Putting your phone on silent doesn’t stop your alarms from going off. 😱 Unfortunately, I learned that the hard way… right in the middle of one of my recent school assemblies!!! Whilst reading an excerpt from WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers, I heard a faint noise. Then my heart dropped. It was coming from my pocket! My phone alarm had decided to join the assembly. Trying to remain calm, I silenced it and carried on reading. Relief. Well, temporary relief… A moment later, I glanced down and saw a single word on the screen: SNOOZE. 😱 That’s when the real panic started. I’d barely started reading and already knew my phone was preparing to betray me all over again. Sure enough, it did. Not once… Twice! 😱😱 📱🤣 #AuthorLife #SchoolVisits #WordsOfWARNING #BWare

My daughter says I need to appear in more of my social media posts. This is me trying. 😄 #AuthorLife #SchoolVisits #WordsOfWARNING #BWare

📚📦 4 down, 46 to go! 📦📚 The first four of my fifty complimentary copies of WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers are now on their way to: 📚 Carterton Library 📚 Symondsbury Primary School Library 📚 Langney Primary Academy School Library 📚 Tidbury Green School Library I absolutely love the thought of these books heading off to library shelves where they can hopefully be enjoyed by lots of young readers. There are still plenty more complimentary copies waiting to be re-homed, and I’ll continue sending out a few at a time until my stock has been exhausted (at which point I’ll probably be exhausted, too 🤣). If you’re a librarian and haven’t yet seen my original post about the complimentary copies, do check it out. And if any libraries happen to share a photo when their copy arrives, I’d be delighted to see the books settling into their new homes! ❤️📚 For now, though… 📦 4 down, 46 to go! ❤️📚  #SchoolLibraries #Libraries #ReadingForPleasure #ChildrensBooks #BWare #WordsOfWARNING

Hosting a FREE whole-day school visit on the last day of term in the sweltering heat may SOUND like a recipe for disaster… but the pupils at Northleaze Primary couldn’t have been a more receptive audience when I visited on Friday 22nd May! Hot weather is supposed to make people grumpy, yet it seemed to light up the faces of all the pupils at this school. I hadn’t been to Northleaze before, but I hope to return at some point, as my time there flew by far too quickly. From Reception right the way through to Year 6, everyone (including the teachers) got so involved during both my assembly and the workshops that followed, making everything so easy throughout the day. The pupils were incredibly polite and happy. They produced some fantastic creative writing which they were eager to share with their peers by reading aloud. And as well as many budding authors, there were also some super illustrators among them, wowing me with their imaginative book cover designs! If awarding certificates was a tricky task, then deciding who to award my dragon prize to was almost impossible - with so many contenders. But I shan’t spoil the surprise by announcing the winner here, as I know the plan was for an announcement to be made during an upcoming assembly! Huge thanks to all at Northleaze Primary for an utterly wonderful visit! You were the perfect tonic on what turned out to be a VERY hot day to be dressed in an all-black ensemble!!! #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #WordsOfWarning #BWare #WarningGrandmasGoneBonkers

Calling all UK #librarians! If you’d like to receive a complimentary copy of WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers for your library, then please leave your name and your library address in the comments. I have 50 copies up for grabs!!! All of my books in the Words of WARNING collection can be read in any order and are aimed at reading age 6-12. (N.B. Copies will only be posted out to public libraries or school libraries.) #Giveaway #Libraries #Library #WordsOfWarning #BWare #WarningGrandmasGoneBonkers #CranthorpeMillner

Ooh!!! 😍 amazon.co.uk/WARNING-Grandma… #WarningGrandmasGoneBonkers #WordsOfWarning #KidsBooks #BWare

I had a super time at King’s Junior School on Thursday 7th May. When I arrived there and saw all the stairs, I thought I was going to be in for a difficult day (my author trolley and stairs really don’t mix). But the staff were so accommodating, quickly arranging for all of the workshops to take place in the same hall as the assembly. And the pupils attending those workshops were a fantastic bunch. They got stuck into my activities with gusto and had me in stitches with some of their witty creative writing. It was very difficult to decide who to award certificates to, as there were so many great pieces of work produced. And it was even harder deciding who to award my dragon prize to… so I ended up awarding two! If my memory serves me correctly, George and Georgia were the worthy winners!!! Huge thanks to everyone at King’s Junior for an unforgettable day. I can’t wait to return during World Book Day week next year! #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #WordsOfWarning #BWare #WarningGrandmasGoneBonkers

