Julia Jones (writer)

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Julia Frances Jones BEM
Julia Jones in 2009
Born1954 (age 69–70)
Occupation(s)Editor, publisher, writer
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)Chris Thorogood (divorced)
Francis Wheen (m. 2019)
Websitegolden-duck.co.uk/julia-jones

Julia Jones, formerly also known as Julia Thorogood,[1] is an English writer, editor, book publisher and patient advocate.

Early life

Julia Jones was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk in 1954.[2] When she was three years old, her father George Jones bought the wooden sailing ketch Peter Duck, a yacht originally commissioned and owned by children's novelist Arthur Ransome and named for a character in one of his novels.[3] This nautical connection with Ransome, along with numerous pony books, helped to shape a lifelong enthusiasm for books.

Writer and publisher

Jones opened a bookshop in Ingatestone, Essex, which she then developed into a small-scale local publishing business, reissuing a Second World War autobiography by crime writer Margery Allingham.[2] Jones's interest in the Allingham family grew; she researched Margery Allingham's life and wrote a biography published in 1991. Jones has also studied the fiction writing of Margery Allingham's father, Herbert Allingham.[2]

In 2006, while working on a PhD on Herbert Allingham, Jones decided to become a writer of adventure stories like the

The Salt-Stained Book, the first part of a planned sailing adventure trilogy, was released in June 2011.[4] Jones hoped the trilogy would inspire a new generation of children to mess about in boats.[3]

Dementia-care advocacy

In November 2014, Jones and co-founder

Nicci Gerrard set up an advocacy group, John's Campaign, to promote extended visiting rights for family carers of patients with dementia in hospitals in the United Kingdom.[5] Jones was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2023 King's Birthday honours "For Services to People with Dementia".[6]

Personal life

Jones has five children.[7] She was previously married to Chris Thorogood; in 2019 she married Francis Wheen, a writer, journalist and broadcaster who ŵas deputy editor of Private Eye.[8]

Bibliography

Books by Julia Jones:[9]

References

  1. ^ Julia Jones page on debbiesidea.com website, viewed 8 July 2011
  2. ^ a b c d biography page on Julia Jones' personal website, golden-duck.co.uk, viewed 8 July 2011
  3. ^ a b c Setting sail on Arthur Ransome's boat on The Daily Telegraph website, viewed 13 October 2012
  4. ^ The Salt-stained Book page on publisher's website, viewed 8 July 2011
  5. ^ McVeigh, Tracy (13 March 2016). "Observer-backed John's Campaign wins support from NHS". The Observer. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  6. ^ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B32.
  7. ^ Setting sail on Arthur Ransome's boat
  8. ^ Nicholas Wroe "A life in writing", The Guardian, 29 August 2009
  9. ^ Julia Jones page on Amazon.com, viewed 8 July 2011

External links