"'This book made me laugh out loud. Ellie May rocks!' (Andy Stanton) 'Very, very funny... A sparkling showstopper' (The Independent) 'I'd like Ellie May be my best friend because she's funny and crackers and I like her shoes. I giggled so much I fell out of bed!' (Elsie, age 7)"

Before she started writing books, Marianne was an actress. Not the incredibly famous sort, though. After graduating from Cambridge University she appeared in a few TV shows and did a bit of comedy on Radio 4. She has been in one film, in which she managed to forget both her lines. Since then, Marianne has written for The Story of Tracy Beaker, introduced America's Next Top Model and been the voice of a yogurt. She lives in London, and spends her spare time eating cheese and hassling other people's dogs. This is Marianne's second Ellie May book for Egmont's Jelly Pie list.