Author

Jon Blake is the author of over fifty books, primarily for children and teenagers. He was brought up in Southampton (with a grandad in Portsmouth) but spent much of his childhood on the Isle of Wight where his father had an electrical goods shop. In 1969 Jon’s father was the electrical contractor for the 2nd Isle of Wight Festival of Music, as a result of which Jon, at 14, had access to a backstage pass and a range of experiences which he is drawing on for his present novel.

Jon’s previous successes include the picture book “You’re A Hero, Daley B” (ill. Axel Scheffler, worldwide sales of over 100,000) and “Little Stupendo” (shortlisted for the Children’s Book Award).

Other big sellers include “One Girl School” (over 35,000) and literacy hour favourite “Mark Two”.

In 1995 Jon’s TV play ‘Life’ was shortlisted for a Writers Guild Award, while in 2002 he won a BBC Talent award for his adult radio sitcom “Degrees R Us” (series broadcast on BBC Radio Wales). Jon is particularly noted for original and anarchic humour, typified by “Stinky Finger’s House of Fun” and the subsequent “House of Fun” series.   However he has also written politically-charged fiction for an older readership, including his most recent novel, “The Last Free Cat”.

Born in Mortimer, Berkshire, and living in Southampton between 1960 and 1973, Jon went to Exeter University, where he was a contemporary of the organiser of the present-day IOW festival, John Giddings. However, Jon dropped out from his drama course and worked in a furniture shop in Winchester before continuing studies at York University and Bretton Hall. He subsequently became a teacher and community centre warden in Peterborough and Nottingham.

Jon moved to Cardiff in 1987 and spent 19 years in the Adamsdown area before moving to Canton.

Besides being a writer, Jon has been involved in many community projects and teaches creative writing at the University of Wales, Newport. He is also an activist, musician and songwriter, veteran of many bands and recently the originator of the Song For Adamsdown project.

Jon’s critically acclaimed 2008 novel, “The Last Free Cat”, has a website here.