2015 - A Year in Books and Words

Oh dear. I haven't kept my promise to myself that I would try to start blogging more regularly again. To be fair, this is due to circumstances mostly outside of my control – on a personal level, 2015 has been a very difficult year for reasons I'm not going to go into here, and I'm going to be glad to see the back of it. This has meant blogging (and keeping up with the internet in general) has often been the last thing on my mind because I simply haven't had the energy to do it.

But lots of positive things have happened too, so as it's New Year's Eve, I thought I'd do a bit of a roundup. Here's what's been happening…

Writing Update
I've had several emails lately asking me if there's going to be sequels to ACID and The Fearless. I do have ideas for stories which follow on from them, so never say never, but at the moment, the answer is no. However, that doesn't mean I'm not writing! After parting company with my old agent last November, I spent this year working on a project I'm really excited about, and in October I signed with Ella Kahn at DKW Literary who loves the book as much as I do.

In other news, ACID made this list of the best ever YA sci fi books on the Huffington Post book blog, and The Fearless has been nominated for the 2016 Concorde Book Award - the winner will be announced in March, so watch this space!

10 Books read in 2015
I have read SO MANY amazing books this year and still have a TBR so huge it's on the brink of collapse. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favourites:

1. The Boy Who Drew the Future by Rhian Ivory
Two haunting parallel storylines, one set in the past, one in the present, about Noah and Blaize, who can both predict the future with their drawings. What happens when the boys' stories intertwine and tragedy threatens? Evocative and beautifully written, this is a book which stays with you for a long time.

2. Frail Human Heart by Zoe Marriott
The conclusion to the stunning The Name of the Blade trilogy. Mio has banished the monsters sent by the Goddess of Death, but to do so she had to make a terrible sacrifice. Can she save the human world  or is the apocalypse inevitable? Packed with emotion, adventure, mythical creatures and gorgeous descriptions, this is one series I was very sad to be leaving behind.

3. The Wanderers by Kate Ormand
Flo has spent her life travelling with the circus. She – and all the other performers – are shape shifters, and use the circus as a way of hiding in plain sight in a world that mistrusts and misunderstands her kind. But can she keep hiding, or is her secret about to be revealed? A more-than-worthy successor to Kate's debut, Dark Days, this is a thrilling and romantic read.

4. When I Was Me by Hilary Freeman
Ella wakes up one morning to find she's not Ella any more. Well, she is – but a different Ella. She looks different, her friends are different, even her past is different. What's happened to her? Her quest for answers leads to a very surprising – and totally unpredictable – discovery. The ending really surprised me too – it's extremely clever. You won't be able to put it down!

5. Urban Legends by Helen Grant
Another final book in a trilogy I never wanted to end. Veerle is trying to live a normal life after the terrible events that have taken place recently. But a group of storytelling friends are disappearing one by one, and a killer is on the loose… Utterly gripping, I was reading this through my fingers! Easily the most terrifying instalment of the series, and it contains a plot twist that will have you screaming out loud at the page.

6. Name Upon Name by Sheena Wilkinson
On the Western Front, war is raging. But there is conflict going on closer to home as well. In Ireland, political tensions are reaching a head, tensions which threaten to tear fourteen-year-old Helen's family apart. Name Upon Name will make you cry, smile, and above all, think - I cannot recommend it highly enough.

7. Stonebird by Mike Revell
Liam's grandmother has dementia, and although Liam wants to make things better and keep his family from falling apart, he can't. Then he finds a gargoyle in an old church, and things begin to change… Stonebird is not only a sensitive look at the effects dementia can have on a family, but expertly weaves together many different plot threads and two different times to create a powerful and magical story which will appeal to readers of all ages.

8. The Secrets of Sam and Sam by Susie Day
This book features the Sams from the Pea books, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the twins better. They both love being a twin, but who is Twin A, the best twin? And why does everyone seem to be keeping secrets – including the Sams themselves? A delightful look at family life and the complications of being a twin and trying to find your own identity.

9. An Island of Our Own by Sally Nicholls
Holly, Davy and Jonathan have been struggling since the death of their mother, and it's only Jonathan's hard work that's prevented them being taken into care. Then their wealthy, eccentric great aunt falls ill, and gives them some clues that send them on a real-life treasure hunt that might just solve all their problems… Another heartwarming look at family life, with an old-school style adventure at its heart. I loved it!

