Jem Packer

Jem Packer is an award winning children's author with a background in comedy and cartoon strip writing. His books have appeared in many languages in countries from Brazil to China via Turkey and Estonia and the long running strip he pens - It's Grim Up North London - can be seen fortnightly in Private Eye.

Badly Drawn Beth won The Laugh Out Loud book award 2016, 6-8 years category. He has also worked in children's TV, helping transfer his book series, Fleabag Monkeyface to the small screen as a CiTV animated TV show. Jem was lead writer, Associate Producer and wrote many of the 52 episodes.

Jem lived in France as a child and speaks fluent French. After graduating from university a passion for travel took him round the world where he ended up as a night manager in a kebab shop in Sydney, operating fun fair rides in Melbourne before running a comedy club in Edinburgh. A love of writing eventually brought him back home to East London where he is still based. He has managed to combine his twin passions of writing and fly fishing with a monthly column in Britain's top fly fishing magazine. 

His greatest claim to fame is appearing on stage with Sir Paul McCartney as half a pantomime horse (yes really and yes, that Paul McCartney).

Latest Publication:

HAPPY BETHDAY! (8th Septemeber 2017, Orchard Books​)

So I'm being chased through the park by a pack of angry zombies, I've got cake mix on my face and MY MOST EMBARRASSING PHOTO EVER IS IN THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE!

Beth Orsen is back for her third hilarious adventure. And with a zombie party, Granny's baking contest and Beth's baby photos accidentally being printed in the school magazine, life is about to get messy again!

Perfect for reluctant readers and fans of TOM GATES, BADLY DRAWN BETH book 1 won the 2016 Lollies award for funniest book for 6-8 year olds.

A laugh-out-loud school story, packed with imaginative escapades and illustrated with eye-poppingly funny pictures. (Book Trust)