Meet the author

Mel Taylor-Bessent.

Writer · United Kingdom

Mel Taylor-Bessent: bestselling author of The Christmas Carrolls whose warm, doodle-filled Riley Wright diaries are a reliable, hugely funny hit for newly independent 7-9s who love Dork Diaries.

Mel Taylor-Bessent is a British children's author who spent years running creative-writing workshops for thousands of children before turning to fiction herself, and founded the literacy platform Authorfy. Her bestselling debut The Christmas Carrolls, a warm, inclusive tale of a family who celebrate Christmas every single day, was a Blue Peter Book Club pick. Her Riley Wright series, beginning with Riley Wright is Always Wrong, is a funny, doodle-filled diary for newly independent 7-9s: Riley starts a new school where her embarrassing dad is the head teacher and has to find her place, a talent for the talent show, and a way to survive the school's meanest girl. Warm, relatable and packed with hot chocolate and sparkly pens, the books land on the truth that being a good friend is the best talent of all. Ideal for fans of Dork Diaries and Lottie Brooks.