10. In Darkling Wood by Emma Carroll
Bundled off to stay with her grandmother while her brother gets a longed-for heart transplant, Alice feels left out and alone. The only thing she likes about staying with Nell is the wood at the bottom of the garden. But Nell, flying in the face of strong local opposition, is determined to cut the trees down. Can Alice change her mind? And who is Flo, the mysterious girl in the red coat who appears one day but doesn't go to her school, and who no one's ever heard of? I'm a big fan of Emma Carroll and really enjoyed this book, her first venture into contemporary fiction

10 Books I can't wait for in 2016 (Blurbs are from Amazon unless otherwise stated):

1. Cell 7 by Kerry Drewery (September, Hot Key)
From the Bookseller: Hot Key Books has acquired YA novel Cell 7 by Kerry Drewery, set in world where sinister reality TV has replaced the justice system. In the book, a teenager called Martha is accused of murdering Jackson Paige, a self-made millionaire. Like all the other criminals in the story, her fate will be decided on by the public, who will choose whether she lives or dies. Hot Key’s editor-at-large Emma Matthewson acquired the world rights in all languages in a three-book deal from Jane Willis at United Agents, and will publish in autumn 2016. “Cell 7 is a gripping story that imagines a fully realised world of today but with thought-provoking questions about the death penalty and the effect of modern media in our daily lives,” said Matthewson. “There is tension, action, romance and amongst all this Kerry retains the wonderful ability she has to prompt teens to ask questions about the world around them.”

2. Crush by Eve Ainsworth (March, Scholastic)
Anna's new boyfriend Will seems perfect in every way. But soon, a darker, controlling side to Will emerges. Can Anna escape before a dark secret, beyond even Will's control, threatens to crush them both? I've been lucky enough to get hold of a proof of this book, and it blew me away.  Like Eve's debut, 7 Days, Crush is told from both the point of view of the abused and the abuser, giving a fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking insight into why people behave the way they do. This is a brilliant second novel – Eve Ainsworth is going from strength to strength with her writing, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

3. Boy X by Dan Smith (February, Chicken House)
Kidnapped and drugged, Ash wakes up on a remote tropical island. His mum - a genetic scientist - has been imprisoned and infected with a deadly virus. Where is he, and what's he doing there? He sets out to cross the jungle to find out and rescue his mother. Soon he realises he's quicker and sharper than before. But there's something else ...why are the animals watching him, and how can he use the jungle to his advantage?

4. Lifers by Martin Griffin (April, Chicken House)
Fear haunts the streets of Manchester: a schoolgirl has disappeared. Preston is drawn to investigate, exploring the city in the hunt for his missing friend. Deep in the bowels of a secret scientific institute, he discovers a sinister machine. Captured and condemned to a cavernous space filled with problematic teens, Preston is determined to escape - but this is no ordinary jail. Friendships are forged and lives lost in a reckless battle for freedom, revenge - and revolution.

5. Ride by Lisa Glass (June, Quercus)
Seventeen-year-old Iris has returned to her hometown of Newquay. Leaving behind her promising surfing career. Leaving behind Zeke, the boy who changed her world. She's happy to get back to her old life, her friends and family. She wants to rediscover her passion for surfing. But Iris soon realises it won't be that simple. Because while summer romances might only last the season, first loves never truly leave you.

6. Cuckoo by Keren David (August, Atom)
Jake is an actor - a teenager who had a regular role in one of the UK's best-loved soaps until his character, Little Riley, went upstairs to his bedroom and never came down again . . . Jake clings to the hope that the writers will bring his character back (they didn't kill him off after all); but as time passes, and finances dwindle, reality starts to dawn. His family situation is hard. His dad has anger issues that have led to his recent redundancy, his mum cares full-time for his severely autistic older brother, and now they're struggling to pay the rent. Suddenly, Jake feels his acting career is crucial for their financial security and well-being. The pressure mounts for him to succeed - and home doesn't feel like home any more: it feels like a powder-keg waiting to explode. Cuckoo is a novel about the roles we play when we don't fit in anywhere, and finding unlikely solace when home is the least welcoming place of all.

7. Barefoot in the Wind by Zoe Marriott (July, Walker Books)
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in fairytale Japan. I don't have many details for this yet, but I know it's going to be awesome!

