Martyn Beardsley

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.

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Featured Books, with extracts by Martyn Beardsley

Sir Gadabout And The Camelot Calamity
Martyn Beardsley
Join Sir Gadabout, the worst Knight in the world, on his tenth madcap adventure. Some old adversaries of Gadabout have taken over the pet shop in Camelot village and are doing something strange to the pet food. When Sir Gadabout’s...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/08/2008
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Smuggler!
Martyn Beardsley
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+. A terrific way to learn a little bit about the life of a smuggler in the 18th century and why they did it. Woven into the story is a boy called Jack who goes...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers | Dyslexia-friendly | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 22/05/2008
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Sir Gadabout
Martyn Beardsley
Parents and children will love the hilarious and often disastrous escapades of Sir Gadabout and yet somehow Sir Gad manages to save the day along with his loyal side kick Herbert and Merlin’s cat.  It’s laugh out loud funny for...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers
Format: Paperback (b Format) - Released: 29/06/1994
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