Beverley Birch spent her childhood roaming vast plains and deep forests near her home in East Africa, dreaming of becoming an intrepid explorer in fantastic, far-away places. Instead she became a writer, and explores people and places through her books. She travels widely, and says, ‘Wherever I go, I’m fascinated by the way people and events of the past seem to me to leave a gleam, or a shadow, or a resonating murmur of sound in a place. In a way, that’s where all my stories begin.’
Her novels range over time-travel, mystery-thrillers, ghost stories, and adventures and are set in Italy, Scotland and East Africa. She also writes picture books, biographies, narrative non-fiction, retellings of folk tales and classic works, and collaborations with her husband, photographer Nick Birch. Critically acclaimed, and translated into more than a dozen language, she has been nominated for the Carnegie medal, and shortlisted for awards here and abroad.
Anthony Burt has worked in primary, secondary and adult education, and run inspiring community youth work, art, music, film and TV projects for children with special needs for 20 years. He’s a professional slime-maker, teacher, and bookseller, and last year, he helped entertain 8000 children in 20 days as host of the Imagination Lab at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Anthony has been writing since his mum bought him a Fisherprice typewriter when he was five years old. He’s written scripts for CiTV, articles for the BBC’s children’s magazine Doctor Who Adventures, the Guardian, Nickelodeon, The Wrap, and Haymarket. And he once sat on a bench in Bangor, Maine where Stephen King plonked his bottom to write his books.
As a member of the Golden Egg Academy and SCBWI, Anthony enjoys writing all kinds of children’s stories, usually with a dark but heartwarming and comedic twist. Anthony is an eternally faithful concierge to his cat Watson and he has lived in Portsmouth, North Devon, London, Wales, Scotland, and Weymouth. He now lives in Frome (with Watson, of course).
Sharon Creech has written twenty-one books for young people and is published in over twenty languages. Her books have received awards in both the U.S. and abroad, including the Newbery Medal for WALK TWO MOONS, the Newbery Honor for THE WANDERER, and she was the first American author to win the Carnegie Medal for RUBY HOLLER.
Before beginning her writing career, Sharon Creech taught English for fifteen years in England and Switzerland. She and her husband now live in Maine, “lured there by our grandchildren,” Sharon says.
James Dixon is a London-born, Glasgow-based novelist, poet, and playwright. His debut novel, The Unrivalled Transcendence of Willem J. Gyle (Thistle, 2017) was shortlisted for the 2018 Somerset Maugham Award by the Society of Authors. His debut play, It’s My Turn, was performed as part of the 2019 Edinburgh Science Festival, aimed at younger audiences. The Billow Maiden is his first novel for younger readers.
Taylor Dolan was born into a house of stories and raised in Texas. Her mother used to read to her every night, and together they made their way through the worlds of Narnia, Oz and many more. Sometimes, when Taylor is feeling blue, her mother stills reads to her and does the best voices for all the characters.
Being a happy booknerd, she attended the Cambridge School of Art for her Master’s Degree in Children’s Book Illustration. She was overjoyed to find a whole herd of booknerds to spend quality time reading quietly together with. She now lives in Arkansas, while using her imagination to pretend she still lives in Cambridge.
Like most people, and some monsters, Taylor likes some things and very much dislikes others. For example, she likes the way the words “kerfuffle”, ”whippersnapper” and “pantoufle” sound when you say them out loud. So much so, that she often works them into kerfuffle conversations where they don’t whippersnapper belong. Pantoufle. She does not like it when the oven beeps excessively, and nobody moves to turn it off. This situation can only be fixed if the beeping oven is full of perfectly fresh peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Oh, and cats. WAIT, no. She does not want you to put your cats in the oven. That is terrible mean idea. She just meant that every situation can be fixed by eating perfectly fresh peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and/or snuggling with a cat that has not been put in the oven. Well, every situation can be fixed this way—unless you are allergic to peanuts. Or cats. Then there is no hope for you. Sorry.
Anna Goodall was born in London into a family of musicians. But amidst all the instruments and piles of music, there were also an awful lot of books. Her granny used to read to her every night, and family folklore has it that she loved to write little notes to herself before she could read properly. (The content of these notes is still unknown, but we strongly suspect that they contained gibberish.) Even so, writing has always been a way for Anna to connect with herself and the world, and, alongside reading, the most important thing in her life.
She also has a great interest in animals (including talking ones), other worlds, families, friendship, football, how other people might be feeling and coffee.
After working in publishing, running a small literary magazine, bookselling and very occasional journalism, Anna took a Masters in Scriptwriting at Goldsmiths. But instead of doing what she was meant to do after that (ie, write a film or at least a short film) she decided to write a novel instead. Maggie Blue and the Dark World and Maggie Blue and the White Crow will be followed by the last in the trilogy, Maggie Blue and the Lost Child, in autumn 2024.
Anna lives in London with her family and dog, Winnie.
