Last year was a tough one for me, and writing wasn’t easy to do, but perhaps there’s a grain of truth in the old adage about suffering creating great art because I am SO proud of this, my very next book, out in June: Published by the fab team at Piccadilly Press, spearheaded by lovely … More COVER REVEAL: JELLY
Do You Speak Chocolate? is the latest for 9-12s by Cas Lester, author of Nixie The Bad, Bad Fairy, and Wilfred the (Un)Wise. Before I get started on what I thought of the book, just look at that gorgeous cover! The real thing is even prettier, with the yellow bits picked out in gold foil, … More Do You Speak Chocolate? – review
Publishing on 29th June, here’s the absolutely gorgeous cover for A STORM OF STRAWBERRIES! It’s been souped-up from the versions currently online (and we now have a really lovely quote from Miranda McKearney from EmpathyLab, which is such an honour) and I think the colours really zing! I can’t wait for this to be published … More A Storm of Strawberries COVER REVEAL!
Last Thursday I took a trip into London to meet up with my editor Fliss. Fliss has edited my book A STORM OF STRAWBERRIES but last week was the first time we’d actually met. Editors and authors don’t always get to meet, but it really helps what has to be a trusting creative partnership, so … More Empathy, Excursions, and Exciting New Books
Like many others, I’m frustrated and saddened by the stories of so many refugees stuck in camps, ignored by governments and battered by grief and the elements. My author pal Fiona Dunbar has set up a fantastic auction where you can bid on all kinds of amazing book-related things (not just for children!), and I … More Win the chance to have your name in my next book!
It would have been a packed six weeks anyway: a family holiday, three festivals, holiday courses for the kids…but this summer has been extra packed because I’ve had a mountain of writing to do! Just before the end of the summer term, I delivered the manuscript of ELECTRIGIRL 3 (title still under wraps for now!) … More What I Did On My Summer Holidays #3: Writing
Last Friday was my launch party for A LIBRARY OF LEMONS and it was SO much fun! I shared the event with my author pal John Dougherty (who published his book Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the Great Big Story Nickers on the same day as my Lemons) at the brilliant Blackwells in Oxford, and we … More Launching Lemons with added Stinkbombs and Ketchup!
How Not To Be Weird by Dawn McNiff continues in her vein of ‘magical realism’ stories – where the power of belief is tested against real-world situations – and is a lovely heart-warming and encouraging read. Woody Trindle is starting secondary school and feels far too young and awkward. Woody’s father died when Woody was … More How Not To Be Weird – review
Whew, it’s finally here! A LIBRARY OF LEMONS publishes today, hurrah! And really, you don’t know QUITE how relieved I am, because this has been possibly the hardest book ever to write. Well, the first draft was easy. But the many, MANY drafts that came after that…well, they weren’t all easy. And they got harder … More Happy Lemony Publication Day to Me!
Anne Cassidy is a brilliant writer. Anyone who’s ever read Looking for JJ will know that – and her sequel, Finding Jennifer Jones, is equally wonderful. So when I was offered the chance to get my hands on her brand new Moth Girls, I jumped at it. Mandy is haunted by her past. Five years … More Moth Girls – review
Jo Cotterill 