Before she became a writer, Malorie Blackman had a variety of high-flying jobs, but she still received 82 rejection letters before her first book was published! She started her career writing books for younger readers, some of which, including the Whizziwig series and Pig-Heart Boy have been adapted for TV. Malorie moved into teenage novels with the hugely successful Noughts and Crosses sequence, a stimulating and provocative read in which two young people attempt to make a stand for their beliefs regardless of the horrifying cost to their own lives. Malorie Blackman received the OBE in 2008, and her new novel, a continuation of the Noughts and Crosses series, is due out later this year.

Fabulous Teen Queen Malorie Facts:

• Noughts and Crosses was voted one of the nation's favourite 100 books in the BBC's Big Read survey
• In her spare time, Malorie likes going to the cinema, the theatre and watching TV, enjoys playing computer and board games, and reads absolutely everything…except Westerns!
• The worst job Malorie ever had was as a kitchen porter – she lasted a day and a half
• A theatrical adaptation of Noughts and Crosses was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company
• She once worked as a writer on Byker Grove, where Ant and Dec started their careers
• Malorie lives in Kent with her husband and daughter…and a collection of around 15,000 books!

Click here to read Malorie's answers to Queen of Teen's exclusive Q&A

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