“Keep an eye on the girls; I’m popping back to the hotel to get the sun cream,” said Mum.

Dad nodded, but he wasn’t really listening. On holiday! At last! All he wanted was to snooze in the sun.

Terri and Sandy had been desperate to try out their new blow-up dinghy.  It was lovely to sit in it and let the waves push…

Dakkar plunged into the sea pool, ignoring the cold that ate into his body, making his joints ache and nearly forcing the precious breath from his body. The old fisherman had said that he’d caught a glimpse of an old sea chest down here. An old sea chest and something glittering, golden and bright.

The water pressed in on Dakkar as he swam deeper. Seaweed swayed and danced…

My friends fan out across the rocks down there. It’s as if they’re watching from the wings of an arena. All of them are facing me. Some nest on towels. Others are on their feet, hands cupped to mouths as they urge me to see this through. They look so tiny, like plastic dolls, while I feel like a god with wings. Perched here on this outcrop in the cliff face, with the sea breeze in my face, I spread my arms wide. And…

When I looked in the mirror on Monday, I'm sure my reflection blinked at me.

But that's impossible. 

Isn't it?

When I looked in the mirror on Tuesday, it stuck out its tongue.

Which was…

If you’re dotty, you’re a mad thing. If you’re a lake, you’re calm. I’m Dotty Lake. I’m both. I’m madly calm. I can be one, I can be the other or I’m somewhere in between. I’m torn between two worlds.

I get my wild streak from my mum. She’s an artist, pretty famous for her bonkers creations. She calls herself a modern artist. She does installations. My dad is the calm one. He’s a…

The school had been empty for months, but everything was still in place.  There was no point stealing computers or whiteboards now. Even the library had been left alone. I flicked through a glossy history book.  It made me laugh.  All that time and money wasted fighting for oil and gold.  They hadn't seen it coming.  No one guessed that the biggest war of all would be over water, and that when we lost, everything would change. I pushed on the…

It's here, it's here yaaaay!! First day of a new Write Path and I am maybe a little too hyper!! Always seems to sneak up on me but just as excited as I've always been. Doesn't seem possible that this will be my 6th Write Path - can't wait to get reading story continuations. I've been sent some wonderful story and poetry starters, sure your students are going to love them. Good luck to all those participating today and........Let the Games Begin!…

Zac Moon slipped on his sunglasses and stepped out of the limo. The crowd of waiting fans went wild. Their teen idol, the singing sensation of Rock Stars, was almost in touching distance. As Zac went along the line signing photos of himself, the girls greeted him with gleeful tears and beaming smiles. But one girl wasn’t smiling. Charley, a covert young bodyguard assigned to protect the famous boy, knew that an assassin lurked somewhere among…

Long ago and faraway, guarding the mountain spring which provided the only water for the whole village, lived a witch. And her daughter. The witch was kind and generous. The daughter was not. The witch worked hard to keep the spring clean. The daughter did not. The daughter was lazy, and preferred to spend her days painting her long nails and waiting for her mother to bring her food. The villagers were glad that the witch kept the spring…

When I woke up, the sun was streaming through the curtains. In the oak tree outside my bedroom window, wood pigeons were calling softly and somewhere in the distance I could hear the sound of dogs barking. I pushed back the covers, stifling a yawn, stretching lazily. There was nothing in my mind except the yawn, the stretch, the sound of a summer morning about to unfold outside my window.…

"4 dogs are stuck in a dog rescue centre – nobody wants them. will they ever get out. Here’s how it starts. (This is based on my latest novel, a heartfelt comedy due for release next year)" - Cliff McNish

Going home. 

It’s what the Happy Paws staff call it when one of us dogs leaves here with a new…

The ball sailed through the air, ready to be walloped at just the right time. My contact was sweet and – PING! It flew into the net.

‘YES!!!!!!!!!!’ I screamed, pulling my red jersey over my head and hopping around like a crazy rabbit.

‘Not again!’ Matt exclaimed.  ‘What is it with me and engines recently?’

  ‘What’s wrong, Dad?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ he admitted.  ‘But this boat has seen better days and while I’m sure she’d be hard to sink, the engine feels like it’s ready to give up the ghost at any…