Set in Cornwall, Charlotte's Candle is my first novel. I dreamt about the idea in 1996 after I decided I wanted to write a book about childhood bereavement and grief in general. My Mum died when I was eleven years old, at a time where there was no support for children. This is not my story but a fictional story about the repercussions of grief combined with modern bereavement theories of how to support children and their families as this is something which impacts a child throughout their life. Charlotte's Candle also has Christian and non Christian characters in order to explore grief from different viewpoints. We all have a unique experience of grief and will react to it differently due to the type of relationship you had with the person who has died. Plus, another challenge is being able to accept grief will always be a part of who you are as you learn to rebuild your life around it which takes time. I'm a primary school teacher and have been for over twenty years. I combine my love of writing through writing 'Palmer Poems' for my family, friends and work colleagues. I also write for the SPCK Assembly website. Through delivering assemblies and PSHE lessons, I believe teaching about kindness, respect and hope is an important part of my role as a teacher. I was born in London but grew up in Wales and Cornwall and I currently teach in a school I attended as a child! When I'm not teaching, you might find me on a Cornish beach or cuddling my gorgeous cat who thinks she owns the house - she probably does! Read more about this authorRead less about this author