I’m very happy to say that The Otherlife has been longlisted for the Branford Boase award, a prize for first-time children’s novelists and their editors. The lovely and brilliant Chloe Sackur edited The Otherlife – under her guidance I found the process of rewriting and editing a transformative and very valuable experience. The shortlist will… Read more »
Blog
Myths & Magic – a panel discussion at Queen’s Park Books, Wednesday 18th January
I will be joining authors Lu Hersey (‘Deep Water’) and Katharine and Elizabeth Corr (‘The Witch’s Kiss’) to chat about mythology, magic, fairytales and more in YA and beyond. The discussion will be chaired by Chris of the YAfictionados, and held at Queen’s Park Books – my local and much-loved bookshop. The event starts at… Read more »
The Otherlife has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal
Thank you very much to CILIP for the nomination – it means a great deal, and I am delighted to be among so many wonderful books and authors. The full list of nominations can be found here. The longlist will be published in February 2017.
The Otherlife Blog Tour
Here’s something totally thrilling: a blog tour! Once upon a time I did not know what a blog tour was; now I get to have one of my very own… seven lovely bloggers are hosting seven posts (by me) over seven days, covering all sorts of things from literary tutors to things I learned when… Read more »
Metallica cover to celebrate The Otherlife
Every artist must have a to-be-covered list, and on mine there has always been a song by Metallica. When the band that I was a part of, Second Person, was playing a residency at Pizza on the Park (very fancy), we sometimes used to play a bit of ‘My Friend of Misery’ as an outro… Read more »
The Otherlife is published!
Heres a lovely review from Amanda Craig, talking to Georgina Godwin on Monocle Radio. I’m in excellent company with AS Byatt and Kate Saunders. I’m also really happy that The Otherlife is Debut of the Month at Lovereading4kids.co.uk It’s available at branches of Daunt Books, Waterstones, independent booksellers and Amazon. Happy reading!
Preorder The Otherlife
The Otherlife comes out on the 7th July! But you can preorder it now from Amazon and Waterstones, or ask your local bookshop to order it for you…
The Otherlife – Literary Review, June 2016
The Otherlife has been reviewed (very kindly!) by Philip Womack in the June edition of the Literary Review… June 2016 Children’s Round-up
Interview for the Birkbeck Published Alumni Series
It was a huge pleasure to do an interview with Melanie Jones for the Birkbeck Published Alumni Series. I discuss the themes behind The Otherlife and the writing process; the things I found difficult and the things I enjoyed, and how the Birkbeck experience helped me on my way. Interview here – and there’s also… Read more »
YA SHOT, 22nd October 2016
I will be in discussion with the wonderful Melinda Salisbury, author of THE SIN EATER’S DAUGHTER and THE SLEEPING PRINCE, in an event entitled: A TOUCH OF EVIL: GODS, MONSTERS AND THE VALUE OF A LIFE at 2.50pm in Waterstones Uxbridge. More info and tickets * * * YA Shot is an author-run, author-led Young… Read more »
The Otherlife
I’ve written a book. It’s a book about Norse myths, and heavy metal, and school. It’s a book about the growing friendship between two boys: one charming, self-centred and ruthless, who has everything he’s ever wanted; the other is silent and secretive and wrapped in visions of a mysterious alternate realm he calls ‘The Otherlife’…. Read more »
Cove Park
I spent three weeks at Cove Park in July and August this year, working on a new book. There is nothing more conducive to concentration than silence, no internet, no phone, the slate-coloured streak of Loch Long visible through the windows of your live/work ‘cube’ and some very tranquil cows… I don’t know when I’ll… Read more »