Lots of lovely award news! Tsunami Girl longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, Anna Goodall and Bella Pearson longlisted for the Branford Boase , and Guppy on the British Book Awards regional Small Press shortlist!
Like buses, lovely news has been arriving all at once this month; firstly, the news that MAGGIE BLUE AND THE DARK WORLD by Anna Goodall was longlisted for the Branford Boase Award – an award that celebrates both a debut author and their editor.
We are super thrilled too that TSUNAMI GIRL by Julian Sedgwick has been longlisted for the Carnegie Medal – the most prestigious and long-running children’s book award in the UK run and chosen by librarians. We are all agog for March 16th when the shortlist will be announced.
And thirdly, we’ve just heard that Guppy Books is on the regional shortlist for the Small Press Award at the British Book Awards… what an honour and it really makes up for what has been a difficult start in the last couple of years!
Thank you to all my amazing freelance colleagues in design, rights, contracts, accounting, editorial, publicity and marketing, sales at Michael O’Mara Books. And all the incredible authors and illustrators who make up the list – it would of course be nothing without them.
The Cats We Meet Along the Way has been published – to great acclaim!
In the autumn of 2019, we published our first book, followed by another three – and then the pandemic hit. All plans were thrown up in the air. So we changed tack, and created a new competition for unpublished and unagented writers, casting the net as far and wide as we could. We had over 400 entries to the 2020 YA competition – writers sent in the first few chapters, which we whittled down a longlist of 40. And the shortlist of 11 was then judged by Bella and four industry experts: Tamsin Rosewell, bookseller and illustrator; Adamma Okonkwo, editor; Lucas Maxwell, school librarian, and Linda Sargent, editor and author. And from this, Nadia Mikail’s novel, The Cats We Meet Along the Way, shone through like a jewel. It’s an astonishing, heart-warming debut about the importance of family at a time of catastrophe. Nadia really is an author of the future.
We celebrated with Nadia and others last week – with a signing at Hatchards in Piccadilly, followed by a dinner at Dishoom. And I can’t wait to see how far this book travels!
Empathy Day – Guppy has two titles chosen for Read for Empathy Collection
With the circumstances our young people have been facing over the pandemic, there couldn’t be a more urgent time to nourish their empathy skills and create an empathy-educated generation.
We are so thrilled that Wrecked by Louisa Reid and Tsunami Girl by Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada are in this year’s Read for Empathy collection – to have two titles on this amazing list is fantastic. EmpathyLab do an amazing job, and we’re happy to be supporting them over the next few years too.
maggie blue is on the costa children’s book award shortlist!
We are completely bowled over that Maggie Blue and the Dark World, the debut middle-grade novel written by Anna Goodall, has been shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award 2021. It’s the 50th anniversary year of these awards, which celebrate the very best in fiction for children and adults. And to be one of four titles on the shortlist is simply amazing.
Huge congratulations to Anna, for writing such an incredible story – full of magic, originality and characters you would follow anywhere. Huge thanks also to Sandra Dieckmann for creating such a beautiful cover. All of us at Guppy Books are so proud to be publishing Maggie Blue and Anna.
two Guppy titles nominated for the Carnegie Medal!
We are over the moon that both TSUNAMI GIRL by Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada, and MAGGIE BLUE AND THE DARK WORLD by Anna Goodall, have been nominated for the prestigious Carnegie Medal 2022. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. To be nominated at the start of the process is a huge honour and testament to the amazing storytelling of both books.
Ghost Scouts set to hit the screens soon!
We’re so thrilled that Threewise Entertainment have scooped up the option for film rights in Taylor Dolan’s awesomely wicked series, Ghost Scouts! Watch this space for future news…
Two Guppy titles on the longlist for the UKLA Awards!
We are so thrilled and proud to have two books on the 2022 UKLA Book Award longlists. Firstly, Sharon Creech’s MOO in the 7-10 category, and Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada’s TSUNAMI GIRL in the 11-14 plus section. The UKLA awards are the only ones chosen by teachers – and each copy of the book will now make its way into over 30 classrooms across schools in the West Midlands, to be discussed and read by teachers and their classes.
We’ll be holding our breath till March 2022 when the shortlist will be announced!
GUPPY OPEN SUBMISSION 2021 WINNER ANNOUNCED!
