About me
I grew up in a large family on the South Coast of England. After reading Law at Exeter University and qualifying as a solicitor, I began work as a sub-editor for Butterworth’s Law Publishers. When my husband’s work took us to Hong Kong, I became an editor at Oxford University Press, HK, working on English Language Teaching books for primary school children. This included writing art briefs, directing the recording of language tapes and presenting the educational material in an imaginative way.
Back in England, and now the mother of two small children, I joined the church parent and toddler group and began writing and telling stories with accompanying songs, prayers and crafts. It taught me how to engage my young audience (and their carers!).
When the children were old enough to join the church Sunday club, I wrote and directed some easy nativity plays that were fun to perform and required little rehearsal.
I am currently working with the charity Care for the Family (www.careforthefamily.org.uk) providing online stories for toddler group leaders (some of which are being published by CPO - Christian Publishing and Outreach, www.cpo.org.uk ) and giving talks and workshops on storytelling to the under 5s at their annual Playtime conference.
In addition, I often speak at Diocesan events, encouraging those working with young children to bring their Bible stories alive for the under 5s! I am very happy to visit individual toddler groups for the same reason.
I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (www.britishscbwi.org) and the Association of Christian Writers (www.christianwriters.org.uk) of which I was the Events organiser for three years.
Please see my blog (www.vickihowieblog.wordpress.com) for the latest seasonal interactive stories for the under 5s and some fun ‘Faith in the Family’ activities for each month of the year!