It’s almost two years since I first visited St Gregory’s, and I’d forgotten just how impeccably polite and respectful all the pupils at this school are! So, returning there for a visit on May 1st with WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers was a real treat!!! My assembly had everyone tapping into their creativity and dreaming up future titles for the Words of WARNING collection. And the workshops for Years 3, 4 & 5 were an absolute joy to host, with students falling as silent as mice every time one of their peers stood up to read aloud, meaning we could all hear every single word that was spoken!!! HUGE thanks to everyone at St Gregory’s for another wonderful day! I won't leave it so long before returning next time. #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #WordsOfWarning #BWare #WarningGrandmasGoneBonkers

Every now and then, I come across a school that simply takes my breath away… and Walford Primary in Herefordshire is one of those schools!!! I was fortunate enough to spend the day there on Friday 24th April, but I’d have loved to have stayed for longer! The building itself is set in beautiful grounds with all manner of outdoor equipment dotted around, making for some of the best playtimes ever, I’m sure! But if the grounds are breathtaking, they’re nothing compared to the pupils and teachers at this school. From the headteacher all the way down through every member of the teaching staff, it’s clear how passionate everyone is about this school and its pupils. The staff couldn’t have been more warm, welcoming, and accommodating from the moment I arrived until the moment I left. And there are some lovely traditions incorporated into the school day, including the stunning home-made sashes the prefects wear and the “influencers” who guide everyone during the singing in assembly (which was top notch). The pupils were not only some of the politest, happiest, and kindest I’ve ever met, but they also seemed way ahead of their years academically. They were such a receptive audience throughout my stay and astounded me with their creativity and productivity during my workshops, from Reception right the way through to Year 6. It really was an absolute joy to visit such an incredible school filled with wonderfully enthusiastic and engaged teachers and pupils, and I’ll cherish my memories of Walford Primary for a long time to come. In fact, I enjoyed my time there so much that I’ve already booked a return visit, during WBD week next year!!! Thank you to everyone at Walford Primary for one of my most memorable school visits ever! And huge thanks to the fantastic prefects, whose help was invaluable when it came time for after-school sales. #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #WordsOfWarning #BWare

Our April winner has now been randomly selected!!! But don’t forget, the giveaway runs right up until the end of 2026, and you can enter as many times as you’d like! So, why not head over to my pinned 2026 giveaway post and (provided you’ve followed, liked, and shared) get some more entries in by adding additional comments. Next draw takes place at midnight on May 31st. And you can enter on other social media platforms, too. (See pinned post for more details.) #Giveaway #Win #WordsOfWarning #BWare

It was wonderful to be invited back to Redmaids’ High on Thursday 23rd April, to spend another day with the Juniors and introduce them to my latest book, WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers. The pupils were a fantastic audience during my assembly, with some super questions for me and some great ideas for future titles that I should consider in the Words of WARNING collection. Then during my workshops for each year group, everyone did a great job conjuring up poems, stories, songs, diary entries, newspaper articles, and raps based on the title prompts I provided. Thank you, Redmaids’ High staff and students, for another brilliant and memorable day with you all! #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #WordsOfWarning #BWare

I had a great time at St Wulstan’s Catholic Primary yesterday. The pupils were an incredible audience during my assembly. They sat beautifully whilst I read the opening chapters of WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers and then came up with some super questions and brilliant ideas for future book titles in the Words of WARNING collection. I got to spend time with so many future authors and budding artists during each of the five workshops that followed. But it was far too difficult to decide who to award my dragon prize to… so I ended up awarding TWO dragon prizes. Congratulations to Lydia in Year 1/2 and Alice in Year 3/4. You were both very worthy winners, and I’m sure you’ll have books of your own published one day!!! Huge thanks to everyone at St Wulstan’s for a fun-filled day. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you all. wordsofwarning.com/c/events/… #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #WordsOfWarning #BWare

My FREE whole-day school visits will be coming to an end when 2026 draws to a close. So, if your school is within 100ish miles of GL51 and you’d like me to visit, then please get in touch via wordsofwarning.com. No fees… no expenses… no expectations on pre-orders/book sales. I’m just doing my bit to keep children reading, one FREE school visit at a time! Book your visit now, before FREE whole-day school visits come to an end!!! wordsofwarning.com/c/events/… #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #PrimarySchools #JuniorSchools #ReadingLead #Teachers #WordsOfWarning #BWare

