NEWS:
13 July HELLO!
FINALLY I'm back online! It's been a very long two months, but we are now settled into our lovely new house. Pepper is loving the garden (she hasn't started bringing me dead creatures . . . yet.) Now for some good news: The 13 Treasures is shortlisted for the Dorset School Libraries New Horizon Book Award! The winner will be announced at a ceremony on October 20th.
24 May MOVING
I've recently moved house and will not have access to the internet at home for a couple of weeks. If you've sent me a message and I haven't replied, please be patient and I'll get back to you asap!
16 May SIGNING, THURROCK LAKESIDE
See Events on Books page for details.
27 April AWARD NEWS
The 13 Treasures has been shortlisted for the North East Book Award! Read more about the prize and the full shortlist here.
15 April NEW TITLE CONFIRMED
The third title in The 13 Treasures sequence is now confirmed as The 13 Secrets! Thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions for titles.
14 April AUTHOR VIDEO
See me talking about The 13 Treasures here. The video features my niece, Tanya, who was the inspiration behind the character, and my cat, Pepper, who is on her best behaviour!
31 March COMPETITION WINNER
The winner of the US arc (advance reading copy) of 13 Treasures is Michelle Walker. Thanks to all who entered - look out for more competitions and giveaways throughout the year.
10 March New 13 Treasures website!
The fantastic website from my US publisher is now live: www.13treasures.com.
20 February For Writers
A brand new section of tips and advice for aspiring writers can now be found on the Books page.
GIVEAWAY!
To celebrate my recent trip to the United States, I'm giving away an advance reading copy of the American edition of 13 Treasures. To enter, email me through the contact page with your name and address, and with '13 Treasures Giveaway' in the subject line. A winner will be selected at random. Closing date 20th March 2010.
14 February For my German readers
My second book, Elfenseele: Zwischen den Nebeln (The 13 Curses) is released tomorrow!
27 January US Tour
To promote the US release of 13 Treasures, I'll be flying out to the United States on January 31st and touring for a week. There I'll be meeting with librarians and booksellers in L.A., Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York to talk about the book. It'll be my first time to America - and I can't wait!
16 January New links
You can now find me on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads - check out 'Links' on the Books page.
08 January COMPETITION RESULTS
Who says number thirteen is unlucky? Thirteen winners each receive a signed copy of my first book, The 13 Treasures. To win, entrants were asked to submit one question that they would ask a fairy, if ever they saw one. There was a fantastic response, and I was impressed by each and every entry. Thanks to everyone who entered. Some questions were fun, some sad, some wise, and others totally absurd! So here are the winners and their questions:'Are you from the Seelie court or the Unseelie court?'
Charlene Fernandes, 13 (overall winner, receiving an additional prize of a silver charm)
'How do you know when children have lost their teeth and to collect them that night?'
Amber Hobbs, 8
'Hello fairy, you know that humans love to write about you and your friends in novels. I'd like to know if you write stories of fantasy and magic about us humans?'
Charlie Jones, 12
'If you cause damage to your wings do they re-grow, or do you shed them yearly?'
Ruby-Leigh Taylor, 8
'How are you different from me?'
Nassima Ali, 11
'Can I come and live with you in the forest? I promise to take care!'
Andrea Alejandra Pacheco Arias, 12
'If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?'
Colin Hindley, 12
'Where do fairies come from, and how do they keep themselves hidden from us?'
Jasmine Caizley, 13
'Is it hard to get shoes that go with your wings?'
Rhianna Darling, 14
'My Dad is in heaven. Could you fix it for me to see him for one more day?'
Julie Pannell, 10
'Hi, um . . . can you please sign my book, so I know you were here?'
Louise Cheung, 12
'Do you want to have a sleepover at my house?'
Rachael Kelly, 10
'Even protohumans have left traces in the fossil records that show their evolutionary path. How come fairies have no traces in the fossil records?'
Heather Lloyd, 15
The following people receive runner-up prizes of a signed bookplate and a silver charm:
Fiona Kwartemaah, 13
Daniel Southurst, 11
Maddy Walsh, 9
Iffath Ahmed, 13
Anna Nuttall, 11
01 January 2010 Happy New Year to all my readers! The competition to Win 13 Treasures is now closed. Winners will be contacted and results will be announced soon!
My second book, The 13 Curses is out now!
07 November 2009 Rights sold in Romania for The 13 Treasures
26 October 2009 Manchester Book Award
The 13 Treasures has been longlisted for the Manchester Book Award 2010!
Click here to view the full longlist.
17 October 2009 US edition of 13 Treasures
Here is the new cover for the American edition of my first book. It publishes in the States on April 1st, 2010.
05 October 2009 Award News
The 13 Treasures has been shortlisted for the Heart of Hawick Children's Book Award 2010. The winner will be announced in May.
03 October 2009 Faery Fayre
I had a brilliant time at the Glastonbury Faery Fayre, where I signed copies of The 13 Treasures and met one of my illustration heroes, Brian Froud, pictured above.
And here I am selling and signing books at the Faery Fayre:
02 September 2009 New Event
Faery Fayre
Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury
30 August 2009 The 13 Curses
New page added - click 'Books' on the menu to view.
04 August 2009 Short Story Competition
24 March 2009 Rights sold in Poland and Israel for The 13 Treasures
10 March 2009 New interview with Achuka
06 March 2009 Interview with Books Monthly
23rd February 2009 The 13 Treasures wins the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize!
On Wednesday evening in Piccadilly, Waterstone's announced The Thirteen Treasures as the winner of their annual Children's Book Prize. The award is judged by booksellers and reading groups. Previous winners include Julia Golding, Stuart Hill and Sally Nicholls.
'The 13 Treasures boils with the kind of fairy that is far worse than Puck . . . what could be more cheering to curl up with?'
Amanda Craig, THE TIMES
'A magical adventure, perfect for lifting your spirits'
MIZZ magazine