Rachael King is a writer, reviewer, former literary festival director and ex-bass player from Aotearoa, New Zealand. She is the author of two novels for children: Red Rocks, which won the Esther Glen Medal in 2013, and The Grimmelings, which is due for publication in 2024. Her novels for adults, The Sound of Butterflies and Magpie Hall, were together published in nine different languages. Red Rocks is currently in development for television by Libertine Pictures (Mystic) and Sky TV.
Rachael was the programme director of the WORD Christchurch Festival for eight years until the end of 2021. In 2023 Rachael was named Best Reviewer at the Voyager New Zealand Media Awards. She lives in Christchurch.
Chie Kutsuwada was born and brought up in Japan. A well-known figure in teaching manga in the UK, Chie went to Central Saint Martin’s for her art major and continued her studies at the Royal College of Art. She now works as a professional manga artist and lives in Brighton.
Former Hallmark artist for 27 years and the creator of Asteroid Andy, Pedro is the author and illustrator of Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir from Dial Penguin.
Pedro also chronicles his life growing up Mexican American online in a series called Mexikid Stories. (@Mexikidstories, instagram, Facebook and Gocomics.com)
The Brothers McLeod are a five-times BAFTA-nominated animation company. They have won one BAFTA and a Webby. Their animations have featured stars such as Brie Larson and Stanley Tucci. They have produced animation for Disney, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Science Museum (London), the BBC and Aardman Animation.
Greg McLeod is a character designer, illustrator and animation director. His short films have been around the world and won a number of awards. His last short film MARFA had its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA for Best British Short Animation.
Myles McLeod has written over 100 scripts for broadcast TV. He has written extensively for children’s TV including Octonauts, Hey Duggee, and Noddy Toyland Detective (which he co-created). His work has been screened all over the world including on Nickelodeon, Disney XD, BBC, and Netflix. Myles is also a published poet.
Nadia is a law student in London, a full-time houseplant owner and a part-time investigative journalist of what London’s pigeons are planning when they flock together like that. She is mostly unsuccessful at (but still hopeful about) both these occupations.
She is from Sarawak in Malaysia, where the air is always sweeter, the food is always tastier, and the pigeons are considerably less bold.
Jaclyn Moriarty is the prize-winning, best-selling author of novels for children, adults, and young adults. Jaclyn grew up with four sisters (including Liane and Nicola Moriarty), one brother, two dogs and twelve chickens. Her novels include the Ashbury High books: FEELING SORRY FOR CELIA, FINDING CASSIE CRAZY, BECOMING BINDY MACKENZIE and DREAMING OF AMELIA. A former media and entertainment lawyer, Jaclyn has lived in the US, UK and Canada, but now lives in Sydney again, along with her son, Charlie.
PRAISE FOR JACLYN MORIARTY
Jaclyn Moriarty is one of the most original writers we have.
Markus Zusak, author of THE BOOK THIEF
A CORNER OF WHITE
Another one-of-a-kind from the inimitable Moriarty.
Kirkus *Starred Review*
a startlingly original fantasy, a moving story of human resilience—and a structural triumph.
E. Lockhart, author of WE WERE LIARS
THE CRACKS IN THE KINGDOM
This is madcap, whimsical, smart and even heartbreaking, but Moriarty never drops the dozens of balls in the air… even better than the first.
Kirkus *Starred Review*
This wholly engrossing book outdoes the first—not an easy task.
Horn Book *Starred Review*
Readers will be clamouring for the next title after the thrilling yet satisfying conclusion.
School Library Journal *Starred Review*
A TANGLE OF GOLD
A grand finale to a grand adventure, complete with truly startling revelations.
Kirkus *Starred Review*
Just one question is left hanging: what will this remarkable author come up with next?
Horn Book *Starred Review*
Kenneth Oppel is the bestselling author of numerous books, including Airborn, which won the Governor General’s Award for children’s literature and a Michael L Printz Honor Book Award, and the Silverwing trilogy, which has sold over a million copies worldwide. Some of his other books include The Boundless, Every Hidden Thing, and Inkling. The Nest and Half Brother both won the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children Award. His latest novels are Bloom and its sequels Hatch and Thrive. Kenneth lives in Toronto with his family. Visit him online at www.kennethoppel.ca or twitter @kennethoppel
Louisa Reid has spent most of her life reading. And when she’s not doing that she’s writing stories, or imagining writing them at least. An English teacher, her favourite part of the job is sharing her love of reading and writing with her pupils. Louisa lives with her family in the north-west of England and is proud to call a place near Manchester home.
GLOVES OFF is her first novel in verse, and she’s fallen in love with the exhilarating and exciting challenges and opportunities that writing in this form brings. Reading and loving the work of writers such as Jason Reynolds, David Levithan and Sarah Crossan inspired her to rise to the challenge.
Louisa writes about things that she thinks are important to young people, and all people generally, really. Drawn to write about themes of female empowerment and personal freedom, GLOVES OFF is about bullying and body image, with some boxing thrown in too. Louisa hopes the novel will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever had to fight for self-confidence and self-belief – things which are, for many, very hard won.
