Clare Graydon-James

Following an award-winning singing career, Clare Graydon-James turned to writing. Her many plays, musicals and songs, have been performed in diverse settings: such as the Purcell Room, the Worcester Festival, the Rochester Dickens Festival, Upnor Castle; on national radio and in schools and community venues throughout the UK. Clare’s literary heroes include Shakespeare, Dickens, FW. Harvey, Sondheim and Ira Gershwin. Tom’s Drum – like other children’s stories – was inspired by Clare’s treasured memories of childhood Christmases in Newcastle upon Tyne. Mother of two and proud grandmother, Clare lives with her husband, in Staffordshire.