News

Here I go again, all my promises broken. I had planned to write a newsletter every month, and this is perhaps the first this year! Sorry! My only excuse, I have been so busy and already 2010 is turning into an exciting year for me.

My latest book, Grass, has been shortlisted for the Tesco Bank Summer Read, which is celebrating the best in Scottish writing ( their words not mine!) But it is in there with so many brilliant authors who write for adults. Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, A.L. Kennedy and even the Poet Laureate, Carol Anne Duffy...and little me. Only two other books for children are in that shortlist, so how chuffed am I?

That is one of the exciting things about writing finding out your book has been put on a shortlist. It means someone has thought highly enough of it to think it deserves an award, and it gets more people reading it. And now Grass has also been shortlisted for the Portsmouth Book Award, The Lancashire Book Award and the Staffordshire Teen Book Prize. I’m keeping more than my fingers crossed.

And more good news about Hide and Seek, it has also been shortlisted for the Explore Book Award.

And even more good news! Roxy’s Baby has won the Escape Book Award. I love Book Awards, they are so much fun!

And as if that wasn’t enough good news, my next book Out Of The Depths, is to be the first in a series of supernatural thrillers featuring Tyler Lawless, heroine to the Unlawfully Dead! I am so excited about this series and this character. When the book comes out I will tell you more, but have a look at the cover. I love it, and hope you do too. I hope you like all my new covers. I visit so many schools and they seem to be a big hit with the readers there. Let me know what you think. I love getting your e mails and answer every one. If you haven’t had an answer then my reply has bounced back. It happens now and then and I wouldn’t like any of you to think I don’t reply.

There are lots of other exciting things happening that I can’t quite tell you about now. You know how I love cliffhangers. Read about them next time. Promise it won’t be so long till you hear from me again.

And here’s something to keep all you aspiring writers going. What kind of story would you write with that title, Out Of The Depths?