REVIEWS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS
BLACK HEART BLUE
An emotive, sometimes shocking story of modern-day twins
Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week
The most thought-provoking book I have read for a very long time
Guardian
Some books stay with you long after you’ve finished them and Reid’s debut is one of them… a moving, gripping story
Sun
Stunning, shocking, sad and incredibly touching . . . You will read it in one sitting then want to share the book with someone else
LoveReading
LIES LIKE LOVE
Reid evokes the uncertainty and joy of teenage romance with all its passion and pain
Daily Mail
a brilliant twist
Sunday Express
Heartbreaking . . . Demands to be read all at once, but will stay with you long after
Teri Terry, author of the SLATED trilogy
Julian Sedgwick is the author of six books for children, and co-author of the graphic novel DARK SATANIC MILLS and illustrated novel VOYAGES IN THE UNDERWORLD OF ORPHEUS BLACK, recently shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2020.
He read Chinese Studies and Philosophy at Cambridge, before working as a bookseller, painter, researcher and script developer for film and TV, and shiatsu therapist.
Julian lives near Ely, Cambridgeshire, is married and has two grown-up sons. He still combines writing with his work as a therapist. In his spare time he draws as much as possible, juggles torches and knives, tries his best to learn Japanese – and waits for the weather to get cold enough to go fen skating.
Carrie Sellon was born in Bristol and now lives in Hampshire with her husband, three children, dog friend (Mabel), tortoise friend (Sid), chicken friends (Bluebell and Snowy) and 30,000 bee friends (Andy, Pamela, Ellie, Mark…you get the idea).
She used to travel the world making wildlife films for the BBC , but now, much like Pizza Pete, prefers hanging out at home, eating too much pizza. Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions is her first book.
Nick Ward was born in the late Jurassic period, and since then has written over sixty books for children, from picture books to young fiction. His book “Don’t Eat The Teacher” has sold over a million copies and his alter-ego Charlie Small has written twelve volumes of unbelievable but completely true adventurous memoirs.
Brought up living above the family shop in a quiet market town, all Nick Ward ever wanted to do was write and illustrate books, and by hook and by crook, that’s exactly what he has ended up doing. He has worked in design studios and converted school buildings, but now works from a little wooden studio (shed) at the bottom of his leafy garden. It’s all rather lovely.
TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BEST FRIENDS FOREVER AUTHOR LISA WILLIAMSON
1 – Lisa Williamson is a British children’s author. She has written four fiction titles for young adults and three non-fiction titles for younger children, including a biography of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Her latest book, Best Friends Forever is for children ages 8+ and is the first title in a brand-new series called Bigg School. Set at Henry Bigg Academy, every title in the series will explore the life of a different child in year 7.
2 – Lisa grew up Arnold, Nottinghamshire with her mum, dad and big sister Helen. Arnold is not very exciting (sorry, Arnold) so as a child Lisa spent a lot of time making up stories in her head to stop herself from getting bored. She also loved to draw, dance and trying to train (not very successfully) her rabbit Juniper to do tricks.
3 – Lisa is also an actor and has starred in many musicals and pantomimes over the years, including Aladdin (three Christmases in a row!) and Peter Pan where she was flown across the stage on wires. She has also appeared in lots of TV commercials including the 2014 John Lewis Christmas advert (the one with the penguins!).
4 – Lisa wrote her first novel for young adults, The Art of Being Normal after working at a clinic for children wishing to explore their gender identity. Hearing their stories inspired her to write a book from the point of view of a transgender teenager. She still gets letters and emails from young people discovering the book for the very first time.
5 – As a child Lisa loved to read. Some of her favourite books growing up included The Magic Faraway Tree seriesby Enid Blyton,George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl, Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg, and Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume. She also really enjoyed reading comics like Twinkle, Bunty and Mandy.
6 – Lisa likes to write the sorts of books she thinks her younger self would have enjoyed – stories about ordinary children navigating everyday life. She believes that every child has a story worth sharing and loves getting under the skin of her characters and finding out what makes them special and unique.
7 – The first book in the Bigg School series, is about Lola, whose friendship with BFF Evie looks set to change when they find out they’re going to be in different classes when they move up to secondary school. The next book is called Double Drama (out in April 2024) and is all about Daniel, a young carer and inspiring actor. When Daniel gets the lead role in the school play he struggles to juggle rehearsals with his complicated home life, all the while hiding both from his gang of mates.
8 – Lisa works on the Bigg School series alongside illustrator Jess Bradley. Jess also illustrates the well-loved Squid Bits for The Phoenix magazine. In Best Friends Forever Jess’s illustrations bring Lola’s story to life and really capture the characters. Lisa’s favourite illustration in the book is the one of Lola and Evie on the very last page because it makes her feel happy and sad at the same time. When she first saw it she got a massive lump in her throat!
9 – When she was nine, Lisa won a McDonalds drawing competition. The prize was a party at McDonalds and a tour around the kitchens. It was one of the best days of her life.
10 – Lisa’s favourite things are (in no particular order) chocolate ice cream, bookshops, board games, Christmas, the seaside, theme parks, baking, long walks in the woods, reading on trains and her whippet Nelson.
