CATHERINE JOHNSON is an award-winning writer of Welsh/African-Caribbean descent, living in the East End of London. Her novels for children include Stella, Landlocked, The Dying Game, Arctic Hero , selected for Booked Up 2009, and A Nest of Vipers , short-listed for the UKLA Award 2009. She also wrote the screenplay for Bullet Boy , the 2005 film about British gun crime, starring Ashley Walters. She lectures in Creative Writing at London Metropolitan University, and is a member of the 2012 Olympics Committee responsible for choosing medals. Catherine works regularly with children and teachers in schools and libraries across the UK. Brave New Girl is her first book for Frances Lincoln.