About Me
Alexandra Stewart
Sometimes fact is more extraordinary than fiction. That's why I love writing about incredible people and their real-life adventures. My books have been translated into more than seven languages (at the last count) and are sold around the world. When I'm not writing, I work in a school library in Southampton.
You can find details of all my books here.
Why I Write
This is me (rocking the Paddington Bear knitwear), and my sister, at Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland. It was a good few years ago now (!) but I can still remember what fun we had that day.
I’ve always been fascinated by the past. When I was little, I longed for someone to invent a time machine. It soon became clear this wasn’t going to happen any time soon. So, I did the next best thing: I time-travelled in my imagination – by reading books, visiting places steeped in history and talking to people (most especially my history-mad dad)!
Now I’m older, I'd love to help other children experience the magic of time-travel for themselves. That’s why I write true stories about real people and momentous events – all brought to life by brilliant illustrations (not by me!). I hope that my books will inspire children (and perhaps some adults) to explore more of our world’s rich and exciting past; to understand our present and...who knows...perhaps to make their own mark on history!
My story so far...
Biography
After leaving school, I studied Modern History at Oxford University. I hadn’t a clue what I wanted to do with my life, but all I knew was that I loved reading and writing. So, after graduating, I trained as a journalist on a local newspaper in Wembley, London.
I ended up as a news reporter for the London Evening Standard. It was unpredictable, hectic and a lot of fun, but, If I’m completely honest, I hated bothering people – and news reporters have to do that a lot!
So, after one awkward assignment too many, I left journalism. In the years since, I have been a press officer, a speechwriter and a civil servant.
I currently work part-time in a secondary school library in Southampton – where I spend my day surrounded by incredible books and enthusiastic readers.
I live in Wiltshire with my husband, two children, and a grinning Labrador called Jasmine.
Awards
My third book, Darwin & Hooker: A Story of Friendship, Curiosity and Discovery that Changed the World won the 2024 UK Literacy Association (UKLA) 3-14+ Information Shadowing Award and was highly commended in the Association for Science Education (ASE) Book of the Year Award (2023).
My books have also been longlisted for the Blue Peter Book Awards and shortlisted in the North Somerset Teachers' Book Award.
Everest: The Remarkable Story of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay is read in schools all over the UK (teaching resources for the book are available here).