8. The Deviants by C.J. Skuse (September, Mira Ink)
Described as the Famous Five meets We Were Liars… I can't wait!

9. The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge (January, Nosy Crow)
When Albie's mum dies, it's natural he should wonder where she's gone. His parents are both scientists and they usually have all the answers. Dad mutters something about Albie's mum being alive and with them in a parallel universe. So Albie finds a box, his mum's computer and a rotting banana, and sends himself through time and space to find her...Quality commercial fiction, well written with real heart and adventure.

10. Electrigirl by Jo Cotterill (February, Oxford University Press)
Holly Sparkes is just your average 12-year-old, that is, until she's hit by a bolt of lightning. Now Holly is EXTRAordinary. Like a human battery Holly can generate a massive amount of electricity in seconds, which could come in handy if she's ever going to solve the mystery of her best friend's disappearance. Because when you're dealing with the likes of Professor McAvity and her mysterious CyberSky corporation, you need all the help you can get! This exciting story includes black and white graphic novel style illustrations by Cathy Brett.

There's also going to be a new book by Rhian Ivory called Matchgirl, a contemporary retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl which I'm very excited about, and I can't WAIT for Justin Cronin's City of Mirrors either… but I'd better stop here or I'll be going on about books all day!

UKYA and UKMG Extravaganzas
In February 2015, Kerry Drewery and I organised the first ever UKYA Extravaganza at Birmingham High Street Waterstones. It was such a success that we decided to do it again in Nottingham this October – and have a MG (Middle Grade) Extravaganza as well! With the help of the fab Paula Rawsthorne (our MC) and Jo Cotterill (who helped gather all the MG authors), the events featured over 60 authors between them over two weekends. You can see photos and read all about them over on the UKYA Extravaganza Facebook Page. And we're doing it again! In 2016, the UKYAX and UKMGX will be held in Newcastle. Details to follow soon!

School Visits and Workshops
I've done lots of school visits this year, including my first ever visit to a primary school, working with Year 5 at Hatfield Primary in Sheffield to produce writing about jungles. It was a lot of fun! I did another module with Ellis Guilford School in Nottingham about writing thrillers, which included a visit to Bletchley Park, an incredible place. More recently, I attended the East Midlands heat of the Kid Lit Quiz at Lady Manners School in Bakewell, and I'm looking forward to several upcoming workshops and visits in the new year.

I also branched out with my workshops this year and started working with my husband, Duncan, who is an artist. We did some Making an Artist's Book workshops for the Derbyshire Literature Festival at Alfreton and Chesterfield library, helping people create a piece of writing, then illustrate it with simple printmaking techniques. You can find out more about these workshops here.

In May, I accompanied 25 students from my Patron of Reading school, Titus Salt School in Yorkshire, on a residential weekend to Malham, where we made films based on stories created on a visit earlier in the year. You can read all about it and see photos here, and catch up with all my Patron of Reading activities on my Patron of Reading page on this blog.

I've also been asked to return to Titus Salt as their Patron of Reading for a second year – hooray! My first visit for the 2015-16 school year was in November, where I worked with students on journal-writing, retelling the Alice in Wonderland story and even making up a story about a gorilla farm on Mars! You can see my latest Patron of Reading Newsletter here, which includes the story and a recommended reading list for students in Year 7.

So, that's been my 2015. I have no idea what 2016 will bring, writing-wise, but I hope I'll have some good news to share at some point. In the meantime, a very happy New Year to all my blog readers, and I'll catch up with you again soon!

13 Books For 2013 (And Beyond)

It's almost Christmas! Hooray! And it's almost the end of 2013, too, so to round off the year on my blog, I thought I would share 8 books I've enjoyed over the last 12 months (it was so hard to choose!), and 5 books I can't wait to get my hands on when they're published in 2014 (again, so hard to narrow it down – I could have chosen 50!).

In no particular order, here they are:

THE FLAME IN THE MIST by Kit Grindstaff

A thrilling middle-grade adventure set in the mist-cloaked land of Anglavia, which is ruled by the wicked Agromond family. The hero, a flame-haired girl called Jemma, must fight the evil that surrounds her and bring light to the people of Anglavia once more. But the Agromonds are the family who brought Jemma up – and they will do anything to stop her. 

