Entries by FCBG blog

The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure by Amy Atwater

Welcome to another National Non-Fiction November blog post.  Today Amy Atwater tells us more about her book and the inspiration behind it!   The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure Amy Atwater Every scientist starts out as a curious kid. My book, The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure, is an ode to all the children out there who are inspired […]

The Merry Christmas Murders by Alexandra Benedict

We welcome Alexandra Benedict to the blog today answering a few of our questions about her debut middle grade mystery, The Merry Christmas Murders.     Was it challenging to move from writing adult mystery to middle grade? I was really aware when I started writing this book that I’d have to think even more […]

Owl King by Bex Hogan

We welcome Owl King author, Bex Hogan to the blog today sharing insights into fairytales and how they inspired her writing. Once upon a time, fairy tales weren’t for children. They were dark and terrifying, filled with content that would make modern day parents’ toes curl. They were told to reflect grim realities, stories shared […]

Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature by Caroline Brewer

Caroline Brewer, author and illustrator of Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature explains why she wrote Harriet’s biography using poetry! I wrote Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature in poems because Harriet herself was/is poetry. When I think of Harriet, I think imagery. I think of word association and sound. Her life, like poetry, bursts with rhetorical […]

Luna Grace by Julie Sykes

We recently sent a few questions to Julie Sykes about her new series, Luna Grace! Check out her answers below! Where did you get the idea for this new series? I love the idea of having moving magic and I really wanted to create a book with a character that could move things by thinking […]

The Horse Dreamer by Holly Surplice

We have a beautiful blog from Holly Surplice, author of The Horse Dreamer, about her story and characters.   The Horse Dreamer first appeared in a sketchbook over a decade ago. My youngest was just one at the time and I just knew I didn’t have the brain capacity then to write the story I […]

Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop by Krystal Sutherland

“Time Lions began with an accident”, what a great first line to our blog today. Author Krystal Sutherland shares how the book and concept, Time Lions, came about!   Time Lions began with an accident.    I (Krystal) was researching something for another book. I went to search for “Ancient Greeks” on Google, but I made a […]

Squirrel and Bird by Laura Baker

We have a lovely blog today from Laura Baker, author of Squirrel and Bird.  She shares some inspiration behind the book with us!   WE ARE MORE THAN LABELS:  THE INSPIRATION BEHIND SQUIRREL AND BIRD Have you or any of your children/pupils ever been labelled as ‘the quiet one’? ‘The loud one’? Maybe even ‘the cheeky one’? Does that limit how other people see you, […]

The Snowman Code by Simon Stephenson

Simon Stephenson shares his inspiration behind writing books for children. The Snowman Code is now available in paperback ahead of the Christmas season.     What Inspired Me to Write Children’s Books The Snowman Code is my first book for young readers. It tells the story of the unusual friendship that develops between Blessing, a […]

My Book of Classic Nursery Tales by James Mayhew

Many of us will have grown up with familiar tales and nursery rhymes. James Mayhew shares his insights into the importance of storytelling and voice but also in sharing these tales from childhood.     Like so many children, I grew up with traditional folk tales, in particular the Ladybird series of “Well-Loved Tales”, and […]