On Friday last week, the judges and I met on Zoom to discuss the shortlisted titles for the 2021 Guppy Middle Grade Open Submission – and I am thrilled to announce that the winner of this year’s competition is James Dixon with his atmospheric, evocative and moving novel, THE BILLOW MAIDEN. And the very worthy runner-up is Carrie Sellon, with her wonderfully funny and sparkling, PIZZA PETE AND THE PERFECTLY BONKERS PIZZA PLACE.
It is so heartening to see so much talent around in the midde-grade writing world. The shortlisted novels were so broad in scope and theme, with some fabulous concepts and writing. To reach the last 10 out of 300 is no mean feat, so congratulations to all the shortlisted authors: Zareena Subhani, Sarah House, Emily Randall, Amy Feest, Olu Oke, Sam Oaten and Cathryn Norriss.
A huge thank you to the awesome panel of judges this year – librarian Jenny Jones, teacher Rich Simpson, editor Adamma Okonkwo and editor/author Linda Sargent. Their expertise and love of children’s books was absolutely invaluable to the process, and I’m grateful for their time and energy when they are all so busy. Also, to the wonderful Fern Tolley who helped with the longlist, and the students from the Publishing Course at Oxford Brookes University for their help with the initial submissions.
And finally, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to James and Carrie!
Guppy Books MG Open Submission Shortlist announced!
What a difficult job! But we have finally managed to whittle down the longlist of thirty-six to a shortlist of ten. It has been a hard job, and I have no doubt missed some great books in the pipeline, but a choice had to be made and I’m absolutely thrilled for the shortlisted authors. Thank you to all who submitted such a dazzling array of stories – they were all such a high standard and hugely enjoyable to read. Now it’s the judges turn to agree on a winner – watch this space in the autumn…
Congratulations to these authors! They are, in no particular order:
Emily Randall – The Water’s Child
Olu Oke – The Triumphant Rise of P. Fanque’s Incredible Insect Circus
Christopher Galvin – The Thing About Giants
Sam Oaten – The Demon’s Apprentice
Caroline Sellon – Pizza Pete and the Perfectly Bonkers Pizza Place
Amy Feest – The Hunderbeaste
Sarah House – Five For Silver
James Dixon – The Billow Maiden
Zareena Subhani – Split
Cathryn Norris – The Magic of Hare Hill
Introducing the judges for the Guppy Open Submissions Middle-Grade Competition!
It’s time to whittle down the longlist to the shortlist, announcement to be made on Thursday, but before then check out the four talented and experienced judges who will be involved in choosing a WINNER! I’m so thrilled that all these people, with their expertise, are able to read and consider all the shortlisted entries over the summer, with the winner to be announced in the autumn.
Adamma Okonkwo is an editor at the Golden Egg Academy following a stint in audio publishing. A recovering architect, she decided to take refuge in the more exciting world of books and has since lived happily ever after.
Jenny Jones read so many books during her time as a Carnegie and Greenaway Award Judge that she ended up having to do special pre-reading warm-up exercises for her arm muscles. She’s been a School Librarian for 0-13 year olds for nearly nine years now. She previously worked in the Graduate School of Education Library in the University of Bristol and Bristol’s Public Library Service where she loved running the Summer Reading Challenge for children. At the moment she is working in Clifton College’s Prep School Library with Years 4-8. She has demanding, discerning and vocal young readers and she is always on the look-out for books that they will fall in love with and inevitably squabble over when all of the Library copies are on loan.
Rich Simpson is a UK-based Primary Deputy Headteacher, with over 20 year’s experience as a classroom teacher, school leader and English subject leader. A passion for reading and Children’s Literature led him to set up book review site whatiread.co.uk during lockdown, and he is involved with numerous publishers, on blogtours, designing resources for use with books and blogging as @richreadalot. He was the winner of Nexus Education’s 2021 award for School Improvement.
Linda Sargent grew up in Kent, went to the University of Sussex (fashionably late) to study Economic History, at least that was the official line, but as usual spent a lot of time reading fiction. She has worked in education and the arts since the nineteen seventies, and since 2002 has worked as a publisher’s reader for David Fickling Books and as a freelance reminiscence and disability advisor. She has published short stories and articles and her first novel, Paper Wings, appeared in 2010; she is also the author of Words and Wings, a training guide to creative reminiscence work, available as a free download from her website: www.lindasargent.co.uk
THE WINNERS OF THE #NameYourKnight competition have been chosen by the Brothers McLeod!