I read FLAME in just a couple of days, and absolutely adored it! Jemma is instantly likeable, and the various members of the Agromond clan are brilliantly sinister. My favourite characters, though, have to be Jemma's rats, Noodle and Pie. There are some heart-stopping moments involving these rodents that will have you on the edge of your seat! Oh, and you must follow them on Twitter – @NoodleandPie1. They are one of the best things on there!

MY FRIEND THE ENEMY by Dan Smith

It's 1941. For Peter, the war is a distant threat, until the night a fighter plane is shot down over the woods his dad used to look after before he went missing in action. When Peter goes to the crash site to hunt for souvenirs, he finds more than he bargained for: the enemy, in the form of an injured German airman. When Peter decides to help him, his actions have far-reaching consequences he could not have possibly predicted. 

I'm a big fan of Dan Smith's adult novels, so I was really excited when I heard that he was releasing a children's novel this year. This book is beautifully written with well-rounded characters and a moving plot line that leaves you asking questions long after you've finished reading. If you ask me, it has all the makings of a classic.

THE NIGHT ITSELF by Zoe Marriott

Mio only steals her grandfather's katana (an ornate Japanese sword) to jazz up a fancy dress costume, but her actions allow an ancient evil from another world to escape onto the streets of London. When a fearless warrior boy, Shinobu, arrives, Mio realises she must not only learn to use the katana's powers to fight the terror she has unleashed, but also to save the boy who's stolen her heart.

Even if I wasn't already a huge fan of Zoe's books, I would have picked this one up on the strength of the cover alone. It's absolutely gorgeous – and the writing inside is just as exquisite. It was vivid and visual and I couldn't put it down. I can easily see it being made into a film by a company like Studio Ghibli.

DUALED by Elsie Chapman

In West Grayer's world, everyone has an Alt – a cloned copy of themselves which, when they come of age, they must fight… to the death. With all her training, West thought she was prepared, but then a tragic accident leaves her doubting her own abilities. As she becomes both the hunter and the hunted, she must decide whether she deserves to live or die.

DUALED is cool, smart and utterly kick-ass, offering a chilling and all-too-plausible scenario for a chilling dystopian future. I loved the gritty urban setting and the breakneck pace, too. This is another book I could see being made into a film – I would LOVE to see this on the big screen! 

THE ART OF FORGETTING - RIDER by Joanne Hall

Foundling Rhodri has been blessed (or cursed, depending on your way of looking at it) with the ability to remember everything that happens to him. Struggling to fit in, he joins an elite cavalry unit where he begins to discover the truth about his past, and about himself.

As well as being one of the Nicest People in Writing (and fellow hound minion), Joanne Hall is an incredibly skilled writer. The world building in AoF is amazing, and while the book touches on some very serious issues – self harm, sexuality, gender identity – it never gets bogged down. This is a highly original coming-of age fantasy tale and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

THE OATHBREAKER'S SHADOW by Amy McCulloch

In Darhan, when you make a vow, it's bound by magic and tied into a promise knot which you wear until the day you die. 15-year-old Raim has worn one since he was born, although he doesn't know why. But when he makes an Absolute Vow to become the protector of Prince Kareh, the promise bound into the knot is broken and Raim is outcast as a traitor. He's thrown into a desperate struggle to find out the truth behind the mysterious promise that has changed his life forever.

From the first sentence of THE OATHBREAKER'S SHADOW, I found myself immersed in Raim's world. The description is so vivid, you can almost feel the sand trickling through your fingers, and the heat of the desert sun pounding onto your head. A hugely original fantasy which has left me waiting impatiently for the next instalment!

ONE by Leigh Ann Kopans

All Merrin Grey wants to do is fly. But to do that, she would need to be a Super, and she's not. She's a half-super. A freak. A One. All she can do is hover. Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and discovers that when she's with him, something incredible happens. Together, they can fly. But her happiness is short-lived when she discovers a terrible threat not only to her and Elias, but their families as well.

I ADORED this book. Merrin is an amazing character – feisty and independent with a wonderfully distinctive voice. Sometimes her stubbornness made me want to shake her, but at the same time, it only made me like her even more. This was one of those books that, when I was away from it, was constantly at the back of my mind. I'm now 2/3 of the way through the sequel, TWO, and the story just gets better and better!

