Just arrived; a bundle of advance copies of my new WW1 novel! Stunning cover by #MarcoGaudalupi and lovely cover quote courtesy of the awesome Catherine Johnson @catwrote.bsky.social Out 9 Oct... @bloomsburyed.bsky.social @theagencybooks.bsky.social

Happy book birthday to @emmashevah.bsky.social, on the publication of her #YA novel 'MY NAME IS JODIE JONES'! 15-year-old Jodie Jones is NEVER just 'Jodie', and she's not shy about telling people off if they get that wrong! But what family secret is dragging her down? @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social

My 2025 books... so far! WORLD OF WANDA (10+, featuring an #ADHD main character + a secret family!) & novella MY PERFECT COUSIN (for anyone who likes a short read, plus it's #dyslexiafriendly #yay). @foxandinkbooks.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

Ooh, I have STRONG stamper envy, Louie!

A gorgeous selection, as always! 😍📕

"This is a cracking title for those at the top end of primary and into KS3, where those who need shorter stories like this often miss out..." Thanks for this review of MY PERFECT COUSIN, Jacqui! It's always a pleasure to write for the amazingly inclusive @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

Thanks for including 'Fagin's Girl' in this fabulous collection of #Victorians themed books! (And always happy to answer questions via a teacher, if it's used in class!)

Incoming... new book for all the Beatles-heads! RINGO: A FAB LIFE, written by my music journo mister Tom Doyle, is out this October. Ace Ringo tales a-go-go! @newmodernbooks.bsky.social

Thank you! And it's always a TOTAL pleasure and privilege to work with you, dear @barringtonstoke.bsky.social! Your commitment to helping every child and teen find a book that works for them gets me in the feels every time... #inclusivereads #everyoneareader #dyslexiafriendly

From childhood poverty to 1930s superstardom to WW2 spy... the life of legendary Black entertainer Josephine Baker is BRILLIANTLY retold in 'Dance of Resistance', by Catherine Johnson @catwrote.bsky.social. I read this advance copy in one gulp! Out Sept '25 @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

*SHINY NEW BOOK ALERT!* I was lucky enough to be sent an early proof copy of MY NAME IS JODIE JONES, the new YA by the fabulous Emma Shevah! (Out September '25.) Can't wait to dive in... @emmashevah.bsky.social @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social

Much appreciate the gushing, Emma! Thank you so much for your lovely, LOVELY words about #WorldOfWanda... 🥹🥰 #ADHD #SECRETFAMILIES #UKMG @uclanpublishing.bsky.social

Most excellent book post today: an advance copy of Catherine Johnson's next book - DANCE OF RESISTANCE: THE JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY - about the life of the iconic, Black entertainer of the 1920s, who was also a spy! (Out Sept '25) @catwrote.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

Sorry it's a bit late-running, Sharon, but my bookmark is going in the post today! All the best with this year's fundraising #BookmarkProject25 by the Brownies.

On the 3 April we’re organising a day of protest against Meta following revelations of pirated books being used to train their large language models. More information on how to get involved 👇 societyofauthors.org/2025/04/01/s...

"A stunning story about family, belonging and acceptance - this has a quirky cast of characters, lots of drama and a pace that matches the speed of Wanda’s ADHD brain." Thanks for the ace review, @childrensbooksireland.ie! @uclanpublishing.bsky.social childrensbooksireland.ie/our-recommen...

"A cracking story" - Thank you, Jacqui, for the cracking review of #WorldOfWanda! #backpacking #homesickness #secretfamily #ADHD

WOW!! #WorldOfWanda is in the #PrimarySchoolBookClub Feb. 2025 vote this evening! Please VOTE, VOTE, VOTE for my backpacking #ADHD heroine, who aches for a home & family that doesn't exist. Or does it? Pootle over to @PrimarySchoolBC on X & vote using the pinned tweet. @uclanpublishing.bsky.social

There's been a lot of love for the delicious cover of my new novel #WorldOfWanda, and that's ALL thanks to illustrator #StephanieJadeHowe. Stephanie really captured the chaotic interior world of Wanda... 😍 #ADHD #backpacking #homesickness #secretfamilies @uclanpublishing.bsky.social

Lovely, insightful review of #WorldOfWanda in Saturday's #Guardian. Thanks, @imogenrw.bsky.social! #backpacking #homesickness #secretfamilies #adhd

Thanks, Jacqui! Hope you enjoy Wanda's solo adventure, as she stows away and heads of to (hopefully) find her secret family... #eek

Book borrowing is up 31% compared to this time last year! Here are our most popular books!