Myles and Greg had a fantastic time looking at all your entries – thank you so much to everyone who entered the competition, and it was very hard to make a decision! But in the end, these talented people have won the chance to get their names in the next Knight Sir Louis adventure as well as a full set of the brilliantly bonkers Knight Sir Louis tales. Congratulations to you all!
Overall winner
Knight Sir David the 523rd by Cormac of St Sylvester’s Primary
Highly commended entry
Knight Sir Jiggly Pig by Ellie and Evelyn of Botley Primary
Five runners up
Knight Sir Whiskers by Tom
Knight Sir Flower by Katie
Knight Sir Jeff by Kiko
Knight Sir Night-Night by Gabriela
Knight Sir Gadoces of Mad by Chloe
Hurray!
NATIONAL POETRY DAY 2021 – two Guppy Books chosen!
We’re so thrilled that two Guppy titles are on the National Poetry Day Recommended Reading List for 2021 – the powerful, hard-hitting verse novel, WRECKED, by the incredible Louisa Reid, and a middle-grade novel told largely in verse, MOO by Carnegie winner Sharon Creech.
Both of these titles use language, placement, rhythm and layout in order to create an accessible, emotional read – look out for them both in the bookshops, or order from the Guppy shop!
GUPPY MIDDLE-GRADE OPEN SUBMISSION LONGLIST ANNOUNCED!
For the second year running, Guppy Books opened its portholes for unpublished and unagented writers – and wow, what a response we had! With over 300 entries, it was exhilarating to see the talent and creativity in these entries. We have managed, with difficulty, to whittle down the entries to a longlist of 36, as listed below.
Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for sending in your entry for Guppy’s open submission window. I was so impressed with the standard of writing, the original ideas and the incredible energy that went into all the submissions. It was a hard task to whittle 300 down to 36 and it’ll be harder still to choose the shortlist. I had the help of some brilliant students from the publishing course at Oxford Brookes – and it was a tough job!
Huge congratulations to those who made the longlist! You will hear more about the next stages individually by email.
Acquiring books is such a subjective thing, and as true of most editors I have said no to many books that go on to do great things; so if you don’t make it onto this list I hope you don’t feel too disappointed. It has been a pleasure to read all the submissions and thank you again for your participation.
With best wishes
Bella Pearson
Publisher Guppy Books
LONGLISTED ENTRIES
Karen Naylor Olu Oke Debbie Longstaff Emma Norris Essie Brammer Lucy Mesanges Alex Webber Smith Laurie Lascos Emily Randall Christopher Galvin Sam Oaten Katja Kaine Caroline Sellon Tracy Curran Ashia Mirza Maureen Tai Natalia Godsmark Naomi Conran Zoe Rogers Amy Feest Kate Walker Georgina Frame Matt Cowan Susan Bain E Floyd Hall Fiona Spence-Arnold Damara Allen LJ Moss Jessica Nelson Emma Bradley Sarah House James Dixon Zareena Subhani Cathryn Norris Kate Poels Mel Stephenson
KNIGHT SIR LOUIS IS CALLING YOU TO ARMS – A COMPETITION FOR ALL SCHOOLS TO ENTER WITH SOME FABULOUS PRIZES ON OFFER!
O YAY O YAY, we are thrilled to announce that we are running a creative competition with the marvellous Brothers McLeod, and every school that enters will be in with a chance of appearing in the next Knight Sir Louis book itself!
Myles and Greg would like you to design your very own Knight, coming up with a suitable name, a trusty steed and perhaps an unusual sidekick and skill. This is a creative project for the summer term suitable for children in Key Stages One and Two, and teachers and parents can download our fun factsheet which includes some creative prompts and a space to draw your character (or characters).
The closing date for entries is Friday the 9th July. We’ll announce the winners on the 16th July just before schools break up. Send your entries to bella@guppybooks.co.uk, or tweet a picture to @guppybooks.
The prizes include: FIRST PRIZE: an overall winner who gets their knight featured in the next Knight Sir Louis book, a HIGHLY COMMENDED entry, whose school will be name-checked in the next Knight Sir Louis book, and FIVE RUNNERS-UP who will win a signed set of Knight Sir Louis books!
