Wendy Leighton-Porter Interview Published on: 27, Feb 2026

I had always wanted to write, but with a busy teaching career I never seemed to find enough time. After giving up teaching, I found myself in the enviable position of being able to indulge my own interests at long last, and writing for children seemed the logical step after so many years spent in the classroom. I’d often heard the phrase “Write about what you know”. Well, I don’t actually have experience of time-travel (although I wish I did!) but I have a real passion for anything to do with the ancient world, myths and legends, and indeed, history in general.

It literally came to me out of the blue! Whilst on an international flight, the idea for the series just popped into my head, almost fully-formed – the entire plotline, characters and episodes in history I wanted them to visit. I couldn’t wait to get started as soon as I was in front of my laptop.

I started out with ten-year-old Jemima Lancelot, a resourceful and brave girl with a deep sense of justice, but who struggles with self-doubt. I knew my young heroine would need company and so I gave her a twin brother, Joe. As twins, they would already have a naturally close bond which would be reinforced by the shared experience of losing their parents at the start of the first book. Charlie, their next-door neighbour and best friend, then presented himself as a useful addition to the group dynamic. Quiet and modest, but brilliantly clever, Charlie’s ability to solve problems often saves the group. He's loyal to his friends and has a strong moral compass. And, last, but most definitely not least, is the fourth member of the team – Max, Jemima’s larger-than-life and much beloved cat.

A unique feline hero with the ability to speak as well as any human, thanks to the golden owl charm on his collar, Max gradually assumes a pivotal role in the adventures as the series progresses, the reason for which is eventually revealed. A celestial event at the exact moment of his birth has endowed him with a special magic. Despite this, Max is a self-confessed coward who is filled with horror when compelled to undertake heroic and perilous missions. He frequently questions the injustice of this – he just wants to be an ordinary cat – but he always rises to the occasion, surprising even himself. It’s Max who also brings an element of humour to the stories. Often grumpy, but always loyal and loving, his wisecracks and pithy comments are designed to relieve the tension in darker moments. It’s clear from the messages I receive that he’s everyone’s favourite character… and it’s no secret that I love him too!

At the outset, I planned the whole series from start to finish and knew that I wanted it to move forward in time with each adventure. I picked key moments in mythology and history, but have thrown in a few extra side-stories along the way. In the first book, the children and Max embark on a quest to find the twins’ missing parents who are lost somewhere in the pages of history. The youngsters begin their journey in Atlantis, but they arrive too late to catch up with the two adults who have since moved on in their struggle to find their way back to the present. And so, the hunt continues…

I stick closely to the historical facts as much as possible, so I do a lot of research and have visited many of the locations which feature in the books. However, I’m writing fictional versions of real historical events and will often twist things for the purpose of the story. I also add a cast of fictional characters (both good and bad) and weave in sub-plots to create extra suspense. I try to ensure that the storyline for each book combines adventure, historical detail, mystery, and a sprinkling of magic – after all, these stories revolve around a mysterious portal into the past, a shadowy group who are guiding my young time-travellers’ footsteps, and a talking cat, not to mention magic keys and charms, so there has to be a considerable element of fantasy to bind it all together.

Moral Choices – What makes someone a hero? The children wrestle with choices, betrayal, and justice, often questioning what’s right and wrong.

Hope – Even in the darkest circumstances, always do your best and never give up hope.

Friendship and Loyalty – Jemima, Joe, Charlie, and Max’s bond grows stronger as they face each trial together.

I have many such moments and most of them usually involve Max, but I’ll share the final scene from my most recent book, “The Shadow of the Slave Ship”. The young time-travellers have just returned from a trip to the 18th century where they met Dr Samuel Johnson (the compiler of the first English dictionary) and his famous cat, Hodge. Back in the present, the children go to visit the London Square where Dr Johnson lived and discover a bronze statue of Hodge. (It really is there – I’ve seen it for myself!) As they stroke the statue and remark on its resemblance to the real Hodge, the cat starts to purr and speaks to them. He remembers.

Getting positive feedback from my target audience is so rewarding. When children write to say how much they’re enjoying the series, it reassures me that I must be doing something right. One young reader told me she’d already read my latest book 6 times! I was also truly humbled when I received the following message from a parent: “My 10-year-old daughter is hooked! She informs me that alongside CS Lewis, Laura Ingalls Wilder, E Nesbit, Michael Morpurgo, the author of How To Train Your Dragon (whose name I can’t recall – Cressida Cowell?) and the author of The Silver Sword, Wendy Leighton Porter is one of her most favourite authors.”

Perhaps a trip to 1st century Pompeii… but with the proviso that I could get out before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD! I already feel as if I know my way around the ancient city, having taught my students about it for so many years. But I’d also like to go back to the 1480s and meet King Richard III, because I’d love to know the truth about the fate of his two nephews, the princes in the Tower – a topic that I covered in my tenth book, “The Shadow of the Two Princes”. Without any concrete evidence, it’s an enduring mystery that is unlikely to ever be solved.

At the moment I’m focusing on completing the “Shadows of the Past” series – I’m currently working on book number 22 out of 25, but have already planned how and when the final adventure will finish. As the children’s quest reaches its ultimate destination, there will be loose ends to tie up and questions to be answered. I know that I’ll feel somewhat bereft when I arrive at the end of the journey – I’ve become rather attached to my little band of time-travellers and will be lost without them. I have, however, mapped out several future writing projects, including a couple of Middle Grade adventures. One thing I’m sure of is that they will include history, time-travel, and perhaps a handful of magic!

I’m impressed with the user-friendly website and find it easy to add or update books to my profile. I also really appreciate the mock-up banners and am sure that the tweets help to advertise my books. Thanks, AllAuthor!