THE POISON BOY by Fletcher Moss

Dalton Fly is a poison boy, tasting food for the rich residents of Highlions. One night, his friend Bennie meets a nasty end after the boys taste K poisoned wine, and Dalton finds himself on a search for answers with the help of aristocrat Scarlet Dropmore. But someone seems determined to stop them. Will Dalton find out what's going on before that someone finds him?

THE POISON BOY, which won the Times/Chicken House Prize in 2012, is a proper, old fashioned, rollicking adventure that whisks you breathlessly from start to finish. It's another book I read in just a few sittings and I was blown away by the quality of the writing and in particular the world building, which is just incredible. I don't think I've read anything quite like it before or since, and I can't wait to read more books from Fletcher Moss!

And 5 I'm excited about?

DARK DAYS by Kate Ormand

June 2014

DARK DAYS is a dystopian action-romance telling the story of Sia, who lives in a city divided into sectors. A clock counts down the days until a cyborg army breaks through her sector's walls, destroying everything and everyone inside. Sia has almost given up hope until she meets Mace, who makes her decide she wants to live…

I had the honour of beta-reading DARK DAYS for Kate, and I can't wait for it to officially be published! It's a brilliant, exciting novel, deftly written with just the right balance of action, adventure and romance. If you're a fan of Veronica Roth or Ally Condie, you will LOVE this.

SOLVING FOR EX by Leigh Ann Kopans

February 2014

Ashley Price had to leave her old school and move in with her aunt and uncle after being badly bullied, but she's slowly putting her life back together with the help of her neighbour Brendan, a camera and the Mathletes. But when new kids Sofia and Vincent turn up at school, the fragile pieces of that world threaten to shatter.

This is another book I've been lucky enough to get an early look at. It has the same carefree style as Sarah Dessen (an all time favourite author of mine), yet it deals deftly with important issues – bullying, depression, jealousy, relationships and first sex. Just like Leigh-Ann's previous novels, it's addictively readable, and possibly my favourite one yet.

BANISHED by Liz de Jager

February 2014

Blurb from Amazon:

Kit is proud to be a Blackhart, now she's living with her unorthodox cousins and sharing their strange lives. Especially since their home-schooling includes spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons.But it's not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn's enemies.As things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods themselves - it's that or lose everyone she's learnt to love.

I just received an ARC of this from Tor today, and will be reading it over Christmas. Liz is absolutely fab, and I'm so excited to get an early read of her debut novel. 

WEREWOLF PARALLEL by Roy Gill

March 2014

Blurb from Amazon:

'His arms kept stretching, as if they were somehow getting longer. His fingers clenched in, then spread out again like claws. The shape of his head was changing impossibly too, the ears becoming pointed and growing upward, his jaw pushing and thrusting out...The wolf threw back its head and howled.' Cameron's life of shifting between the humanian and daemonic worlds is under threat and the magic that once protected him and his friends is failing. His best friends Morgan, a werewolf with an attitude, and Eve, ex-prisoner of a vicious weaver demon, discover that they aren't the only ones in danger: the very existence of their worlds is at stake. Two sinister figures want to destroy the Parallel -- the void in between worlds populated by a dark mixture of the humanian and daemonic -- and everyone in it. What will Cameron sacrifice to defeat the demons and save the Parallel? The nail-biting, claw-clenching, fur-raising sequel to Daemon Parallel.

I LOVED Daemon Parallel, so I can't wait to read this! And that cover is absolutely amazing.

MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE by Robin Stevens

May 2014

Blurb from Amazon: When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up their very own deadly secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they struggle to find any truly exciting mysteries to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia's missing tie. Which they don't, really.)

But then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym. She thinks it must all have been a terrible accident - but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now the girls know a murder must have taken place . . . and there's more than one person at Deepdean with a motive.

Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove a murder happened in the first place. Determined to get to the bottom of the crime before the killer strikes again (and before the police can get there first, naturally), Hazel and Daisy must hunt for evidence, spy on their suspects and use all the cunning, scheming and intuition they can muster. But will they succeed? And can their friendship stand the test?

This sounds like so much fun. I love stories set in schools, especially murder mysteries! I can see this being a curling-up-and-ignoring-the-world-for-a-whole-day-while-I-read-it kind of book. 

What are your favourite books of 2013? And which ones are you looking forward to? Share them in the comments – and have a very happy Christmas!