Latest News
3rd July 2010
First of all, very many thanks to all of you who have sent me such friendly and encouraging messages since I last updated. They make me very happy, and I am really very grateful indeed.
Caddy's World is now finished and edited and rewritten (with one less character!). The artwork for the cover is already being discussed and it is due for publication in April next year. I am so pleased that Caddy will be having a book of her own at last: Caddy Ever After was really a family story, although it did revolve around her.
The new series of books for Scholastic is also well under way. I have just sent in the third of them, and they are in the process of acquiring delicious illustrations by Priscilla Lamont. I hope every one who has liked the Charlie books will enjoy them. They are for very much the same readers, with a girl main character this time. She lives in the same street as Charlie and Henry, so of course they still appear from time to time.
It was lovely to meet so many enthusiastic readers of all sorts of books at the School Library Association conference at Nottingham last week.
And finally, in response to many patient and impatient requests, Rose has at last updated her blog. But will you like what she has told you? Maybe. Maybe not.
Happy Reading to all of you! Hilary
Answers to a few of your questions:
Paige! Thank you, Paige! You are quite right, my books are certainly funnier than pre-Romantic poetry, although I don't think the two genres are necessarily comparable. It is nice of you to say otherwise, but personally I doubt that I should be more famous than I am!
Izzy! Send the story!
Melly, no I don't really have a favourite character in the Casson books- I become fond of all of them by turns. If I had to list a selection I suppose I would say David, Rose and Bill. By the way, I have a Melly in my new series for Scholastic. She also is a very nice character to write about. I hope you like her if you read about her.
Lola (and others) the final order of the Casson series is: Caddy's World, Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, Forever Rose.
Hailey, no I didn't think I would be a writer when I was little, but I didn't think I would be either, if you know what I mean. When I was very little I confidently assumed that I would be a very rich naturalist. I am still rather sorry that this did not turn out to be correct!
Mariella, I am very glad to hear that you are writing again.
A special Hello to Marianna in Germany, and thanks for your lovely message.
Lily, well done with the good work on the trumpet, but where is the story?
Alex, brilliant to hear that my books are doing so well in your library. Thank you!
Hersa, serendipity!
Amisha and Millie: I love writing Charlie books! He is one of my favourite characters, so much so that I have used him as a minor character in the new Lulu series for Scholastic.
Autographs, etc. Yes, I will send these out, and my publishers have supplied some very nice postcards for that purpose. Where ever in the world you are from, all you need to do is to send a name and address to either: Hodder Children's Books, 338 Euston Road, London, NW1 3BH
or:Barrington Stoke Ltd., 18 Walker Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7LP
or:Scholastic Children's Books, Euston House, 24 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1D
They will collect your messages together and forward them to me.
Rose's Blog
You will see if you look at the blog page that the whole thing, right from the first entry is now available for downloading. Be careful any of you that plan to print out too: there is an overlap of several entries. One day when I have nothing better to do I will edit the whole thing, but meanwhile it will be good practice for your own editorial skills. You could add illustrations and footnotes too, if you liked. And cover art and an index. I hear some enterprising reader has even made an audio version! Have fun! ~ Hilary
To Preview: Wishing For Tomorrow
1. Go to the Book List page on this website (see menu bar above)
2. Choose Hodder Books (see side menu bar)
3. Click on 'Further Details' at the end of the section. Then you can read the first chapter, admire the utterly glamorous art work that Nick Maland has created and read about the competition (the prizes are lovely).
Audiobooks, for those people who could not find them. This is what my agent says:The best way for individuals to order these library edition copies is to contact ABC (our direct mail company) on 01225 443400 or email audiobookcollection.com. They can also visit www.audiobookcollection.'
