Marcus Sedgwick has always had his head in a book - first in a bookshop, then at a publishers and now as an author.

He began writing seriously ten years ago and his debut novel scooped a top award.

Now his third book, The Dark Horse, has been nominated for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2002.

Marcus, of Swindon Road, Horsham, who also performs in an Abba tribute band, says he is "absolutely thrilled" to be in the running for a prize, previously won by Philip Pullman and Ted Hughes.

He said: "The Guardian prize is regarded as being one of the most literary of the awards so it is great to have been nominated."

Marcus' books are aimed at ten to 12-year-olds and reflect his own love of fantasy, science fiction and mythology, particularly from Scandinavia.

He said: "They are the kind of books I liked to read as a child. They have a magical quality about them and are the kind of books that some children find escapist.

"As a child I remember always getting the same books out of the library - one book on Greek mythology was on permanent loan. Another was on Norse mythology.

"At school, children tend to get taught about the Romans or the Greeks but Scandinavian history seems much closer to home and is slightly neglected."

The Dark Horse is described as a powerful story of magic and betrayal, inspired by the dark and dangerous elements of Scandinavian mythology. Marcus travelled to Iceland to research it.

Marcus, who is divorced with a five-year-old daughter, Alice, has a full-time job with a publisher in Dorking, so his writing is confined to evenings and weekends.

He said: "I spend a lot of time researching and writing notes but when I sit down at my computer I write very quickly.

"For my latest book, I wrote 12,000 words in one day.

"I have a huge sheet of A2 paper that I scribble all over, like a kind of map. And I use a system of sticky notes on a board and move them around, matching up storylines.

"I also use techniques I have picked up from other people.

"Graham Greene used to leave his last sentence half finished so he had something to work with when he came back to it. That way you don't sit down and stare at the screen for hours.

"I increasingly try to have the end of my story fixed, rather than writing on the hoof."

Marcus also uses his skills as a stone carver and wood engraver to illustrate his novels.

When he does lift his head from his books, it is for art of a completely different kind.

He plays guitar for an Abba tribute band called Rebjorn.

He said: "That is the way I relax. It's about as far removed from the solitary task of writing books as you can get."

Marcus' first book, Floodland, was hailed as a dazzling debut and won the Branford Boase Award 2000.

His fourth book, The Book of Dead Days, is due out next summer. The winner of the Guardian prize will be announced on October 12.

The Dark Horse, published by Orion, costs £7.99 in hardback.