Cathy Forde's novel Fat Boy Swim was discovered on Egmont's slush pile in 2001. On publication it was shortlisted for many awards including the Blue Peter 'Book I Couldn't Put Down' and the Booktrust Teenage Prize. It won the Grampian Book Award in 2004 and in 2014 has been voted the joint winner of winners. Cathy has subsequently written many more novels for children and young adults, including the award-�#8208;winning Skarrs and The Drowning Pond.Cathy's novels have been translated into several languages and many titles are on school curriculums throughout the United Kingdom.In 2011 Cathy's first play, Empty was produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, directed by Vicky… Featherstone. She has been concentrating on playwriting since then : Chamber of Nothing (Pearson) for schools, and The Sunday Lesson and Supply for Glasgow Oran Mor's A Play, A Pie, A Pint. She has written two touring pantomimes and in 2013, adapted her novel The Drowning Pond as a musical for Youth Music Theatre UK. A radio play, Baby's Coming Back was produced by BBC Radio Scotland in 2013.Cathy is on commission to National Theatre of Scotland, adapting Fat Boy Swim for the stage.Cathy was the Scottish Book Trust virtual writer-�#8208;in-�#8208;residence 2010-�#8208;11 and 2011-�#8208;12 and is an experienced creative writing and drama tutor.She lives in Glasgow.