And ALL winners will be credited in the new book, which will be published in May 2022!
Myles and Greg have put together some videos which are on the Guppy Aquarium on YouTube – one for teachers, one for children and one where they talk about how they come up with their brilliant, creative ideas for inspiration – or the Brothers McLeod Youtube channel here. And there’s a pdf here with activity sheet to enter – download HERE. And we hope you have LOADS OF FUN! Happy summer and happy reading – from the whole Knight Sir Louis clan!
Empathy Day… and publication day too!
It’s National Empathy Day today, and we are thrilled that the incredible GLOVES OFF by Louisa Reid has been chosen as an Empathy title by Empathy Lab – all these title promote empathy through reading – and it really is an incredible list of titles for young adults.
GLOVES OFF was Guppy’s first title to be published, and holds a very special place in my heart. It represents everything that Guppy was founded for – a book that’s utterly absorbing and engrossing, compelling and page-turning, and yet different too – it confronts attitudes and ideas that often people look away from. As a novel, it runs that line of being utterly unputdownable and wholly impactful – yet accessible and for ALL readers, both young adult and adult. I will always be so grateful to the hugely talented Louisa Reid for taking a punt with Guppy and climbing on board! (Don’t miss her second YA novel, WRECKED too – equally emotionally impactful and powerful.)
And it’s also publication day for the paperback edition of the ‘Outrageously entertaining’ (Lancashire Post) THE SLIGHTLY ALARMING TALE OF THE WHISPERING WARS by Jaclyn Moriarty – the second in the Bronte Mettlestone series (albeit a prequel set twelve years earlier – this fabulously quirky and magical story tells of two warring sets of children who are forced to collaborate when the real Whispering Wars begin and children start to go missing… don’t miss it!
The Guppy Open Submission Week has arrived – plus read all about Jaclyn Moriarty and her writing processes
The portholes of Guppy Books are open to all unagented and unpublished middle-grade writers who have a novel to share!
Please email your submission to submissions@guppybooks.co.uk between 9am Monday 7th June and 6pm Friday 11th June 2021 (GMT).
Please include the first 2000 words of your middle-grade novel, plus a synopsis, preferably as a Word attachment. Entry is free, although we would ask you to support Guppy Books as an independent publisher by buying a Guppy book from any bookshop or online store.
We will be announcing a longlist in early July, a shortlist in late July, and a winner will be offered a contract with Guppy Books in the autumn. Please keep an eye out on social media and our website for confirmation of future dates.
We are also thrilled that Jaci Moriarty has completed a Q&A about her own writing and publishing processes – please see below and the very best of luck to you all!
The M-G Open Submissions Week is nearly here!
It isn’t long before the open window to submit your middle-grade manuscript arrives! Please email the first 2000 words and synopsis of your novel for middle grade readers between 9am on Monday 7th June and 5pm on Friday 11th June – you will receive a response to confirm that you have entered correctly, and we are thrilled that the magnificent author, Jaclyn Moriarty, has specially answered some fascinating questions about her own writing method and publishing journey as an author which we will send out to all entrees.
A team of publishing students and I will be whittling down the submissions to first a longlist of around 40 titles in the early summer, and then a shortlist in July, before announcing a winner in September 2021. We are thrilled that judges Adamma Okonkwo (an editor at the Golden Egg Academy), Linda Sargent (editor and reader at David Fickling Books) and Jenny Jones, librarian at Clifton College, will be helping make a final decision.
We are not charging a fee for entry, but we do ask that if you can, you support Guppy Books by considering buying a title from its list. Many thanks!
Do email your submission to submissions@guppybooks.co.uk – and don’t hesitate to ask any questions. Please see below for more information, and the best of luck to everyone!
‘A book to shout about’ The i newspaper
THE SLIGHTLY ALARMING TALE OF THE WHISPERING WARS is the second book in the Bronte Mettlestone series – it’s actually a prequel to THE EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT ADVENTURES OF BRONTE METTLESTONE, set twelve years before, and is a story told in turn by two characters – Finlay, from the local orphanage, and Honey Bee, from the Brathelthwaite Boarding School.
There’s an ongoing feud between the orphanage and the boarding school, but when the Whispering Wars break out, all the children have to come together in order to save themselves and their town. The story is full of magic and adventure, and time travel too (Bronte makes an appearance!) – perfect for your 8 to 12-year-old who loves Lemony Snicket and Harry Potter. It was shortlisted for the CBCA Award in Australia.
