Biography
Author of the bestselling Beetle Boy series, M.G. Leonard is an author whose novels offer children an enticing mix of action, adventure and mystery.
From a young age, Maya wanted to be a writer, often making up stories that others would call lies. She studied English Literature and went on to attain an MA in Shakespeare Studies at King’s College, London. After graduating, she worked as a freelance Digital Media Producer, a record producer, an actor and a director.
Despite a fear of bugs, her love of gardening made her want to learn more about them, and in 2016, inspired by what she’d learnt, Beetle Boy was published. Darkus, sent to live with his eccentric uncle after his father mysteriously disappears, is shocked when giant beetle Baxter appears, but soon discovers what an extraordinary creature he is. An instant hit, Beetle Boy won the 2017 Branford Boase Award, and 2 more in the series quickly followed, Beetle Queen and Battle Of The Beetles.
In 2020 she joined forces with Sam Sedgman to write the first in the Adventures On Trains series, and in 2021 started the Twitchers series. In 2023, she published her first standalone novel, The Ice Children.
Gently tackling issues such as bullying, grief and environmentalism, M.G. Leonard also explores themes of friendship, being yourself and standing up for what you believe in. Combining the wonders of the natural world with mystery, action, adventure and humour, M.G. Leonard writes books for children that are quirky, fantastical, whimsical and fun.
