rusty box?
A
letter from the past like the one in the story. I’ve traced my own
family tree and I love finding out more about people long ago.
What goods would you like to smuggle, and why?
Tea – it was one of the main smuggled items. I drink gallons a day and can’t write stories without it!
Where would you hide your good from the Revenue men?
I think I’d build a fake toilet with horrible smells coming from it – they’d never look in there.
