Maria Farrer

Maria Farrer has a degree in Speech Sciences from University College London and an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa.

She is, perhaps, an unusual candidate in Team Mushens. Having started in YA (Broken Strings, A Flash of Blue), she began working with OUP and illustrator, Daniel Rieley, on a middle-grade series featuring a heartwarming, hapless and somewhat-helpful polar bear called Mister P. Me and Mister P was first published in 2017 and was followed by Ruby’s Star, Joe’s New World and Maya’s Storm. Maria can often be found driving around with a large polar bear in the back of the car visiting schools and libraries. Luckily the bear has mastered the art of folding up and not causing too much trouble on motorways.

Maria was born and brought up in the South of England, spent many happy years living in New Zealand and has recently moved to the Yorkshire Dales. She has no intention of ever moving again!