Michelle trained at Rose Bruford College (where she was not only a drama student but also wrote plays and poetry) and at Marcel Marceau’s L’École Internationale de Mime in Paris. She has a postgraduate Certificate in Film Studies (BFI/London University) and an Honorary Doctorate (Portsmouth University).
Her first novel, Goodnight Mister Tom has won awards in the UK, America and Australia, has been translated into over eleven languages and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021. An unabridged version read by the actor Christopher Saul is on audible.
As Mikki Magorian she has performed in plays, musicals and one-woman shows. After writing the Book and Lyrics for Goodnight Mister Tom (Composer Gary Carpenter), it was one of the winners at the 1992 Quest Fest for new musicals at Buxton Opera House. A few years after the musical was performed to cheering audiences (Director Roger Haines/Choreographer Bill Deamer), it was screened on television starring the late John Thaw, winning seven television awards, including a BAFTA.
She has also written the Book and Lyrics for TINSEL (Composer Robert (Bob) Buckley), HELLO LIFE! (with the singer Heather Cairncross and Composer Alexander L’Estrange), and SEA CHANGE (Composer Stephen Keeling).
Michelle/Mikki has read two of her other novels, A Little Love Song and Back Home on audible. A four part dramatisation of Back Home was first broad cast in 1995 on BBC Radio 4 and has been repeated several times on Radio 4 Extra. Its most recent broadcast was in 2022. Her other novels are Cuckoo in the Nest, A Spoonful of Jam, (third in the Irish Best seller list), Just Henry and Impossible!
Just Henry (a Costa award winner) was made into a ninety minute drama by ITV Productions with a talented cast including Josh Bolt, Sheila Hancock, Dean Andrews, and Barbara Flynn and was chosen as one of Radio Times’ 12 Christmas Cracker treats. It can be heard on audible read by the actor Richard Mitchley
An adaptation of Back Home was made for television twice. The first one, starring Hayley Mills won the Gold Award at the New York Film and Television Festival in 1990.
Michelle has just completed two new books and is carrying out research for a tenth book when she isn’t giving talks and performance readings.