This celebrated children's author overtook Catherine Cookson in 2004 to become the most borrowed writer in British libraries and has sold more than 20 million books in the UK alone.

Her novels focus on the lives of modern British children and are characterised by their social realism and dry humour.

Jacqueline eschews easy answers, depicting youngsters and their parents treated as equally vulnerable and flawed, and her books have tackled such issues as divorce, homelessness, domestic violence and foster care.

Born in Bath and raised in Kingston-upon-Thames, as a teenager she worked on the then recently-launched Jackie magazine.

Her breakthrough came with The Story Of Tracy Beaker in 1991.

The BBC's The Big Read poll placed four of her books, the majority of which are written for 8-12 year olds, in its top 100 and a recent Mori survey saw her voted the country's most popular children's author.

Her work has garnered numerous prizes, including the 1999 Children's Book Of The Year at the British Book Awards for The Illustrated Mum. Her books have been adapted by Channel 4, ITV and Radio 4 and stage versions of two of her works, The Lottie Project and Double Act, have toured nationally She was the fourth Children's Laureate from 2005-2007 and was made a Dame in the New Year honours list.

Jacqueline will be signing copies of her latest books, My Sister Jodie (Doubleday, £12.99) and the first volume of her autobiography, Jackie Daydream (Doubleday, £5.99).

  • Free, starts 11am. Call 01273 324146 to reserve tickets - no admission without a ticket.