Award-winning children’s author Miriam Moss, who is based in Lewes, has written a picture book for sat nav company TomTom as part of a promotion to highlight the value of parents reading to their children. Her previous books for children include Snow Bear, Wibble Wobble, and Matty In A Mess.

I started writing when my three children were finally all at school (they are now in their 20s)... They remember me not only reading to them at bed time, but singing songs! I think that bonding time is important. All sorts of concerns and issues are raised at that time.

Literature was a powerful part of my growing up, but I didn’t think I was going to be a writer, I always thought I was going to teach... I work in schools and prisons, and get asked that question a lot. I still do creative writing workshops and lots of different forms of teaching.

I have written 30 picture books, poetry, and in the last eight years, short stories, so adult fiction as well... I’ve just finished the second draft of my novel, Girl On A Plane, to be published in September. It is based on the true story of when I was coming back from the Middle East [in September 1970] and the plane that I was on was hijacked by terrorists belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

I drifted into writing a novel... I was at my publisher and mentioned that story, and they said I had to speak to the fiction editor.

Writing a novel is different in that you have to hold the whole novel in your head and it’s a much longer project... but with the picture books and short stories there are very similar things that are required – it is very content-rich.

I have won awards... but the achievements for me are doing things that are difficult and feeling that I have done them well. Also important to me is that my picture books have been sold in 26 languages all over the world and have hopefully given pleasure to many children.

You are only as good as your last book... but the good thing is I have often got four or five picture books on the go and several stories and I just move between them.

I start the day every day... with a walk with my dogs. That’s really good thinking time, and I love Lewes and Brighton for that reason.

TomTom worked with Miriam Moss to create children’s book Alfie’s Story, as part of its new GO 5000 children’s book promotion. www.tomtom.com/mums-special

Miriam’s website is www.miriammoss.com