Alastair describes himself as a children’s writer, puzzle creator and computer geek.
He has written internationally published books of Sudoku, Kakuro and other puzzles from his website and is the author of several picture books published by Walker: Inch and Grub illustrated by David Roberts (shortlisted for the Bookbug prize), The prince, the witch, the thief and the bears illustrated by Jez Tuya (shortlisted for the Scottish Booktrust’s Bookbug Prize and winner of the St Helens School Libraries Book Awards) and its follow-up The Tale of the Valiant Ninja Frog also illustrated by Jez Tuya. Walker has just contracted for a further title featuring these characters, Space Pirate Bears.
Alastair signed with Nosy Crow for two upper middle grade adventures – Orion Lost (Winner of the Salford Children’s Book Award 2021, the novel was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s children’s Book Prize 2021, James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award 2021, Biblio Buzz Award 2021, Inspire ELS Book Awards, 2021 Sakura Medal Award and Cumbria Schools Service Keystage 3 Spellbinding 2021 Book Award) and the recently released Adam 2. The publisher holds world rights. Alastair has now delivered a third SF adventure to them, The Consequence Girl, and is working on a middle-grade fantasy adventure series called Dragon Storm which will launch next year.
He has also just signed a contract with Hachette North for 2 picture books – the first will feature a very hungry dragon called Bernardo.
Alastair lives in Edinburgh with his wife, two children and cat; his wife is lovely, his children are lovely but very loud and his cat is continually annoyed with him for no obvious reason.