V. happy to find out that #WorldOfWanda is one of @thereaderteacher.bsky.social's 'February Books I'm Most Excited About'. With themes of backpacking, homesickness, #ADHD and secret families, #WorldOfWanda is out now... @uclanpublishing.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_1d...

Celebrated the launch of #WorldOfWanda this weekend with my excellent author buddies @fionadunbar.bsky.social @catwrote.bsky.social @kathrynevans1.bsky.social @carog.bsky.social and #InbaliIsleres! The evening also included LASHINGS of book-chat, food & dancing... 📚🍛💃 @uclanpublishing.bsky.social

*IT’S BOOK BIRTHDAY O’CLOCK!!* #WorldOfWanda is a story of backpacking, homesickness, #ADHD and secret families, and it’s out today! Me and my PA Bonnie popped into our local Pickled Pepper Bookshop to sign copies and celebrate… 🎉📕 @uclanpublishing.bsky.social @theagencybooks.bsky.social

Funny, when it's your lunch break, it whizzes past but when you're waiting for someone to repair your phone, it takes forever. Still, I have an excellent book to keep me company. And I am reading it in a museum cafe. @mglnrd.bsky.social @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social

My newbie WORLD OF WANDA is officially out tomorrow, but had an ace book launch lunch today with local author chums @helenpeters.bsky.social, @pollyfab.bsky.social & @nicolapenfold.bsky.social! #WhoopWhoopForWanda #AnyExcuseToGetTogether @uclanpublishing.bsky.social @theagencybooks.bsky.social

Very much looking forward to talking all things Wanda next Tuesday, Emma! #WorldOfWanda #ukteenchat #MG #ADHD

It's nearly the end of January, so I only have a sliver of time to whoop about my novel #WorldOfWanda being one of the OBSERVER Children's Books of the Month! Which is just a bit Wandaful!! (Too much, Karen... 🤣 #StepAwayFromThePun) @uclanpublishing.bsky.social @theagencybooks.bsky.social

This sounds right up my street, Patrice! Is it out now, or publishing soon? Whichever, will def. add #PeopleLikeStars to my #MustGetMyHandsOnThis booky wishlist!

What a gorgeous trailer and cover, Maisie! And Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái to yooooo!

Oh, this is LOVELY! The lilies, the lilies! 😍

If you’re not a celeb, getting your children’s book seen can be almost impossible! I run a website called The Reading Realm where I interview children’s authors and illustrators and share all the latest book news! Please do check it out! #KidLit #BookSky thereadingrealm.co.uk

Every January, authors receive an email that sparks JOY. It's from the #PLR (Public Lending Rights) telling us a) how much we've earned from library loans, and b) which of our books were borrowed the most. Here's my Top 5! @littletigeruk.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #KidlitUK #UKKidlit

Just a post to say a huge thank you to everyone who borrowed books I've worked on from libraries this year, and to PLR which ensures that creators get paid every time that happens. Somehow my books were loaned almost 43000 times, which is a figure I'm still trying to wrap my head around. ✨📚

A new Phil Earle novel to look forward to, folks! (But how can we wait till June!?!) 😍📕 #TheDawnOfAdonis

Bonnie McBarker, my hardworking publicist, just wants you to know that my upcoming MG book #WorldOfWanda was reviewed in #TheObserver yesterday. Good work, Bonnie! #Out2Feb @uclanpublishing.bsky.social @theagencybooks.bsky.social

It's this scruffy eejit's #GotchaDay. Four years of joy & pesting. Bonnie loves: us, chicken, barking and Mick the postie when we meet him outside. Bonnie hates: puppies, German Shepherds, German Shepherd puppies and Mick the postie when he dares to come to our door.

A compelling #MiddleGrade mystery, exploring themes of family, homelessness and the impact of telling lies, #PeopleLikeStars by @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social is truly breathtaking. Out 30/01 #Scholastic #UKKidlit #KidlitUK worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/01/07/p...

It's #buyastrangerabook day. People buy each other books, cos they're ace! @tomlloydwrites.bsky.social just went onto my website & sent me a tenner to buy someone a book with. So, if there's a particular paperback you'd like, get in touch! UK only. www.biggreenbookshop.com/stuff-you-mi...

There are some lovely new picture books arriving this month, and they’re in excellent company with some of our most popular titles here. All available on our website and in store today!

Thank you kindly, Fleur!

Monthly reminder: Many people have a book in them, but it takes a special kind of freak to leave the Land of Laziness, cross the Plains of Procrastination and Insecurity Mountain, find the Blade of No One Made You Do This, and use it to cut your chest open and yank that book out.

So, I've drifted over to BlueSky. Hello! #waves What happens now? (Apart from blocking a couple of definite NOPES that were the first to follow me. 😂)