The Highland Falcon Thief is shortlisted for Children's Book of the Year

Today we celebrate the tremendous news that The Highland Falcon Thief has been shortlisted as one of the Children’s fiction books of the year in the British Book Awards, which is our equivalent of the book Oscars. We’re up against some of the biggest names in children’s fiction, namely J. K. Rowling and David Walliams, but who knows, perhaps the Highland Falcon will be the little engine that could. Keep your fingers crossed for us. The results are announced in mid May. You can read more about the awards HERE.

Cover Reveal! - Danger at Dead Man's Pass

This week we unveiled the cover for Danger at Dead Man’s Pass, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli. Isn’t it cool? There are so many clues in this picture about the story we’re telling in this, the fourth Adventures on Trains book.

Here’s the blurb:

Harrison Beck investigates an ancient family curse high in the German mountains.

A mysterious letter from an old friend asks Hal and Uncle Nat to help investigate a spooky supernatural mystery. Legend has it the Kratzensteins, a family of rich and powerful railway tycoons, are cursed, but there is no such thing as a curse, is there . . .?

Hal and Nat take the night train to Berlin and go undercover. From a creaking old house at the foot of the Harz mountains, they take the Kratzenstein family's funeral train to the peak of the Brocken Mountain. Can Hal uncover the secrets of the Brocken railway and the family curse before disaster strikes?

You can pre-order a signed copy from Waterstones NOW!

Find out more about the Adventures On Trains books.

World Book Day 2021

Every year I like to celebrate the marvellous costumes that girls, boys, mums, dads, carers and teachers create in honour of their favourite of my books and the characters in those books.

This year is unlike any World Book Day I’ve ever known. All my events have been virtual and people are wearing their costumes at home, rather than in classrooms.

Books have been a wonderful help for most of us during lockdown and seeing all these costumes and creative projects really puts a smile on my face. I hope it puts a smile on yours too.

If you have a picture of your child dressed as a character from one of my books, or of a creative project, post it on social media and tag me in, or email it to me (info@mgleonard.com) and I’ll add them to the gallery.