Jill Murphy

Born and raised in London, England, Jill Murphy spent her childhood writing and illustrating stories. She left school at sixteen and attended Chelsea, Croydon and Camberwell Schools of Art, writing her first novel, The Worst Witch, when she was just eighteen. It became an instant bestseller, launching an extraordinary publishing career that spanned almost five decades and over thirty children's books. In addition to the Worst Witch series, Jill also created the award-winning Large Family series, which have each sold over five million copies, and the Bear Family series: Peace at Last, Whatever Next, and Just One of Those Days. Jill lived and worked from her home studio in North Cornwall, where she drew inspiration from her life, her friends and her family.