One of the UK's most popular young adult authors has revealed she sometimes lives in fear of her life as a transgender woman.

Brighton-based Juno Dawson, 33, grew up in West Yorkshire and worked as a teacher and journalist before embarking on a full time career writing young adult novels as well as non-fiction books on LGBT issues and mental health.

The award-winning author, who will join the 'Who owns the New Feminism' panel discussion presented by The Women’s Prize for Fiction at Latitude Festival, which begins today, told Femail of the fear that comes with having transitioned.

'I’m finally who I was supposed to be. On a physical, emotional and spiritual level it’s enormously freeing,' she explained. 'Pretending to be a boy almost pushed me to the edge.

'But it is gruelling practically. No one enters transition for the LOLZ.

'The worst part is the fear that you might be battered or murdered on the street. Groups of men can be very unkind.'

Brighton-based Juno Dawson, 33, said that transitioning has enabled her to be free, but said that transgender women face the constant fear of violence and even death

The award-winning young adult author who is working on a new Dr Who book, announced she was transitioning in 2015

In 2015, Juno announced she was transitioning to live as a woman, and the biggest myth the author wants to dispel is the idea that there are children across the UK changing gender in childhood.

'The notion that one can “transition” a minor - it doesn’t happen in the UK. Under 18s are supported by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and the NHS until they reach adulthood.'

A young person may be prescribed hormone blockers to temporarily put puberty on hold, making an eventual transition easier if they so decide in the future.

Juno's next book is The Good Doctor, the book to feature the female Dr Who played by Jodie Whittaker, and she's also focused on her campaigning work.

Juno wants to dispel the myth that children in the UK can transition before the age of 18

'I’d like mandatory PSHE in all schools so we can teach girls about consent and coercive relationships,' she said.

'I’d also like to see laws around paternity leave brought into line with Scandinavia so that hiring a woman comes with no greater “risk” to an employer than hiring a man.

'I think we lose a lot of female talent from the job market this way.'

'I always think you have to attend to forest fires while they’re raging and, at the moment, I have great concerns about reproductive rights and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

The author said that she receives online abuse from other women, who claim to be feminists

'It’s unacceptable that some women in the UK lack the rights as the rest of us.'

Another issue Juno has dealt with since announcing her transition is online abuse from other women, even those who claim to be feminists.

'It’s horrible. It feels like bullying. I haven’t don’t anything to harm anyone and don’t intend to,' she said.

'I don’t think they’re feminists, I think they’re prejudiced. If you make sweeping statements about minority groups, you’re a bigot.