Nicholas Allan
Nicholas Allan is the award-winning author/illustrator of over thirty children’s books. Many of his books are bestsellers, including The Queen’s Knickers, Jesus’ Christmas Party, Cinderella’s Bum, Heaven, and Where Willy Went, and have been translated into twenty languages. He is also the author of Hilltop Hospital, a book adapted into a BAFTA-winning television series for CITV and shown in over forty countries. Look out for Polly’s Pet Shop and Will’s Wheels Shop. Coming soon: Father Christmas Needs A Wee and Picasso’s Trousers.
Judy Allen
Judy Allen’s Awaiting Developments won the Whitbread Award and the Friends of the Earth ‘Earthworm’ Award.
Her novels The Lord of the Dance, The Burning and Storm-Voice are rooted in the real world but with otherworldly or magical elements. She also writes non-fiction; for younger children a series about small creatures beginning with Are You A Ladybird? and for older readers The Fantasy Encyclopaedia and The Encyclopaedia of the Unexplained. Her picture book, The Catnapping Cat, is now out in paperback.
Margaret Bateson-Hill
Margaret Bateson-Hill is the author of seven picture books, including Masha and the Firebird - winner of The English 4-11 Award Fiction Key stage 2. Autumn 2009 saw the publication of her second title for younger children, This Little Piggy went to Market. In 2008 she published her first novel for children, Dragon Racer - an adventure story set in Brixton, Blackpool and Brighton. She is currently writing the sequel, Legacy of Fire.
Margaret is also a storyteller in schools, libraries and museums.
Beverley Birch
Beverley’s latest novel is Rift, a mystery thriller set in Africa, nominated for the Carnegie Medal, shortlisted for two international awards and the Southern Schools Book Award. Author of over 40 books, including novels, picture books, biographies, retellings, and collaborations with her husband, photographer Nick Birch, her books have been translated into a dozen languages. She is also editor of some of the most outstanding children’s writers. Her novels include The Keeper of the Gate, a time-travel story set in Africa, a ghost story, Sea Hawk Sea Moon and The Night of the Fire Lilies, set against the background of the Calabrian Mafia.
Paul Bryers is a filmmaker and writer of adult fiction whose recent novels include The Used Woman’s Book Club and The Prayer of the Bone. His first children’s novel has just been published – the first of a trilogy that sweeps the reader from London to Lapland, the streets of Guatemala to the child circuses of India. The Mysteries of the Septagram: Kobal tells the story of Jade, a child with mysterious powers to read people’s minds and turn their darkest fears into reality.
Patricia Elliot
Patricia Elliott’s The Ice Boy won the Fidler Award for a first novel and was shortlisted for the Bransford Boase Award. Her Gothic fantasy, Murkmere, was longlisted for the Guardian Award and followed by a companion novel, Ambergate.
Her latest novel is The Pale Assassin, a historical thriller set at the time of the French Revolution, which will be followed in November by its gripping sequel, The Traitor’s Smile
