Berlie Doherty
Peak District National Park
Famous for:
An author of more than 50 books and two-times winner of the Carnegie Medal for children's literature
More info:
www.berliedoherty.com
Berlie worked as a teacher before becoming a full-time writer
Berlie's beginnings as a writer
Born in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, Belie has lived in Edale, in the Peak District National Park, since 1992.
After graduating with a degree in English from Durham University in 1965, she worked as a teacher and a social worker but writing was always her passion. Berlie’s father, who worked on the railways, was an avid reader and used to contribute to the local paper, the Liverpool Echo.
Writing for a living
Berlie began writing radio plays – at first for BBC Radio Sheffield where she was writing and producing programmes for schools, and later for Radio 4. She started with original plays and moved on to adaptations of children’s classics. Berlie later began writing for television and theatre too. Her first book for young people, How Green You Are!, was published in 1982.
Contemporary authors: Berlie Doherty
Writing for chocolate!
Berlie's father encouraged his eight-year-old daughter to write stories and poems which were published on the children’s page of their local paper.
She says she was paid for them in chocolates and boxes of paint!
Prolific talent
She has since written more than 50 books for children and adults, as well as plays, poetry and even song lyrics.
Berlie’s awards include:
- 1986 Granny Was A Buffer Girl – Carnegie Medal
- 1991 Dear Nobody – Carnegie Medal
- 1999 The Water Babies (radio dramatisation) – Talkies Award
- 2004 Jeannie Of White Peak Farm – Phoenix Award
Did you know?
Berlie’s first novel for adults, Requiem, was published in 1991.
For more information:
Berlie can be contacted via her agent, Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates
veroniquebaxter@davidhigham.co.uk
Tel: 020 7434 5900
