Emma Shevah on writing for independent readers!
- Apr
- 20
- Posted by Erin Hamilton
- Posted in Uncategorized
- 0

In 2015, I took part in a Youth Libraries Group (SE) conference in Winchester. The keynote speaker, Julia Eccleshare, began by asking the audience comprised of librarians and participating authors to turn to each other and name the book or books that turned us from someone who read into a reader. With the others at our […]
read moreGemma Fowler on World Building
- Apr
- 16
- Posted by Erin Hamilton
- Posted in Uncategorized
- 0

This is a superb blog post from author Gemma Fowler on world building, and how notebooks and scribbled notes may not make it into the book but shape the characters, the setting and the story. Fantastically written blog post for a fantastically written book, City of Rust! When I was thirteen I realised that magic […]
read moreThe Girl in the Picture
- Apr
- 14
- Posted by Erin Hamilton
- Posted in Uncategorized
- 0

A guest post from Ally Sherrick Award-winning children’s author Ally Sherrick reveals the inspiration behind her new middle grade historical adventure, ‘The Queen’s Fool’ … ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ As you might guess, it’s probably the question authors get asked the most when they visit schools. And of course the answer is […]
read moreFCBG Quiz with Christopher Lloyd
- Apr
- 13
- Posted by Erin Hamilton
- Posted in Uncategorized
- 0
The Federation of Children’s Book Groups has its AGM this coming weekend on the 17th of April. As a celebration, and a nod to the missed conference this year, we are pleased to be offering members a chance to take part in a brilliant quiz with the exceptional Christopher Lloyd. Read on for more information […]
read moreQ&A with Geraldine McCaughrean
- Apr
- 12
- Posted by Erin Hamilton
- Posted in Uncategorized
- 0

The Supreme Lie is an emotional, twisting and intense book- worthy of a dozen prizes! Well thought, well written and brilliantly thrilling, this is one to savour! We were thrilled to be given the opportunity to ask author Geraldine McCaughrean a few questions! A crisis in a book with a supreme ruler running away- an […]
read moreWriting The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne
- Apr
- 11
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- 1

Guest post by Jonathon Stroud It’s always odd holding a new book in your hands, and looking back at the process by which you came to write it. Very rarely is it a simple, clearly identifiable journey – a broad path curving back neatly to the original idea. More often it resembles an archaeological dig […]
read moreWhy I Love Horror
- Apr
- 10
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
- 0

Guest post by Amy McCaw Although I think of Mina and the Undead as more of a murder mystery than pure horror, there are horror touches and references throughout the narrative. A combination of things got me into horror. The first was my dad’s video shop. I spent a lot of time there in the […]
read moreWhat Happened to You? by James Catchpole and Karen George
- Apr
- 03
- Posted by Erin Hamilton
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on What Happened to You? by James Catchpole and Karen George

We were thrilled to be able to read What Happened to YOU? and then pose some questions to author James Catchpole. This is a wonderful book which features Joe, a young boy with one leg, who is happily playing and attempting to answer the inevitable question, What Happened to you? by those around him. Delving […]
read moreFeatherlight
- Mar
- 30
- Posted by Samantha Thomas
- Posted in Uncategorized
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Guest Post by Peter Bunzl The spark of inspiration for Featherlight came one day when I was flicking through one of my old notebooks. and a few lines of an unfinished poem caught my eye: ‘I am the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, And I keep the lighthouse by the water. Keep the oil lamps burning bright, […]
read moreReading Science for Pleasure
- Mar
- 27
- Posted by Erin Hamilton
- Posted in Uncategorized
- Comments Off on Reading Science for Pleasure
Written by Hannah Groves, SLA While some associate ‘reading for pleasure’ with reading fiction, school library staff are well aware that many children also enjoy an array of non-fiction and eagerly engage with books about sport, celebrities, world records and more. But what about science? How many young people do you think read science books […]
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- Emma Shevah on writing for independent readers!
- Gemma Fowler on World Building
- The Girl in the Picture