Bea Davenport

Bea Davenport is the writing name of former newspaper and BBC journalist Barbara Henderson. Her two crime/suspense novels, In Too Deep (2013) and This Little Piggy (2014) are published by Legend Press.

Her debut children's novel, The Serpent House (2014) was shortlisted for a Times/Chicken House Award and is published by Curious Fox. It was written as part of her Creative Writing PhD at Newcastle University.

Her next novel for children, My Cousin Faustina, is currently being read by schools as an interactive e-book, via Fiction Express. It will be out in paperback in April 2015. She has won several short story writing prizes.

Barbara is a creative writing tutor for the Open College of the Arts and the Penguin Random House Writers Academy. She is also teaching part-time at Newcastle University.

She's been writing stories ever since she was a child, when she had a reputation for making things up and wanted to be Enid Blyton. She lives with her partner and children in Berwick upon Tweed.

Credentials

Bea Davenport in 60 seconds

When did you start writing?

1966 in Northumberland, UK.

What do you love about short stories?

Do you write in other forms?

Novels.

What distracts you from writing?

Work - I have far too much to do!

Outside of writing, what are your other passions?

Reading.

What is your favourite book?

Tom's Midnight Garden.

Who are your favourite writers?

Lorrie Moore, Alison Moore and Jackie Kay.

Where is your dream location?

Almost anywhere in America.

What one item would you put into Room 101?

Snakes.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough.