Firefly Admin, Author at Firefly Press

We’re hiring! Sales and Marketing Officer post, deadline 1st March

by Firefly Admin | Feb 18, 2021 | News

Sales and Marketing Officer – Flexible part time (from three days per week) or full time

Working from the Firefly office or from home as required.

An exciting opportunity for a commercially-minded, ambitious and talented sales and marketing professional to lead sales and marketing operations for Firefly’s growing, award-winning children’s list. The successful candidate will join our small team, working remotely as well as in our Cardiff office.

The role of Sales and Marketing Officer is to assist the publisher in managing and growing sales of the Firefly list through direct sales and the trade, working with our UK sales teams, and assisting our international rights agent.

The Sales and Marketing Officer reports to the Publisher and will have a vital role to play in continuing to establish sales and marketing strategy for Firefly.

For details of salary and full job description please contact penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk

To apply, send your covering letter and CV to penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk

Deadline for applications – 1 March 2021

Firefly Press is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Firefly signs debut children’s novel by Rebecca F. John

by Firefly Admin | Feb 16, 2021 | News

‘I am over the moon to finally be working with Firefly – a publisher I have admired from afar for the longest time. I can’t wait to share the world of this novel with readers young and old, and must thank Penny Thomas and Jenny Savill for engaging so enthusiastically with my imaginings.’
Rebecca F. John

Penny Thomas, publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has acquired world rights in a debut MG novel by Rebecca F. John, from Jenny Savill at Andrew Nurnberg Associates.

Set in an alternative Britain, where shadows have stopped showing people’s shapes, but instead reveal their true selves, the novel is a richly imagined fantasy with strong environmental and political themes, that will have YA and crossover appeal.

Rebecca is the author of the short story collection Clown’s Shoes (Parthian 2015) and her first novel, The Haunting of Henry Twist (Serpent’s Tail 2017) was shortlisted for the 2017 Costa First Novel Award. Her short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 4Extra. In 2015, her short story ‘The Glove Maker’s Numbers’ was shortlisted for the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. She is the winner of the PEN International New Voices Award 2015, and the British participant of the 2016 Scritture Giovani project. In 2017, she was named on Hay Festival’s ‘The Hay 30’ list.

The novel is slated for publication in autumn 2022.

Firefly acquires detective story featuring hard of hearing protagonist

by Firefly Admin | Feb 10, 2021 | News

Firefly Press has acquired world rights in Major and Mynah, a junior detective story featuring a hard of hearing protagonist, by children’s author Karen Owen, slated for publication in 2022.

In Major and Mynah things are being stolen all over town, but 9-year-old Callie Major has other things to worry about – her dreaded new hearing aids, ‘The Slugs’. But when she meets Bo, an abandoned Mynah bird, she discovers something amazing; thanks to her new hearing aids, she can hear him! Can she use her magical Slugs to help catch the thief and save the day?

‘Callie Major is the girl I wanted to be when I was younger: funny, clever, and with a special gift to hear something that other people can’t. Having been partially deaf from childhood myself, I always retreat into my imagination as a way of coping – and from there the idea for Major & Mynah was born. Knowing that Firefly Press has a reputation for giving a voice to colourful and diverse characters, I’m thrilled they’re excited about publishing the adventures of Callie and her feathered friend Bo. I’m looking forward to meeting them on the page.’
Karen Owen

‘I’ve always loved detective stories, and this is one of those books I wish I had the chance to read as a child. Karen Owen has created wonderful and vibrant characters to compliment her fast-paced adventure, packed with high-speed chases and, of course, poo! Callie is witty, feisty and resilient and doesn’t let her hearing impairment stand in her way. Bo is basically me but in animal form – constantly hungry and slightly hyper, except that I can’t fly. I’m so excited for the world to meet this duo and love them as much as I do!’
Leonie Lock, editor

ABOUT KAREN OWEN

Karen fell in love with books and stories at a young age. She read whenever and wherever she could. She’s been a journalist, a creative writing teacher, and an author. She’s written stories (real and imaginary) on everything from noisy elephants to the nomads of Mongolia. She is the author of picture books As Quiet as a Mouse (Maverick Arts Publishing) and I Could Be, You Could Be (Barefoot Books). Karen was brought up in Kent and currently lives in London.
Find out more at www.karenowen.co.uk and on Twitter @AuthorKarenOwen

Firefly acquires rights for The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith sequel

by Firefly Admin | Feb 1, 2021 | News

The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith Loris Owen

Middle Grade adventure The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith debuted in 2020 and featured riddles for puzzle lovers hidden within the pages. The story is set in ‘Quicksmiths College of Strange Energy’, a faraway school of inventions. Russian rights to the first book have recently been sold.

Firefly Publisher Penny Thomas has also acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in the second in the Quicksmiths series, from Anne Clark at the Anne Clark Literary Agency, slated for publication in spring 2022. ‘Like the first Quicksmiths book, the sequel is a thrilling and daring story, perfect for puzzlers and children with boundless curiosity about science and the universe itself,’ added Thomas.

We’re hiring! Come and join the Firefly Team – two posts available

by Firefly Admin | Jan 28, 2021 | News

Do you want to be part of a growing, award-winning, independent children’s publisher?

We’re looking for two new team members to join Firefly Press, in the roles of Administration Officer and Designer.

For more information, a full job description and details of salary for either job, please contact penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk

Deadline for both posts is 5pm on Friday 12th February.

Administration Officer | 3 days per week

Firefly Press is looking for an organised and enthusiastic Administration Officer to work from our Cardiff-based office and from home as applicable, to join our award-winning children’s publishing team.

The successful applicant will have:

Strong organisational experience and communication skills
Experience in Microsoft Office essential, and Google drive desirable
The ability to work as part of a small, dynamic team
The ability to work to deadlines and tight schedules
A-level or above qualifications
Publishing/book trade and office experience desirable but not essential

For more information, a full job description, and details of salary please contact penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk

To apply, email your CV and covering letter to Penny Thomas penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk

Deadline for applications – 5pm Friday 12th February 2021

Firefly Press is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This applies to all our employment practices.

Designer | 3 days per week

Firefly Press has an exciting opportunity for an experienced designer to play a key role in digital and print design across our award-winning range of books for five to 19 year olds.

Working primarily from home, the successful applicant will have excellent design skills and the ability to work across marketing and editorial projects.