Books and Ladders!

Hello lovelies!

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, but here are some of the exciting reasons why!

I'm thrilled to announce I have two NEW twisted fairytales coming out this August and September
with Franklin Watts - THUMBELINA THINKS BIG and BIG PANCAKE TO THE RESCUE! It's been so much fun imagining what Thumbelina might dream to be when she grows up (spoiler: a catwalk model!) and I wasn't very familiar with the fairytale of The Big Pancake so it was great to discover a new fairytale and then twist it a bit and make the pancake the hero! They're both beautifully illustrated (by the fab Rupert Van Wyk and Steve Stone) and I really hope you enjoy them!

I've also just signed a new two book deal with the lovely Macmillan Children's Books team for 2 Middle Grade books! (I've written for teens and 5-7 year-olds, so it makes sense to write for in-betweeners now, right?) I'm having HEAPS of fun writing the first book, entitled MUMNESIA, a comedy/drama that's due out next year!

Lastly, to celebrate Independent Booksellers Week, I'd like to share with you a pic from a very exciting new bookshop I found last week - it's called Topping and Company and they have three stores nationwide (Bath, Ely and St. Andrews) and as well as having very knowledgable and lovely staff, and organising fab author events, they offer complimentary tea and coffee whilst you browse! I may make this a regular thing - just think, instead of going to a coffee shop, I could pop to Toppings and spend the money I would've spent on coffee on books instead! Awesome!

And the icing on the cake is that the St. Andrews Toppings store even has book-ladders-on wheels like Belle in Beauty and the Beast! As I was up in Scotland last week for my Mum's book awards (Her fab picture book OFF TO MARKET came runner up in the Dundee Picture Book Award) I couldn't resist popping in to try out the ladders (something I've ALWAYS wanted to do-who wouldn't?!) - it was SO much fun!

UKYA Easter Egg Hunt!

Welcome to the UKYA Easter Egg Hunt! One very lucky winner will win a huge grand prize of signed books by over thirty YA authors who write and live in the UK.

All you have to do is read this blog, count up how many UKYA branded Easter eggs you see in the blog (not the ones above in the banner), and follow the link at the end to the next blog. Keep going until you get back to the blog where you started, and add up how many eggs you’ve seen along the way.

Email your answer to: UKYA2015egghunt@gmail.com. A winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries, and contacted by email.

This closes at noon (UK time) on Sunday, 5th April and is open internationally.

So get finding those eggs! And some awesome UKYA authors and books along the way.

Good luck!

Who am I?I am an author of children's fiction and 2 YA novels: emotional rollercoaster SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE about a girl who discovers she was switched at birth and opens a HUGE can of worms when she goes looking for the truth; and thriller LITTLE WHITE LIES. Here's a bit about it - along with the soundtrack!

This Is Not Me Delta Goodrem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDh7mFnAHAg

Starting university is all about reinventing yourself, but Louise Shepherd has gone a step further, even changing her name in her bid to hide her true identity from everyone she meets. Until she bumps into an old school-friend, Kenny. He promises to keep Lou’s secret – but can she trust him?

Yellow – Coldplay  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MwjX4dG72s

Lou’s cousin Poppy’s favourite song, this reminds her of home, and of the best friend she let down so terribly.

I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNoKguSdy4Y

When Lou meets tall, dark, and handsome Christian, she knows he's hiding something. Why does he clam up every time she asks about his past? Why doesn't he have any family photos and why does he dye his blond hair black?

How You Remind Me – Nickelback https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cQh1ccqu8M

Suddenly Christian’s terrible secret is unveiled to the world - and it seems everything he's ever told Lou is a lie.

Me and You Vs The World – Space http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joNeiTmW-jo

Should she stand by Christian, against the whole world?

Set Fire To The Rain – Adele http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0mzLQyd36A

Or can what the media are saying about Christian really be true? If so, Lou could be in terrible danger…

Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrinth feat. Emeli Sandé http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqIxCtEveG8

As Lou’s heart battles her head there is just one question: Who is the real Christian?

One Way Or Another – Blondie  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFerLNdpwO4

But Christian isn't the only one keeping secrets. For what if their chance meeting was no accident at all...?

Trouble – Coldplay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w-PxvAwJiY

As lie follows lie, nothing is as it seems, and soon Lou finds herself ensnared in a web of deceit, her loyalties torn; her emotions in tatters.

Wide Awake – Katy Perry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0BWlvnBmIE

As Lou finally discovers the truth, she faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: should she shatter the lives of those she holds dearest, or betray the guy who, against all odds, she's fallen in love with? 

Counted all the eggs on this blog? Then head on to the next stage of the UKYA Easter Egg Hunt by clicking this link! http://www.kathryn-james.tumblr.com/ 

Many thanks to Teri Terry and Candy Gourlay for organising the hunt - you guys are awesome!

2014- In pictures!

Happy 2015!

As a new year begins what better time to reflect on 2014?

Excitingly, the Three Magic Mice ballet was
launched and performed by the fabulous Balletomane!

It was such a thrill to see my story come to life
in a new form with lovely music, beautiful
 (and very inventive!) costumes, and terrific dancers.

I bit the bullet and posted my first "Jackanory" style video to Youtube.

And my own fairytale came true as I got to go to a Disney ball!

LITTLE WHITE LIES was published in the US and Canada!

LITTLE WHITE LIES was published in the US and Canada! To celebrate, I launched a giveaway, and there's a few days left (closing date 1st Feb) so if you'd like to enter simply tweet this message: "LITTLE WHITE LIES Launch day GIVEAWAY! RT to win a signed copy & watch the #LWLBookTrailer here: youtu.be/06PX7t33qyE"

I was absolutely thrilled that LITTLE WHITE LIES
 also won the UKYA Book Bloggers Award for "Best Ending"!
Unfortunately I can't tell you what that ending is, as it's a bit of a twist!

I got to attend the first ever YALC convention at Comicon
 - and met some very interesting characters!

I was also lucky enough to be invited to do lots of author visits in 2014, both at bookshops and schools (both secondary and primary). 

I really love meeting kids and their fabulous librarians - sorry, library goddesses!

It's so much fun encouraging kids with their writing - 

their imagination has no bounds, and their enthusiasm and excitement always makes my day.

Icknield Primary School even produced their own illustrations
for the Fairy Tale Twists series - watch your back, Matt Buckingham!

And I even got to meet my own literary idol, Jodi Picoult!

And I've been working away on a number of projects - including my first ever musical! - so watch this space!

Here's to 2015!