Dave Cousins

Dave Cousins’ books have been hailed as ”teen realism with action, humour and heart”. He is also the author/illustrator of the Charlie Merrick’s Misfits stories, and has recently written the Robot Babysitter series for younger readers.   Abandoning childhood plans to be an astronaut—or Batman—Dave went to art college in Bradford, joined a band and was nearly famous. His writing career began aged ten, drawing comics and penning lyrics for an imaginary pop group. Dave says that reading and writing stories helped him navigate the bumpy roads of teenage life and hopes that his own books will play a similar role for today’s readers.

Published in over twelve languages, 15 Days without a Head was a Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week, a Junior Library Guild Selection in the US, and gained awards in both the UK and Europe. Waiting for Gonzo won the Grampian Children’s Book Award, and was shortlisted for the prestigious German Children’s Literature Prize. Gonzo also has its own original soundtrack album and music videos. Both books were nominated for the Carnegie Medal.

The first Charlie Merrick’s Misfits adventure Fouls, Friends & Football was selected for the Book Trust School Library Programme and the First Minister’s Reading Challenge in Scotland. The next instalment, I’m a Nobody, Get Me Out of Here! was chosen as one of The Times Best Summer Reads.

When not scribbling stories, Dave tours extensively giving talks and running workshops in schools and at literary events across the UK and abroad. The events have been described as “stand-up with books”, or as one student put it: “well funny!” A mix of anecdotes, pictures, readings and leaping about – the underlying message being that we all have a story to tell! Audiences learn some of the true tales that inspired the books, as well as tips for writing and drawing their own stories.