{"id":1,"name":"francesthomas","url":"http:\/\/www.francesthomas.org","description":"I was born during the War in South Wales, where my mother had gone to escape the bombs. My mother\u2019s family was Irish and English, my father\u2019s Welsh. Later we moved back to South London where I grew up. Since I was an only child, I read lots of books and when the books ran out, I made up stories, a habit I\u2019ve never lost.\r\n\r\nLater I went to a convent school, where I was bad at needlework and netball. The headmistress didn\u2019t like me because my hair was untidy \u2013 still is, I\u2019m afraid.\r\n\r\nI read English at London University and took a teaching course. I married a historian, Richard Rathbone, and I have two daughters and two grandchildren. My most interesting work, apart from writing, was working with young dyslexic people. Contrary to what many believe, dyslexics can become passionate readers and imaginative writers \u2013 I look forward to seeing several of my ex-pupils featuring in the Booker Prize shortlist one day.\r\n\r\nMy first children\u2019s book, The Blindfold Track, was published in 1980. I\u2019ve published many since, for children and adults, but I especially enjoy writing for children. My children\u2019s books have been translated into ten languages.\r\n\r\nWe lived for many years in North London, and I still think London is one of the most exciting cities in the world. But a few years ago, we decided to make a complete break, and came to live in this beautiful part of mid-Wales where we used to spend our family holidays. I now live here very happily, trying to learn Welsh (ond mae\u2019n mor anodd!) going for walks on the hills, writing and painting.","link":"https:\/\/francesthomas.org\/blog\/?author=1","slug":"francesthomas","avatar_urls":{"24":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3e8a801b10cf1c02b4ae5b47d062d575c0591b7f881f0a28f4e7005a4ee1b885?s=24&d=mm&r=g","48":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3e8a801b10cf1c02b4ae5b47d062d575c0591b7f881f0a28f4e7005a4ee1b885?s=48&d=mm&r=g","96":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3e8a801b10cf1c02b4ae5b47d062d575c0591b7f881f0a28f4e7005a4ee1b885?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francesthomas.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francesthomas.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users"}]}}