Spark longlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize 2023

The James Cropper Wainwright Prize is given for nature and conservation writing, and without fail I buy the winners every year. It is one of my favourite prizes.

You probably know that my stories encourage young readers to go outdoors and develop a positive relationship with the natural world, whether with birds or insects, so I am utterly delighted to be able to say that Spark has been longlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize 2023.

This year celebrates ten years of the Wainwright Prize, which makes being a part of it doubly delicious.

Twitch was longlisted last year but didn’t make it to the shortlist. I have my fingers and toes crossed that Spark will make it this year. However, check out the longlist in the Children’s category. There are some glorious books here and stiff competition.

Spark wins the Staffordshire Libraries Young Teen Fiction Award 2023.

I was utterly chuffed to learn today that Spark had won the Staffordshire Young Teen Fiction Book Award, 2023. This award is run by the Staffordshire libraries and voted for by the young readers of that county.

It is always lovely to win an award, but this is award is special to me for two reasons. The first is that this is the first award that Spark has one, and I really love this book and hope it pleases many readers. The second is that this award is voted for by the readers, and those are always the best awards.

I am sending huge amounts of love to all in Staffordshire - especially the librarians - and oodles of gratitude to all the young readers who voted for Spark. Thank you!

The Ice Children hardback cover reveal

I’m delighted to share the cover of The Ice Children with you. It’s coming soon in hardback from Macmillan, including glorious illustrations by Penny Neville-Lee. Spot the winter creatures in the frost fractals!

From Waterstones you can pre-order a signed exclusive edition 🖋️ Featuring beautiful sprayed edges.

And from select independent bookshops you can order an indie exclusive edition. Or order a standard copy through Bookshop.org.uk to support indies!

❄️ ‘As unforgettable as Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Snow Queen' . . . a whirlingly imaginative storyline full of wonder and hope as well as warning.’ – The Times ❄️

At the stroke of midnight on the dawn of December, five-year-old Finn Albedo is found frozen in the city park standing on a pedestal of ice. His heart is beating, he is smiling serenely, but no one can wake him.

Finn’s big sister, Bianca, suspects that the beautiful sparkling book Finn got from the library has something to do with it, but the book has vanished. Does the tall mysterious stranger who first discovered Finn know more than they will admit?

Each day, more children are found frozen and Bianca realizes she’s running out of time. Her quest to discover the truth and rescue her little brother hurls her into a fantastical winter wonderland, full of beauty and danger, where all is not as it seems.

Can Bianca save her brother and the other Ice Children before they are forever lost?