Land of the Last Wildcat has been shortlisted for the @wainwrightprize.bsky.social Children’s Fiction Award. Such a thrill & honour for my debut book to be selected- thank you!

June’s reading. Loved them all, to be fair.

8. Land of the Last Wildcat by @lui-land.bsky.social An environmental adventure about a girl called Puffin trying to save the last kuri (and the island it lives on). Filled with bravery, determination, hope and magic. Gorgeous cover too by @daviddean-illus.bsky.social @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social

Spent a delightful day out with @lui-land.bsky.social signing copies of #TheLuckyHouseDetectiveAgency 📚 A joyful cosy mystery, that celebrates friendship and community, set in a lucky Chinese takeaway!

A very happy publication day to this delicious new book from @lui-land.bsky.social & Sian James 👏 #TheLuckyHouseDetectiveAgency is the perfect new cosy crime for all you mystery lovers 🔎 @knightsofbooks.bsky.social

PUBLICATION DAY! The Lucky House Detective Agency is open! Wonderfully illustrated by @sianjart this cosy crime is perfect for readers aged 7+ Thanks to @storymixstudio and @_knightsof for allowing me to live out my childhood dream of being a detective and being called Scarlett! Let’s roll! 🧧🌳🕵🏼‍♀️

Overjoyed to grab my @waterstoneskids.bsky.social exclusive edition copy of LAND OF THE LAST WILDCAT by @lui-land.bsky.social. A talented writer and brilliant person. I can’t wait to read it!

May-July 2025 there are 3 debut authors from @megaphonewriters.bsky.social Community. LAND OF THE LAST WILDCAT by @lui-land.bsky.social was published in May. AUGMENTED by Kenechi Udogu will be published on 5th June. My novel RUNNING MY OWN RACE will be published on 3rd July. #underrepresentedwriters

Tummy-filling launch of The Lucky House Detective Agency yesterday-over dim sum! Congratulations to Scarlett Li a.k.a. @lui-land.bsky.social & Sian James, @storymix.bsky.social and @knightsofbooks.bsky.social For our full review/to buy: www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page... 📸see Insta post!

So exciting to see the new and amazing Undiscovered Voices team launch the 10th @scbwi-bi.bsky.social anthology with a free event and a series of masterclasses — all on Zoom. You can book your tickets now: undiscoveredvoices.com/news/uv-2026...

COUNTDOWN! Six days before my debut - Land of the Last Wildcat- is out! The leadup has been rocky- health issues and wrangling Book 2! I’ve taken a note out of Puffin’s (my 10 yr old protagonist) book. Just keep going! Roll on May 1st! 😻📚🎉

We're so excited to share the gorgeous cover of #TheLuckyHouseDetectiveAgency by Scarlett Li, the first book in a new cosy crime middle-grade series, set in a Chinese takeaway 🔎 A warm and witty celebration of community, friendship and family! @knightsofbooks.bsky.social Pre-order 👉 bit.ly/4kuybgG

What @louiestowell.bsky.social said! #KidlLitUK

If you're a CREATIVE, this should go to the top of your TO DO LIST. Act now. Don't hesitate.

Happy book birthday to me and illustrator Jamie Bauza! Born today: LITTLE RHINO LOST, U.S. edition! Published by Crocodile Books @interlinkbooks.bsky.social The UK edition will be out in March, published by @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social

Happy Lunar New Year! Kicking off the year with my cosy crime middle grade written with Storymix, illustrated by Sian James and published by Knights Of! Out on June 5, 2025!

Warning. Children in danger of being swallowed by a boa constrictor.

The best thing about jetlag is that I’ve been up since 330am reading @maisiechanwrites proof for her new MG book. It’s so good, I am nearly finished! Readers- you are in for a treat!! 🐜👻📚❤️

Happy New Year!

In lieu of the recent CLPE report, I’m offering a submissions package review (1st 3 chapters, synopsis & query letter) to an ESEA contemporary MG writer. To apply, please email me a bit about yourself and your MG at [email protected] by Dec 31, 2024. I’ll choose the recipient in early Jan 2025.

Kid asked me to see Wicked. Was reluctant as not a fan of the musical. Well. Never have I seen a film midpoint done so well with movement and no dialogue. The rest was great too. It was the panacea I needed. A balm against recent events, showing an unapologetic woman coming into her power 💚⚡️

Quite honestly, I still barely see myself, or my kid in contemporary kidlit so this report- 0 surprise. I did something about it by writing two MG books out next year to try & level it up. Why are we still unseen?

One of my favourite books of 2025! The debut of @lui-land.bsky.social LAND OF THE LAST WILDCAT and it has a wonderful main character called PUFFIN. You have to meet her! Out in May with @panmacmillan.bsky.social www.panmacmillan.com/authors/lui-...

Here it is, folks—quite possibly the most important #ReflectingRealities report yet,as it signals a moment of uncertainty: will the industry recommit to representing all British children in their books? (Publishing houses, feel free to chime in!) @theclpe.bsky.social

***Land of the Last Wildcat- now on Netgalley!*** My debut MG for ages 8+ is now available as a request to read from @macmillankidsuk on Netgalley! Here is the link- www.netgalley.com/widget/71944...

The first Xmas present I can remember was Richard Scarry’s - What Do People Do All Day? I loved that book, my only book back then, with a burning passion. Forty five years later- I became an author. Give a kid a book for Christmas. It can make all the difference -https://www.booktrust.org.uk/xmas

www.juniperbythesea.com ESEA ONLINE BOOKSHOP

Put the cat on a strict diet. Trying to WFH but the whining and scratching for food is relentless. Here she is trying to eat my knee 😼

Oh, I love this! Thanks, Kate & love to your girls!

Hello! Reposting a thread of starter packs to help anyone spending their Sunday trying to find UK children’s book people. Most are being updated so if you checked them before, you may find new additions. #kidlitUK These two are (mainly) UK children's authors go.bsky.app/GLnmxCv go.bsky.app/3hvsJPY

My map of children's independent bookshops is updated regularly. Most provide an online service and they're all run by people who can make well-informed book recommendations. Make sure you support your local one if you want to keep it. Any missing, please let me know. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

Good idea! @panmacmillan.bsky.social

Words To Live By Number 116

My first post on Bluesky is also my first full review of my debut MG- Land of the Last Wildcat. Thanks so much @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social for the review & excellent class discussion points! 🧡