Dr.Fuzz

I am a London based author and audiobook producer. I grew up in Berkhamsted, England, where I picked up my enduring nickname, Fuzz (later Dr. Fuzz), as well as my love of poetry. At fourteen, my poem, ‘Brian’s Head’, won a national ‘young Poet of he Week’ prize and was published in Britain’s leading newspaper, The Times.

Eventually though, my passion for poetry and writing took a temporary back seat to my academic endeavours - namely, a Master’s and a Doctorate in Geopolitics from King’s College London, driven by a curiosity about a war that separated me from my birthplace at the age of five. My first book, based on my research into Middle Eastern rivalries and territorial disputes, was published by Bloomsbury in 2015.

My foray into audio production began unexpectedly in 2016 when I volunteered to narrate and produce a corporate video for the international business where I was working. This experience sparked a new passion, and within a year, I transitioned to full-time freelancing as a VoiceOver artist and audiobook producer. Since then, I’ve narrated, mastered and produced audio files/books for a variety of commercial and educational projects.

In 2017, I also began pursuing my long-held dream of writing and illustrating picture books, starting with 'Poppy the Pea - Oh, what a great way to be’ which was published in August 2023. A few months later I produced the audiobook version, which has become a key part of my work with schools in the UK and internationally.

I run school workshops for children aged 7 to 11, focusing on Poppy the Pea’s central themes of facing fears, overcoming setbacks, and following dreams. The audiobook plays an integral role in this work, as teachers use the audio to introduce the story before my visits, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to witness the children’s excitement, especially their response to the audio format.

Writing for children has always been a dream of mine, driven by a deep passion for promoting mental health and resilience from an early age —a subject area very close to my heart. Once Poppy the Pea was published in hardback and ebook formats, it felt only natural to also create an audiobook. Not only does this align with my personal interest and experience in audio, but Poppy the Pea’s first adventure was designed to be read aloud, making it a perfect fit for an audio adaptation.

The prestigious children's book site Armadillo highlighted this in their review of Poppy the Pea, stating, "There is a beautifully balanced and clever rhyme running through this text, making it wonderful for reading aloud." Similarly, the LoveReading 4 Kids website praised the book, noting, "The lively rhyming story is a joy to read aloud, and infused with a quirky sense of fun."

Bringing Poppy's story to life through audio form was a thoroughly enjoyable challenge. I initially considered narrating it myself but quickly realised that the central characters needed a soothing, engaging female voice. After an extensive search and audition process, I was thrilled to find Julia Savill, a prolific theatre and voiceover actress; her rich, motherly tone was the perfect match! Working with Julia to bring the lively rhymes to life was a delight, as was incorporating playful music and sound effects to enhance the story’s ‘quirky sense of fun’.

My audio is designed for everyone, but I am particularly keen for it to reach and inspire young minds. The Poppy the Pea audiobook, in particular, is one that both adults and children can listen to and enjoy together. It can prompt meaningful discussions around subjects such as courage, self-belief, and resilience. The audiobook is the perfect length to be enjoyed in one sitting and can be played repeatedly to relive the fun and keep the discussions alive. It also serves as a fun and easy way to introduce emerging listeners to a chaptered format.

As a children’s book author and audiobook creator, Yoto is the perfect platform for me - especially as it connects me directly to my target audience. I’m especially drawn to Yoto’s commitment to nurturing children’s imagination in a screen-free environment, and I feel honoured to be contributing to this meaningful cause. The exceptional creator support I’ve received from Yoto has also made the experience even more rewarding.

There are a lot of exciting projects in the Fuzz Books pipeline! I am currently writing the second instalment to the Poppy the Pea series and there are two other new series titles in the works as well. I can’t wait to bring these and many more stories to listeners through Yoto over the coming months and years. Parallel to this, I am looking forward to rolling out my Poppy the Pea workshops to many more schools across the UK and internationally.