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Official website for the author of fantastical adventures for the young and young at heart!

Pick up the Independent Booksellers’ August Book of the Month Spirit Warriors now!

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I was on BBC Breakfast this morning following the cross-party Education Committee report's recommendations, such as to fund a library in every secondary school and a guarantee for every child to be enrolled in a public library from birth.

Had fun on the @bbcmanchester afternoon show yesterday, chattiing books but also doing the Top Manc quiz. I got 4 out of 5 questions correct. I incorrectly guessed the River Clyde was longer than the River Trent, so can never show my face in my hometown again...

It's the questions.

JUNE. I was fortunate to already be in my hometown Nottingham, around family, when I very suddenly lost one of the people I love the most in this world. If you've read Spirit Warriors you'll see it's dedicated to four people: my grandparents. Justin would have been 92 this year, and was my last living grandparent. It's a really harsh end to an incredible era. He departed on the anniversary of the Windrush arrival. If you were at the Manchester launch for The Boy to Beat the Gods a couple of years ago you'll have gotten a tiny glimpse into just what a character he was.

Great to see Treasure Rush: Curse of the Golden Coin in the books spotlight of yesterday's issue of @_thebookseller! Thank you @emma.layfield for sending these images to me. Swipe right for early author-drawn sketches of our two leads, Zac and Remy ➡️

One of the most rewarding and wholesome experiences of my life. Thank you @jasbinderbilan @arvon__ Lumb Bank and Mellers Primary School

Working with Read Manchester again for @mcrcityoflit's Festival of Libraries next month. I'll be running morning and afternoon author sessions at Pendleton Library on the 11th and Leigh Library on the 12th.

Wonderful night celebrating the launch of @struan_c_murray 's Dragonborn: The Twilight Child. I usually have major FOMO being in Manchester while most kidlit launches are in London. So it was great to meet so many authors, including the man himself, in-person for the first time!

Some recent early reader proofs!