Frances Thomas was born in Aberdare, South Wales but later moved to London and studied at Queen Mary College (London University). For the last two years, Frances has divided her time between writing and teaching dyslexic children, which she does privately at home. She has written for adults and children. Her children's novels have won Welsh Arts Council Awards, and her first adult novel, Seeing Things, was a runner-up for the Whitbread First Novel award in 1986. Who Stole a Bloater? was dramatised by Jackanory on BBC Television in 1993. Christina Rossetti was her first biography, and In 1994 Frances acted as a consultant to the National Portrait Gallery for their centenary exhibition on Christina Rossetti. Little Monster's Book of Numbers and Little Monster's Book of Opposites are published by Bloomsbury in January 2006. Frances is married to Professor Richard Rathbone who lectures at SOAS (London University). They have two daughters Harriet (b.1968) and Lucy (b.1970).