My Secret Dragon

About Debbie Thomas

Debbie Thomas trained as a BBC radio journalist. She lived in Bangladesh and South Africa for ten years where she worked for aid agencies. She now lives in County Kildare with her husband and three daughters and has written four books for children: the Abbie Hartley trilogy and Class Act. She is the Writer in Residence at Crumlin Children’s Hospital and a board member of the Irish section of IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People).

She says ‘The idea for My Secret Dragon came from my work with a charity that supports people with leprosy in Nepal, some of the most stigmatised in the world. Add to that those common childhood rejections (the party non-invitation, the failure to be picked for the Rounders team) and some genetic fireworks, and welcome to Aidan Mooney who’s spent his life trying to hide his mum’s superpower, or disability, depending on your point of view. I chose a realistic setting in order to explore authentic reactions to difference, from fear to awe to ruthless exploitation. Who else would I approach with this truly Irish tale than the wonderful Little Island?!’