Pre-order now! Or find it in your local bookshop after 10th June 2021.
TWO NEW MARVELLOUS MIDDLE-GRADE BOOKS HIT THE SHELVES!
This month is a middle-grade cornucopia – we have two fabulous books for readers between 6 and 12 now available from all good bookshops. The second book in the hilarious Knight Sir Louis series is out – Knight Sir Louis and the Dragon of Dooooooom! The Lancashire Post said: ‘Sublimely funny and seriously entertaining, this is the ideal way to get your youngsters hooked on reading…’ and Jo Nadin ‘loves these books SO much! Mr Gum levels of weird and brilliant!’ If you want to guarantee your children will roar with laughter and enjoy the brilliantly inventive illustrations, then this is the book for you. Check out some puppet reviews of real-life authors and comedians HERE!
And for any children who love inventing, engineering or just poring over detailed illustrations, WILL JAKEMAN’S MARVELLOUS MECHANIMALS is just for them – the story of inventor Will Jakeman, probably the best inventor there has ever been. Read about his amazing childhood, marvel at his incredible inventions, and quiver with fear at his arch enemy Ida Gripp! And children can have a go at creating their very own Mechanimal in the book too.
It’s time for the Guppy Middle Grade Open Submission 2021!
Following the huge success of last year’s Guppy Young Adult Open Submission – where we had over 350 entries, a shortlist of 11 and finally chose the magnificent winner, Nadia Mikail, whose book we’re publishing in the spring next year – we are now holding a similar competition but this time for middle grade writers.
We are throwing the portholes open to all unagented and unpublished authors between 7th and 11th June 2021. We are looking for a new and exciting voice in middle-grade writing. We are casting our net far and wide, and especially encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.
Please email your submission to submissions@guppybooks.co.uk between 9am GMT on Monday 7th June and 5pm GMT Friday 11th June 2021.
To submit, please include the first 2000 words of your middle-grade novel, plus a synopsis. Please don’t worry too much/spend much time on the synopsis – we want to see it in order to get a sense of what happens in your story, but the writing itself is much more important!
Please email as a Word document. One submission per person. Any enquiries, please email submissions@guppybooks.co.uk
We will shortlist down to a list of ten by early July and a winner will be announced in September 2021. All shortlisted authors will be offered an editorial meeting with Bella Pearson. The winner will be offered a contract with Guppy Books. We do not charge an entry fee, though we would invite all entrants to buy a book published by Guppy Books (available from all bookshops and online retailers as well as the Guppy shop), but only if they can!
Please see the press release below.
Another Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week for Sharon Creech!
Moo by Sharon Creech has been chosen as the Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week – the fourth title published by Guppy to receive this accolade. As Nicolette Jones says: ‘Carnegie and Newbery medal-winner Creech has a magic touch. She writes simply and directly (in this novel, largely in blank verse), yet her unshowy language is transporting and charged with emotion…. It’s delightful and infused with understanding of how young and old might behave and feel.’
We are so proud to be Sharon’s publisher in the UK – a dream come true. MOO is available in all good bookshops (and you can now go and visit the shops for real – hooray!)
MAGGIE BLUE IS THE SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK!
What a lot of excitement to see MAGGIE BLUE AND THE DARK WORLD as Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week on Sunday March 21st – it’s such an accolade and we’re thrilled for Anna and her incredible novel. So well-deserved – and absolutely spot on. It’s been a tricky time with the shops shut, so this has made our day! Well done, Anna, and onwards, Maggie!
A BOOK LAUNCH FOR TSUNAMI GIRL!
We had such a wonderful evening online on Thursday 18th March, celebrating the launch of Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada’s magnificent novel, TSUNAMI GIRL. Julian’s prose and Chie’s manga has combined to create a magnificent story – sensitively, emotionally drawn in both words and manga. It was so fascinating listening to them talk about the creation of this unusual novel, and huge thanks to them and Tamsin Rosewell from Kenilworth Books for chairing an enlightening, emotional evening.
Click here if you weren’t able to make the event live – and enter password +aD4@u%4 to watch again. Signed copies by both Julian and Chie are available on the Waterstone’s website here.