I had a wonderful time at @AngleseyP (Junior Department) on Tuesday 14th April. The first of my back-to-back assemblies proved a little tricky, with a persistent tickly cough attempting to throw a spanner in the works. But it thankfully settled during my second assembly, and the rest of the day went swimmingly, with pupils in every year group coming up with some superb creative writing during each of my workshops. The day flew by, with so many wonderful stories, poems, and diary entries being dreamt up... and certificates flying out here, there, and everywhere. But the icing on the cake was seeing the familiar faces of three people who’ve become very special to me over the past few months, and announcing that I’ve named a main character in my next book after one of them! Thank you, Anglesey Primary, for a fantastic day with you all! #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeAuthorVisits #WordsOfWarning

Reviews mean the world to authors, so I was thrilled when this new one for WARNING: Magic Can Be Dangerous! popped up recently. Thank you, Han!!! I hope you enjoy WARNING: May Contain Dragons and WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers just as much. amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1803… #WarningMagicCanBeDangerous #WordsOfWarning

I had a super time at Edith Moorhouse Primary when I visited on Thursday 26th March with WARNING: Grandma’s Gone Bonkers. The pupils couldn’t have been more engaged and enthusiastic throughout the day, and the teachers couldn’t have been more involved during all of my activity sessions. Thank you to everyone at Edith Moorhouse for a fantastic visit! I hope to see you again next year with my fourth book in the Words of WARNING collection. #FreeSchoolVisits #WordsOfWarning

Thank you, Bookworm86. 💛 amazon.co.uk/WARNING-Grandma… #WarningGrandmasGoneBonkers #WordsOfWarning

Not every school visit goes according to plan!!! Putting my back out straight after my second assembly at @MineheadMiddle on Wednesday wasn’t the MOST sensible thing I’ve ever done… but the show had to go on! (I probably looked old enough to be Nero’s grandma for the rest of the day, shuffling around at an awkward angle whilst trying to smile through a grimace 😅.) But despite being in a lot of pain, I had a fantastic time there, which is testament to the wonderful pupils at this school. I’m always a little nervous visiting a middle school, given that reading for pleasure tends to take a nosedive when children reach Year 7. But the pupils at Minehead Middle School were fantastic audiences during my two back-to-back assemblies, and the workshops that followed were filled with talented, enthusiastic, and engaged students who blew me away with their creativity and were a joy to spend time with. I soon realised I hadn’t allocated anywhere near enough certificates for each session, with pupil after pupil continuing to impress me with their imaginative ideas. And by the end of the day, my certificate stash was totally depleted! I wish I’d been able to spend more time with each group, as there were so many incredible stories, poems, and diary entries starting to take shape that I wanted to hear more of. It was lovely to see pupils flocking into the library at lunchtime and afternoon registration for their free stickers and bookmarks, or to buy signed copies of my books, too! Many of whom came armed with questions for me… or suggestions for future titles I should write in the Words of WARNING collection. And it was an additional treat to see Izzy and Eva again after initially meeting them at Minehead Library during the summer holidays! The pupils at this school truly are a terrific bunch and couldn’t have been more polite, considerate, or participative during my visit. The day was definitely over far too soon – which is saying something, given the state of my back – and once my husband had peeled me out of my car after the long drive home, I was still smiling! Thank you to all the pupils and teachers at Minehead Middle School for making what should have been a very tough day into such a wonderful one. But my biggest thanks must go to the loveliest of all librarians, Mrs Vickery, not only for organising the visit and for all her help during the workshops, but also for jumping in and taking on all the fetching and carrying duties whilst I was there. I wouldn’t have made it through the day without her! wordsofwarning.com/c/events/… #WarningGrandmasGoneBonkers #WordsOfWarning #FreeSchoolVisits #FreeSchoolVisit #FreeAuthorVisits #FreeAuthorVisit #BWare

I’m excited to (unofficially) announce that I’ve just signed with @CranthorpeBooks for my fourth book in the Words of WARNING collection. Official news coming soon!!! #WordsOfWarning #BWare #CranthorpeMillner #AuthorLife

I always reply to every email I receive (and regularly check my spam). But I often don’t hear back from those I’ve emailed. So, if you’ve been in touch via wordsofwarning.com about a FREE school visit (or anything else) and haven’t heard back from me, then please check your spam. #WordsOfWarning #FreeSchoolVisits