Gail Clarke

Gail Clarke is a retired primary school teacher with over 35 years of teaching children. Originally from Northern Ireland, Gail trained as a teacher at Queen's University, Belfast. Following a move to Hong Kong, she then taught at the German Swiss International School for 27 years, retiring as deputy head of the international primary department. In 2004, Gail moved with her husband, the author David Clarke, to Tuscany, Italy. This 'migration' set her thinking about animals that cover huge...See more

Gail Clarke is a retired primary school teacher with over 35 years of teaching children. Originally from Northern Ireland, Gail trained as a teacher at Queen's University, Belfast. Following a move to Hong Kong, she then taught at the German Swiss International School for 27 years, retiring as deputy head of the international primary department. In 2004, Gail moved with her husband, the author David Clarke, to Tuscany, Italy. This 'migration' set her thinking about animals that cover huge distances every year. This led to her first illustrated children's book, Patrick's Birthday Message about a parrot in central Africa who wants to send a message to a relative thousands of miles away? Perhaps he could ask for help from the migrating animals. On her writing 'journey' Gail learned many amazing facts about animals which were the inspiration for her second and third books Searching for Skye and Cosmos the Curious Whale. As well as writing, illustrating and publishing her books, Gail enjoys visiting schools, talking to children, and sharing her stories with them. She now lives in England, Italy and Phuket, Thailand, but most years she and her husband also travel to Hong Kong and Kenya to see their family of four children and six grandchildren. Everywhere she goes, Gail spends time visiting schools, whether they are huge international schools with hundreds of children in Hong Kong, Phuket, Bangkok and Sri Lanka, or tiny village schools in Kenya and England. Her presentations to children are assisted by puppets of Patrick the parrot and his great-grandpa Gilbert, Cosmos the whale and various other animals from her stories. Gail has now written and illustrated seven books for children. Learn more about her at her website: www.gailclarkeauthor.com See less