The North East Teenage Book Award and Other Exciting News!

On Friday, I took a train up to Newcastle for the North East Teenage Book Award, which ACID had been shortlisted for along with Kerry Drewery's A DREAM OF LIGHTS, Paula Rawsthorne's BLOOD TRACKS, Alison Rattle's THE QUIETNESS, Laura Lam's PANTOMIME and Matt Whyman's THE SAVAGES.

The awards ceremony was held at Newcastle's Centre for Life. All six of us authors were able to attend along with over 200 students from 26 schools plus teachers, parents and librarians, with professional storyteller Alec Williams hosting the event. Students had been chosen to introduce each of us – my student was Lucy, who read out one of the loveliest reviews for ACID I've ever had! Then we had to each give a short speech, and answer some questions posed to us by the various schools.

And then they announced the winner…

ACID!

I was so shocked – I didn't think I was in with a chance as the rest of the shortlisted books are absolutely fantastic and all equally deserving of the award (you must read them if you haven't already!). I actually got choked up when I was saying thank you to everyone! And Kerry Drewery, who I share an agent with, won the Highly Commended award. Needless to say, we now have a very happy agent - go, Team London Independent Books!

It means so much to have won this award because the winner is voted for by the teenagers themselves – our readers. It was wonderful to meet so many of them afterwards at the book signing and chat to them. I even met some aspiring authors – I hope I'll see their books on the shelves some day!

So a HUGE thank you to everyone who voted for ACID, to Alec for being such a fantastic host and to the organisers for arranging such a great evening, especially Eileen Armstrong. Here is my winner's certificate and my trophy – a 'Geordie' mug which I will treasure.

And as if that wasn't exciting enough… ACID has been shortlisted for the Doncaster Book Award (I LOVE the reviews on ACID's post!), and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award along with several author friends including Helen Douglas, CJ Flood, Dan Smith, Emma Carroll, Fletcher Moss, Sarah Naughton and Amy McCulloch. This award also recognises the editors of the books, which makes it extra-special, as editors are often the unsung heroes of the book world.

Happy Monday, everyone!

A Dream About A Dog

This is a true story.

It was New Year's Day 2013, just over four weeks since we'd lost The Hound. We'd got through Christmas without him (just) and had agreed that we would wait a while before thinking about getting another dog. We still felt too raw, we missed him too much, and it was going to be a very busy year. Maybe we'd adopt a new hound in the autumn. But definitely not yet (although I had started browsing rescue sites – just looking, you understand).

In the early hours of that morning, I had an unusually vivid dream. My husband, D, and I had adopted a medium-sized black greyhound with white paws and a white splodge on his chest which tapered down to his belly in a lightning-bolt shape. He was quite at home, sprawled on a dog bed in our living room. Not surprisingly, when I woke up, I couldn't stop thinking about him. Later that morning, I had a quick browse of the website of the rescue which we adopted The Hound from: Crossing Cottage, the East Midlands and Nottinghamshire branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust (again, just looking).

And saw this little face looking back at me.

© J. Croft, used with permission

I showed D, almost speechless. This was the dog from my dream. 'Email them,' D said. 'Do it now.'

'But it's New Year's Day,' I said. 'What if there's no one there?'

'Email them,' he said again.

So I did, and an hour later, I had a reply. Apparently, the dog's markings were just as I'd dreamt them, even down to the white lightning-bolt on his belly, and even more spookily, he had only gone up on the site the night before. We were the first people to enquire about him. 

We got in touch with the owners, and arrangements were made for them to visit us a couple of weeks later. It went brilliantly – the owners were lovely, and clearly very sad about having to rehome G-Dog (as he's now known for online purposes!), who walked straight in, jumped up, put his paws on D's shoulders and washed his face. 

By the time the visit was over, we knew our wait for another hound was over almost before it had begun. On the 26th January 2013, G-Dog came home, and as I type this he's stretched out on the sofa beside me, paws gently twitching. I wonder what he's dreaming about…?

Lightning bolt

Bat ears!

My writing assistant, hard at work

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside…

A noble countenance       

Hogging the cushions (but we don't mind)

The Clock Is Ticking… Cover Reveal for DARK DAYS by Kate Ormand!

You may have heard me mention my fab writing buddy Kate Ormand's forthcoming debut novel, DARK DAYS, a few times recently (OK, a lot of times). Well, the day has finally arrived when I can do more than just talk about it. Because Kate has had the go ahead to share the cover, and has asked me to do the big reveal!

Here's the blurb from Amazon (where you can also preorder it):

The future world has been divided into sectors—each the same as the other. Surrounded by thick steel fences, there is no way in and no way out. Yet a cyborg army penetrates each sector, picking off its citizens one by one, until no one is left. Behind the sectors’ thick walls, the citizens wait to die. Few will be chosen to survive what’s coming; the rest will be left behind to suffer. A new world has been created, and its rulers are incredibly selective on who will become a citizen. They want only those with important roles in society to help create a more perfect future.

Sixteen-year-old Sia lives in one of the sectors as part of a family that is far too ordinary to be picked to live. According to the digital clock that towers high above her sector, she has only fifteen days to live. Sia has seen the reports and knows a horrific death is in store for her, but she is determined to make the most of her final days. Sia refuses to mourn her short life, instead promising herself that she’ll stay strong, despite being suffocated by her depressed mother and her frightened best friend. Just when Sia feels more alone than ever, she meets Mace, a mysterious boy. There is something that draws Sia to him, despite his dangerousness, and together, they join a group of rebels and embark on an epic journey to destroy the new world and its machines, and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.

Does that sound good or what? And here – drum roll please – is the cover! 

I am so excited about this book. It's out on 3rd June from Sky Pony Press, and if you're a fan of DIVERGENT and THE HUNGER GAMES, you will love it. 

About Kate Ormand

Kate Ormand is a YA writer represented by Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors Ltd. She lives in the UK with her family, her partner, and a cocker spaniel called Freddie. She recently graduated from university with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art Painting. In her spare time, she loves long walks with Freddie, reading teen novels, and painting her nails. Kate is also a member of an online group of UK-based authors and illustrators called Author Allsorts. And she writes children’s picture books as Kate Louise. DARK DAYS is her first novel. You can see more about Kate and her writing by visiting her website (www.kateormand.wordpress.com) or on Twitter (@kateormand).

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!