'The new master of books for children' The Times
The final finished copies of my new book, MIDNIGHT TREASURE, are here!
And they are a thing of beauty. Look at that wolf! Those eyes!
But to appreciate all the detail you will have to get hold of a copy in store. Don’t forget to see what’s under the dust jacket or the endpapers…
All the artwork, including a map and the fabulous cover, is by the brilliant Alla Khatkevich.
In shops from September 5th, available for pre-order now.
The proofs have dropped for my new book, MIDNIGHT TREASURE, which will be published by @hachettechildrens on September 5th.
It is the beginning of a new fantasy series for children, inspired by a hand-drawn map of a mysterious fantasy land by my Dad, which led to exploring my family connections to Transylvania, and an extraordinary train trip to that magical place, where I have stayed with a real Count, been washed down a mountain and attacked by a pack of wild dogs.
And if I have learned anything on my travels, it is this :
IF THERE IS ONE THING VAMPIRS CRAVE AS MUCH AS BLOOD, IT IS TREASURE . . .
Tibor is a werwolf, adopted
by his guardian, a powerful vampir. He and his friend Roza are on the deadliest of quests, and one that will test their very immortality.
But they’re not the only ones hunting for the Midnight Treasure. Battling with bears, wrestling with vampirs and racing against the clock, Tibor and Roza must decide who to trust. And whether they will dare reveal the secrets . . . of the Midnight Treasure.
A few very kind people were generous enough to read early copies, and I am both blown away by and enormously grateful for their words:
“Stop the hunt for your next epic read because this is a treasure of a fantasy book. High stakes, big heart, frightfully good.”
A. F. STEADMAN
‘A brilliant fantasy adventure.’
ANTHONY MCGOWAN
‘One of my favourite children’s books ever.’
LAUREN ST JOHN
‘Breathless, bold and endlessly imaginative’
JONATHAN STROUD
‘This is storytelling at its very best.’
ELODIE HARPER
‘Epic, glorious, enchanting and dangerous: a writer at the height of his powers.’
EMMA CARROLL
‘An unmissable tale’
ABI ELPHINSTONE
‘A triumph of storytelling.’
POLLY YO-HEN
‘I loved this epic quest
adventure full of surprising twists and turns.’
H S NORUP
‘Lush, cinematic,
deliciously dark and
compelling . . . A thrilling treasure trove’
ROSS MONTGOMERY
‘Wildly inventive fantasy’
MIRA BARTOK
If you would like proof, send me a vial of your blood. Otherwise, you can pre-order an actual book here.
Cover illustrations © Alla Khatkevich 2024
Happy 2024!
While I was waiting for edits on the new book (on which more soon) at the end of last year, I spoke to my fellow children’s author Polly Ho-Yen for her brilliant new “Making Books” podcast on the art of making books, about everything writing related from the seven stages of editing reactions to how to get started…
The cast has been announced The Box of Delights at the RSC!
The complete cast includes Nana Amoo-Gottfried (as Joe/Ensemble), Callum Balmforth (as Kay Harker), Stephen Boxer (as Cole Hawkings/Ramon Lully/Grandpa), Melody Brown (as Mayor/Dame Eleanor of Chasuble/Ensemble), Alex Cardall (as Ensemble/Puppeteer), Tom Chapman (as Rat/Puppeteer), Janet Etuk (as Herne the Hunter), Jack Humphrey (as Peter Jones), Tom Kanji (as Charles), Richard Lynch (as Abner), Annette McLaughlin (as Caroline Louisa), Mae Munuo (as Maria Jones), Molly Roberts (as Ellen/The Head/Ensemble), Rhiannon Skerritt (as Ensemble/Puppeteer), Timothy Speyer (as Bishop/Ensemble), and Rosie Wyatt (as Papergirl/Duchess of Musborough/Ensemble). Nia Gwynne and Claire Price will be job-sharing the role of Sylvia Daisy Pouncer.
Our director Justin Audibert commented: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work on The Box of Delights again, this time creating a bigger, and even more spectacular production for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage.
“It’s a show that features trains, boats, planes, mythical creatures, a good and a very bad magician, and characters that magically turn into tiny versions of themselves, characters that transform into animals that fly through the air and swim in the sea – how exciting is that? We’re telling the story through the imagination of a child, so the staging promises to be a fantastic mix of the inventive and the breathtaking.
“In many ways, The Box of Delights was the first fantasy story for children, and with its classic good versus evil narrative, and three young children as the heroes, you can see its influence on books like the Harry Potter series. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Further creative team members include designer Tom Piper, Prema Mehta (lighting), Ed Lewis (music), Claire Windsor (sound), Simon Pittman (movement), Nina Dunn and Matthew Brown (video), Samuel Wyer (puppetry), Kev McCurdy (fight direction), Réjane Collard-Walker (dramaturg) and Matthew Dewsbury CDG (casting).
The Box of Delights runs from 31 October 2023 until 7 January 2024, with a press night set for 8 November.
Today would have been the former Poet Laureate John Masefield’s 145 birthday. So what better day to share that my adaptation of his joyful children’s classic #TheBoxofDelights is coming to The RSC this Christmas?
This fantastically festive production, originally produced for Wilton’s Music Hall, is directed by Justin Audibert (The Taming of the Shrew 2019, The Jew of Malta 2015) and designed by RSC Associate Designer Tom Piper.
Can Kay Harker save Christmas now that the wolves are running?
Publishing – the business of turning trees into words – has an impact on the planet. It’s time that the values so many authors promote on the page were matched by the values *of* that page.
So this week – which sees both the huge industry trade fair, London Book Fair and Earth Week, the Society of Authors is launching its Tree to Me campaign.
10 questions authors can ask their publisher about sustainability so they can both be informed and clear with their readers about your books’ environmental impact
It’s time to get involved – help us make publishing sustainable.
The Last Wild was published ten years ago, and I’m hugely grateful to everyone – agents, publishers, fellow authors, reviewers, teachers, librarians, bloggers, and parents – who have read, reviewed, blurbed, taught and promoted these books to young readers.
Following the success of my course on how to write your first fantasy novel for children, I’m delighted today to launch by second Domestika course; “Playwriting for Children’s Theater,” which teaches you how to write your first play for children and families.
The course is focused on how to make live work for young audiences, but a lot of the content will be applicable for anyone writing a play. So if you have ever fancied retelling or sharing a story with a live audience, why not buy your front row ticket and take a seat?
Delighted to finally reveal our incredible cast for The Wind in the W̵i̵l̵l̵o̵w̵s̵ Wilton’s at Wilton’s Music Hall this Christmas!
Darrell Brockis as Toad
Melody Brown as Badger
Tom Chapman as Weasel
Paula James as Duck
Corey Montague-Sholay as Mole
Chris Nayak as Otter
Rosie Wyatt as Rat
They can’t wait to welcome you down on the river, starting November 24th…book your tickets now!
I’m thrilled to announce that from this September, I’m joining The Novelry as a writing coach for children’s fiction.
I’ll be offering guidance and advice to aspiring children’s writers, alongside Polly Ho-Yen, at this brilliant online creative writing academy set up by Booker Prize long listed author Louise Dean in 2017.
To start your writing journey and book your chat with me, sign up here.