We all know how endless scrolling chips away at our focus. Thirty-second snippets, half-formed stories, no real plot or arc — it’s a mind-numbing way to spend time.

What scares me is how easily we pick up our phones instead of a book. Reading asks more of us: to return to where we left off, to hold a story in our minds, to practise comprehension and deeper thinking. It’s harder — and that’s exactly why it matters.

This is why I’m passionate about helping kids fall in love with reading again. Even ten minutes a day makes a difference.

For curious, puzzle-loving young readers who believe bravery comes in many forms, my Tilly & Thandeka series is a fun, page-turning mystery series – saving a rare species of butterfly, stolen historical artefacts and secrets written in the stars.