Sally Christie's first job, nearly thirty years ago, was with a publisher of children's books. While she was there, she had a go at writing a story herself and (cunningly calling herself Syd Carter) sent it to an editor in her own office. It was accepted. She has grown up a lot since Syd: When, more recently, she completed a breathtaking story called "The Icarus Show," she felt able to send it to David Fickling Books under her own name.