Entries by FCBG blog

Lies we Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood

Author Sarah Underwood questions society’s love and return to the classics year after year in a fascinating glimpse into re-tellings and classic stories. Between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, I spent every Saturday morning volunteering at my local library. It was genuinely one of the best ‘jobs’ I’ve ever had. I was entrusted with […]

Children’s Book Award,Books for Younger Readers Round Up

We have successfully wrapped up the second part of the Children’s Book Award blog tour, featuring the three titles from the Books for Younger Readers Category! Three amazing bloggers hosted content from the shortlisted authors and you can check them out via the links below. First up this week, we had Tom Griffiths host a […]

Bridging the gap between picture books and middle grade stories by Esi Merleh

Esi Merleh has written a brilliant blog about bridging the gap between picture books and longer chapter books.  Her series, Magic Faces is ideal for younger readers making the move into longer fiction. When I was approached by inclusive fiction studio Storymix to write Magic Faces, I had previously experimented with writing middle grade and […]

Q&A with Jenny McLachlan

Jenny McLachlan is widely known for her Land of Roar series!  Her latest book, Stink is her author-illustrator debut.  We had an early read of Stink so we could ask Jenny a few questions! Please see her answers below! Stink is the world’s naughtiest fairy…where did the idea come from to make her naughty instead […]

Mind and Me by Sunita Chawdhary

Author Sunita Chawdhary has written a brilliant blog about the power of the mind and how her main character learns to navigate life using her mind, understanding of emotions and her senses. I have always marvelled at the way our brains and minds work. As a child, travelling the world and growing up withmulticultural influences, […]

The Weather Weaver Trilogy, Writing Backwards by Tamsin Mori

We have an excellent blog post from Tamsin Mori about her Weather Weaver Trilogy and writing backwards! How do you write a story? One word in front of the other? If only stories arrived like that – neatly formed, one idea leading inevitably to the next. I do know authors who plot in great detail […]

Children’s Book Award Round Up!

It has been an incredible first week in the blog tour celebrating the top ten titles as chosen by children for the FCBG Children’s Book Award. This week was all about the 4 shortlisted picture books! Each of our brilliant bloggers was sent a guest blog from a shortlisted author or illustrator to share a bit […]

I, Spy by Rhian Tracey

Bletchley Park is the setting for this war time adventure and there are still so many mysteries and events that took place there that capture the imaginations of writers such as Rhian Tracey. Read on for her blog about writing a middle grade novel set in Bletchley Park. Before I had children of my own, […]

Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere by Ruth Lauren

Check out today’s guest blog from Ruth Lauren all about classic adventure films and how they relate to her new book Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere! Classic adventure films and new, feminist adventure books by Ruth Lauren I love a good classic adventure film. There’s nothing like going off on a treasure quest with […]

The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo

Children’s literature often finds a basis in hope and Rachel Chivers Khoo offers hope in the form of wishes and a delightful Wishkeeper! Read on for her blog all about the power of Hope in stories.   The Power of Hope-filled Stories   I’ve always thought that ‘wishful thinking’ is not something to be looked […]