Win a signed print of MAGGIE BLUE and watch the recorded interview here!
It was never the intention that we would publish Anna Goodall’s magnificent novel, MAGGIE BLUE AND THE DARK WORLD, into a pandemic – we were anticipating a launch in a local indie bookshop clutching warm glasses of white wine. But the beauty of a Zoom event became evident – last night we spent an hour in the company of Anna and the multi-award-winning and all round lovely person, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, for a fascinating conversation about the book, writing styles, how indie publishing differs from big corporation and editorial methods, amongst much much more.
We loved watching – and in case you couldn’t make it live, here is a recording of the event to listen to in your own time. The readings by Anna are simply amazing too – she’s destined for an audiobook career!
Click here to watch – if you need a passcode, type in LX%K1#uh
Until the end of Sunday 14th March we are offering a signed and dedicated bookplate from Anna to be sent to anyone who buys a copy of MAGGIE BLUE AND THE DARK WORLD from Blackwells – and also the opportunity to win a magnificent limited edition print of the cover 30x40cm signed by both author and illustrator. Please email bella@guppybooks.co.uk with proof of postage to be placed in the draw, as well as who you would like your bookplate dedicated to. Winner announced on Monday 15th!
The magnificent TSUNAMI GIRL is out now!
We are so proud to be publishing this incredible book, written by Julian Sedgwick and with manga from Chie Kutsuwada. A powerful coming-of-age story about a fifteen-year- old girl caught up in the March 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, this story for young adults will touch the hearts of all readers.
Check out the incredible trailer above. Signed copies available through the shop.
Guppy Books is a Regional Finalist for the British Book Award’s Small Press Award!
We are absolutely thrilled that Guppy Books has been chosen as a regional finalist for the Small Press Award in the British Book Awards. What an honour to be on a list with so many other amazing publishers, and so early in our publishing journey too.
I am so grateful for the incredible Guppy authors and illustrators, as well as my talented and dedicated team whose hard work has allowed this to happen. We might be small, but everything we publish promises to be mighty – and to have this acknowledged by the trade means the world.
Bella
TWO INCREDIBLE NEW TITLES OUT THIS WEEK!
Maggie Blue and the Dark World by Anna Goodall, dark, gripping, unputdownable. A beautiful edition from an exciting new voice in children’s fiction.
Ghost Scouts: Hullabaloo at Camp Croak! by Taylor Dolan, perfect for your little ones moving from picture books to reading aloud. Wild, wicked fun for parents and children alike!
GUPPY BOOKS JANUARY SALE!
It’s 2021, and there’s a light on the horizon, but we aren’t quite there yet. So all this January, we are offering our books at amazing prices – and a fixed P&P of £3 however many you order. You’ll find all sorts of incredible stories to entertain you on these cold nights, for all ages as well as yourself and every order will receive a bookmark and postcard too.
We’ve only been going for just over a year (and what a year it was) but we’ve already had two Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week, all our books have received rave reviews, and many have already been shortlisted for awards.
Happy browsing!
FREE P&P THIS WEEKEND ONLY!
It’s nearly Christmas but the Guppy shop is still open, and this weekend only we will be sending out all parcels in the UK with free postage, no matter how many books you order. So get your little (and big) ones a read that guarantees to entertain them – whatever the weather, and whatever kind of Christmas you are having. And all of us at Guppy hope that you have a very restful, peaceful time.
LOUISA REID OFFERS SCHOOL VISITS for 2021!
The fabulous Louisa Reid, author of Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week, GLOVES OFF and latest novel, WRECKED, is offering schools the opportunity to enjoy a Zoom author visit during the spring term of 2021, suitable for Years 7, 8, 9 and up.
Louisa is a secondary school English teacher in Manchester; her inspirational visits have already engaged, motivated and encouraged many young people to rediscover the joy of reading, which so many can easily forget at this time. Reading has never been more important, and Louisa conveys this using her many years of teaching experience and her own immersive, fast-paced, layered novels which cover discussion topics such as the devastating effects of bullying, body image and coercive relationships.
Louisa will not charge a fee, but we would ask that the school buy a class set of either GLOVES OFF or WRECKED from a local independent bookshop.
So if you are a teacher, librarian or other educator, please do contact Catherine Alport on hello@catherinealportpr.co.uk or Bella Pearson on bella@guppybooks.co.uk.
