I've spent a very busy winter working on two new books.
The first is Jodie which will be published very soon, in May 2023.
I hope readers will enjoy this new ghost-story-school-story-friendship-story. It's set during a 2 day school field trip, which Jodie reluctantly joins. The backdrop is the isolated field centre where her class are based, and the eerie, chilly, autumnal sea marshes. I absolutely loved writing it here in my cold little study (next door to the village graveyard...)
Keith Robinson has supplied gorgeous artwork for the outside covers and the inside illustrations- just look at that seal in the evening landscape!
I have giant Jodie postcards of the artwork, and Jodie bookplates too. Please contact me via the contact link if you would like to order some for schools, libraries etc.
My second book is Rosa Mundi. I've just sent off the final rewrite. It will be published by Macmillan and it will be gorgeous, so watch this space!
News, September 2022
September is my favourite month. I don't think the back-to-school feeling ever wears off. I hope all my readers have a great school year.
First, a couple of diary dates:
November 4th is The Children's Bookshow at the Ipswich New Wolsey Theatre. Absolutely honoured to be invited on stage with the wonderful Nicolette Jones. I am looking forward to this SO much!
November 6th is Stroud Festival. Jamila Gavin is one of my favourite authors, and together with Damian Kelleher, we will be talking about Jamila's latest book: Never Shall I Forget You and my own The Swallows' Flight.
The Swallows' Flight has got off to a flying start- I was so happy to accept a Young Quills Award from the History Association- particularly rewarding for me, because the books are chosen by young readers. It's also a joy to have a place of the Teach Primary shortlist for the 2022 Book Awards.
Teaching Resources for The Swallows' Flight have been put together by the publishing team at Macmillan Children's Books. A lot of work has gone into this, and I am so grateful. Here is the link:
https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com/d554c971-bcd0-014b-bb17-d2b96b4…