by Boy Everywhere author A.M.Dassu If you want to write an authentic and truly representative book, THE most important question to answer before you begin your work is; why do I want to write this? The answer will tell you not only why you’re writing this book, but who you’re writing it for. Is it […]

Guest Post by Joseph Coelho Kids love zombies! I don’t know why, maybe it’s the lure of the forbidden fruit, they hear they are drooling, disgusting rotten fiends that eat brains and think “I want some of that”. I discovered this unsettling fact whilst working in schools as a poet engaging kids with literacy through […]

Phil Hickes is the debut author of The Haunting of Aveline Jones, published by Usborne.  It is a spooky mystery perfect for ages 9+.  I was completely hooked as Aveline and her mother drove into town, first discovering the child sized scarecrows…I couldn’t wait to see where this adventure would take Aveline! I was so […]

Guest Post by Nick Tomlinson The hardest thing about writing the second Molly Thompson book was persuading Molly Thompson to be in it.   Coming up with a theme was easy.  The book is coming out in October, and I learned that there’s going to be a blue moon this Halloween! A blue moon is the second of two full moons occurring […]

Guest Post by Danny Weston, author of The Witching Stone. The gothic is imprinted into us from childhood. Think for a moment about the first stories we are given as children – Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel… these are horror stories, pure and simple. Here’s the basic plot of H & G. ‘A […]

Q&A with author Amy Wilson How would you best describe your book to someone that has yet to read it? A magical adventure through whole worlds of peril. Owl – daughter of Jack Frost himself –  is fighting an eternal summer and with her friends must find Autumn before she and the rest of the […]

As with so much this year, Covid-19 played merry havoc with our plans to celebrate the 40th Children’s Book Award in London back in July.  It didn’t manage to dampen spirits though and at 2pm on Saturday 10th October, we opened our online doors and held the ceremony virtually.  Although not exactly as we had […]

Actor, comedian and bestselling children’s author Ben Miller answers questions about the power of imagination and the importance of reading books aloud. Ben writes classic family-friendly stories which delight adults and children alike. His third children’s book, The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale is a story about the special bond between siblings, and the […]

Being able to ask questions to one of your favourite authors is entirely exciting but also nerve wracking.  With a new baby and a toddler to entertain, Abi still manages to create incredible and uplifting stories.  Read on for her amazing answers about The Unmapped Chronicles! Abi, so many of us, adults and children alike, […]

Why I love the CLiPPA By 2020 judge Tracey Guiry, director of the Poetry Archive Winning the CLIPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award) is an ambition for any poet writing for children. Prizes can give a fantastic boost to a poet’s profile; the publicity around the winning of a major prize can increase a poet’s visibility to new audiences, such as the children and […]