News

  • More Award News

    Posted: 30th November 2011

    Operation Eiffel Tower has been shortlisted for the Calderdale Book Award and the Cumbrian Spellbinding Book Award. Woo-hoo! Best get my party frock on!

  • Operation Solihull!

    Posted: 7th November 2011

    Top-est exciting news - Operation Eiffel Tower has been shortlisted for the 2012 Solihull Children's Book Award. The other two books on the list are Divine Freaks and Sky Hawk; both of which are fab, so it will be tough competition! Still, fingers crossed for the award ceremony in April.

  • Now on Facebook!

    Posted: 20th July 2011

    I now have a Facebook fan page. If you would like to follow me there, click on the Facebook logo.

    facebook

  • Hillingdon Book of the Year

    Posted: 24th June 2011

    Some lovely - and surprising! - news came yesterday. How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini  had won the Hillingdon Book of the Year (in the primary section). This is surprising because I didn't know it had been shortlisted! So, thank you to the librarians, teachers and young readers of Hillingdon for making my day.

    I'm also pleased today because copies of my new book Operation Eiffel Tower have been spotted in shops, even though the official release date isn't until 4th July. So, anyone who has pre-ordered a copy, it might come early!

  • Win 'Operation Eiffel Tower'

    Posted: 23rd June 2011

     

    On 9th and 10th July, I'll be taking part in the very first online literary festival organised by children's writers. At An Awfully Big Bog Adventure there will be two days of tips, gossip, stories and competitions...including a giveaway of 'Operation Eiffel Tower'! Join us on 9th and 10th July for a weekend of book fun!

  • Warwickshire Junior Book Award

    Posted: 9th May 2011

    I have just heard that the wonderful librarians at the Warwickshire Junior Book Award have nominated How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini for the prize. This is the first year of the award, so I'm extra pleased that Ali can say he was there at the beginning. Thank you, Warwickshire!

  • I heart Southwark

    Posted: 1st April 2011

    The lovely people in Southwark have shortlisted How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini for their annual Book Award. Thank you! I especially love them because How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant was shortlisted for the same award last year. You can find more information on the award website, with a full list of all the books up for the prize. Yay, Southwark!

  • Authors For Japan Auction

    Posted: 15th March 2011

     

    We've all been shocked and horrified by the images coming out of Japan over these last few days. I cannot imagine how the survivors feel. My heart goes out to the people who have lost so much. Yesterday I heard that there was going to be an auction of donated items to help raise money for the disaster relief. The result is 'Authors For Japan'. Please take a look at the things for sale, they include signed books, critiques of work, your name in the author's next book...all kinds of great items. All the money raised will go to the British Red Cross in Japan, though you don't neeed to be based in Britain to take part. I am donating a submission critique and a signed copy of 'How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini'. The auction closes on Sunday 20th March.

  • Operation Eiffel Tower has a cover!

    Posted: 25th February 2011

    Yay! The final edits have been done on my new book and the cover has been designed. I'm so pleased at how bright and sunny it looks. The new book is called Operation Eiffel Tower and it will be published in July 2011. Only a few months to go! In the book, four children who live by the seaside are worried that their parents are about to split up. They need to stick the romance back into their parents relationship - and quick! What could be more romantic that a weekend in Paris? Now there's only the small problem of paying for it... and, of course, getting Mum and Dad to stop fighting for long enough to get them there in one piece. I really enjoyed writing the book and, come the summer, I hope you'll enjoy reading it too!

  • Day out with Ally

    Posted: 4th February 2011

    I have two nice pieces of news to share. One is especially nice because it is about me and one of my best friends. Ally Kennen and I have both been shortlisted for the Rotherham Book Award! Yay! This means that I will get to take a long train ride with Ally from the West Country where we live, to Rotherham. We can natter the whole way. The other piece of news is that How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini has been shortlisted for the Bedfordshire Book of the Year Award. Hurray! There are some great books on their list, so Ali is in amazing company.

Events

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    Imagine Festival

    Thu 16th Feb 2012

    The Imagine Festival happens at the Southbank centre in London every year - and, in 2012 I'll be joining in! I'll be running a fun, interactive event about Operation Eiffel Tower at noon on 16th February. For tickets, go to the Southbank Centre's site.

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    Solihull Book Award

    Mon 2nd Apr 2012

    All three finalists (me, Fiona Dunbar and Gill Lewis) will be at the ceremony to hear the winner of the Solihull Children's Book Award. Nail-biting, but fun!

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    Explore! Children's Festival

    Wed 11th Apr 2012

    I'll be visiting the Seligman Studio as part of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to run a fun, interactive session on Operation Eiffel Tower and writing in general.

    For more information and to book tickets, go the the RWCMD website.