Children's author Jacqueline Wilson adores books. Not only has the creator of Tracy Beaker sold more than 25 million copies of her titles throughout the UK, but she also harbours a passion for picking up her favourite tome and reading, whenever and wherever she possibly can.

"I'm a helpless bookworm," admits the ring adorned, award-winning 62-year-old, who lives in South London. "I take books everywhere with me, I even walk along the pavement reading. I guess I'm setting a good example to the local residents."

Now Jacqueline hopes to encourage her legion of young fans to develop the same love for literature when she arrives at the Theatre Royal Windsor next week, as part of the Windsor Festival Spring Weekend.

At the venue, the former Children's Laureate will talk about her life as a writer and also introduce her latest book, My Sister Jodie.

"I've set this one in a boarding school," says Jacqueline, "which has been really fun because you have all these forbidden attics and secret towers that need exploring.

"But my book also shows how life can be quite tough in that environment."

Never one to shy away from the very real problems faced by modern British children, which to date have included divorce, homelessness and abuse, Jacqueline's latest work deals with the issues of sibling rivalry and adolescence.

"It's quite bittersweet really," says Jacqueline, before adding somewhat wryly, "maybe the publishers should put a little packet of tissues on the front cover".

She admits that many people would prefer a "nice, neat, happy ending" to her stories, but tells me that her imagination "doesn't always work that way."

That said, her honest approach has proved a winner with young fans and for the last four years she has remained the most borrowed author in Britain's libraries.

Many of her titles have also been adapted for the stage, including Double Act, Midnight and Bad Girls, as well as for television. The Tracey Beaker series is now a popular BBC children's drama, while Channel 4's adaptation of The Illustrated Mum received widespread critical acclaim.

Her passion for reading and writing began from a very early age, when she says she would "go all over the flat muttering stories to myself." She would also fill countless exercise books with her imaginative tales.

As a teenager, Jacqueline started work as a journalist with a Dundee-based publishing company, which named its new girl's magazine, Jackie, after her.

But it was as a writer of children's books, as well as encouraging youngsters to read more that Jacqueline really seems to have found her niche.

In 2002, Jacqueline received an OBE for Services to Literacy in Schools and just last month she received a Damehood.

"I was utterly taken aback and astonished, but it's really wonderful news," Jacqueline tells me. "It's such a recognition for all writers who dash about the country to read to children."

So what does the future hold for the popular author?

"Well, writing was always the thing I liked doing most and I'm just really grateful I've made a career from it," says Jacqueline. "So in that sense I really hope I continue doing it for many years yet. More of the same, please!"

Jacqueline Wilson arrives at Theatre Royal Windsor on Saturday, March 8, 2.30pm. Tickets: 01753 853888 or www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk