World Book Day, 7th March 2024
Fabulous World Book Day at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford. Spot the visiting author (clue: there’s only one Professor McGonagall).
Just surfacing from the FULLEST World Book Day I’ve ever experienced (see photo above). A whole day at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, doing 4 different workshops on all 3 of my books, with the chance to include just about all students from Years 5 - 8. And what a lively, switched-on group of boys, all willing to focus on all kinds of new literary concepts, from the Seven Deadly Sins (always a popular one, that) to the Faustian pact to the eighteenth century rise of the Gothic Horror story. Even Sherlock Holmes took an interest (and he doesn’t miss a clue, after all).
Discussing The Tragickall History of Henry Fowst at Christ Church Cathedral School book club
I was very pleased recently to be invited to Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, for a Q & A session with their new book club, who had - with admirable discernment - chosen The Tragickall History of Henry Fowst as their inaugural read. A super, sparky group of Year 6 - 8 boys who asked searching questions about character decisions and plot inspiration. One of them had also read Ante’s Inferno, and the question naturally arose about a certain devilish theme in my stories. Er, true, m’lud. Well they say the devil has all the best stories…
Can’t fault this display to encourage reading at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford!
More exciting news - The Fall of a Sparrow was shortlisted in the Children’s and YA’s category of the Rubery Book Awards, ‘a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors and books published by independent presses, judged by reputable judges.’ https://www.ruberybookaward.com/
HURRAH! I am thrilled to announce that The Fall of a Sparrow is a Bronze Winner in The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards 2021.
Check out this ingenious idea - a book browsing site www.shepherd.com It seeks to replicate the bookshop browsing experience, which you really can’t do online on retail sites. Here authors are asked to list their favourite 5 books on any given topic, giving reasons why they recommend them. What with The Fall of a Sparrow being a ghost story for children, here’s my contribution. Have a look - and get hooked!
Yes that’s right! The Fall of a Sparrow has made it to the finals of The Wishing Shelf Awards.
Winners will be announced on 1st April 2022.
Definitely holding my breath…. 😊
Dante 700th Anniversary
This year 2021 marks 700 years since the death of Dante Alighieri. Having shamelessly plundered Part 1 (Inferno) of his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, for Ante's Inferno, I wanted to offer my own celebration of one of the greatest poets of all time. Here it is, a keepsake based on Ante's Inferno, beautifully handprinted by Pat Randle of the Nomad Letterpress.
Signing the wall of Alleyn’s Junior School Library in august company of some great fellow children’s authors. I shall be insufferable henceforth.
Above and below: Super visit to Alleyn’s Junior School, London, in January 2024, when I talked to Year 5 about Dante, Greek mythology and World War I (all themes in my book, Ante’s Inferno).
LOTS of copies of Ante’s Inferno to sign after my author visit to Year 5 at Alleyn’s junior School.
BREAKING NEWS! I am super proud to announce that The Fall of a Sparrow has reached the finals of the 2021 Page Turner Awards.
As a great fan of Oxford Children’s Book Group I’m delighted to be taking part in this year’s online conference on
Saturday 16th October, 10 am.
ZOOM IN, book lovers, for tips on how to Read Your Way Out of Lockdown! (Spoiler alert: you can’t beat a wonderful, stirring, fingernail biting children’s book.)
JERICHO BOOK FAIR Sunday, 27th June, 11 am - 4 pm.
On the eve of publication day, I’ll be signing copies of The Fall of a Sparrow at the Writers in Oxford stand at this fair in Mount Place, OX2 6BJ. LOTS of other authors and indie publishers exhibiting, in all genres, including children’s. IGNORE the forecast…. COME!
EXCITING NEWS!
My next book is due to come out with Matador 28 June 2021. The Fall of a Sparrow is a haunting tale set in a spooky boarding school, in which 11 year-old Eleanor uncovers a long-buried family secret. Little by little, she finds herself drawn into terrible danger. You can read more about it here. For ages 9 - 13.
The Fall of a Sparrow
OUT 28TH JUNE 2021
Passchendaele Centenary Reprint of Ante’s Inferno
