On her first day in London, Honesty manages to get a job with Alice as a maid at the court of Elizabeth 1. But while Honesty looks for attention and praise, to make a better life for herself, Alice must stay invisible, hiding a terrible secret.
In a world of treason and revenge, their friendship will put them both in danger. Can they even trust each other?
From Welsh women pirates to dystopian Cardiff blood-drinkers, Firefly Press’s New Children’s Fiction from Wales competition attracted some spine-tingling entries!
And today (11th October 2022) we are delighted to announce the shortlist and winners of a competition which aimed to discover the best new writing for children coming from Welsh authors currently without publishing deals.
Launched on St David’s Day, the competition attracted some fabulous stories from writers either based in Wales or who have grown up in the country. With three separate age groups to write for (age 7-9, 9-12 and 12-18), three winners and the overall winner have been selected by top children’s authors Catherine Fisher, Catherine Johnson and Malachy Doyle and Firefly Publisher Penny Thomas.
‘We wanted to run a competition to find great new children’s fiction and authors writing from Wales and give everyone a chance to submit to us, and we have certainly done that, with some awesome results,’ said Thomas.
‘All entries to the competition were judged anonymously and I’d like to thank the judges for their hard work. We are delighted with the results and may look to make this competition a regular event.’
The winner of each category wins a one-to-one editorial session with a Firefly editor and the overall winner wins a place on a Literature Wales’ Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre residential course in 2023 (subject to availability).
The Winners:
7-9s The Map of Rhos by Victoria Pici
‘The Map of Rhos is a delightfully written, captivating story of fairies battling to regain their rightful homes, which have been stolen by invading elves,’ said Malachy Doyle.
9-12s A History of My Weird by Chloë Heuch
‘It was a great joy to read such exciting and interesting stories for this age group!’ said Catherine Fisher. ‘A History of My Weird was a stand-out winner, with its memorable and vibrant main character, and exciting narrative.’
12+ Wick Wood by Lucy Mohan
‘This is a thrilling, twisty, whodunnit with a genuinely creepy setting, I loved it!’ said Penny Thomas.
OVERALL WINNER:
A History of My Weird by Chloë Heuch
Gwynedd-based Heuch has written ‘a genuinely funny, character-led novel with a fresh voice, one that deserves to find readers,’ said Catherine Johnson. ‘A History of My Weird, our overall winner, was an easy choice to make for us judges.’
THE SHORTLIST:
Category: 7-9s
The Girl Who Was Licked by The Dragon by Nicky Herriot
I arrived in Mid Wales as a young adult and fell in love with the Welsh mountains. I stumbled into childrens fiction by accident when several characters told me they were not ready to be grown ups and wanted to do their own thing. Intially I put them into picture books but they demanded their stories be told in full and now I cant stop. Since our boys have left home I enjoy travelling with my wife in our camper van.
The Map of Rhos by Victoria Pici
Born with the gift of the gab and a vivid imagination, Victoria has been creating magical worlds for others to read and play in for as long as she can remember. She loves to write books that fuel children’s knowledge of the natural world and love for the great outdoors. A Jane of all trades, she now works as an admin in a local high school and enjoys spending time in nature with her family.
Saffi’s Super Senses by Sarah King
Sarah King is a teacher and therapist who trained as a college lecturer 26 years ago. She has since enjoyed a long career at Pembrokeshire College in South West Wales. Sarah specialises in teaching, guiding, supporting and coaching learners with SEN and barriers to learning. She is passionate about inclusivity for all and loves writing stories and poems for children that spark wonderment, laughter and well-being. She is also a mum of three.
Tommy Blue and Rex in Gigantic Danger by Jane Carter
After retiring from a 30 year career in the Civil Service, Jane joined Newport Writers Group in January 2020. She started writing poetry and flash fiction during the first lockdown and a number of these pieces were published. This success encouraged Jane to write her first children’s book – set in her childhood home of Abergavenny. Jane is married with two children and lives in Caerleon with her husband David.
Category: 9-12s
A History of My Weird by Chloë Heuch
Chloë Heuch was born in Taunton and lives near Pwllheli on the North Wales coast with her partner, two children, her psychopath cat and the dog. Past jobs have included working in a children’s home, teaching, bar work and working in the local post office. She has a Creative Writing MA from Lancaster University and is a member of SCBWI. Her novel Too Dark to See was published by Firefly in 2020. She currently divides her time between her children, her writing and teaching teenagers.
The Lost Ghost by Suzie Good
Suzie Good grew up in mid Wales walking Offa’s Dyke, making dens and steam-cleaning tractors at her Dad’s garage. She was most happy though, with her head stuck in a book – preferably one by Tolkien or Roald Dahl. After teaching English Literature for over twenty years, she now juggles tutoring, working as an Education Outreach Officer and trying to write. She lives in Cardiff with her husband, two children and a cat called Crunchie.
Lucky Boy and his Jackdaw by Mary Howell
A child’s joy as they engage with a story has been inspiration and guiding light since teaching days with the first aspiration to write. Now, fortunate to pursue something I love in sight of the sea and a step away from rolling hills, wind and waves also play their part. Studying with The Golden Egg Academy throughout lockdown has been a revelation. I also have an MA in creative writing from Bangor.
Pen Blackwood for the Win by Gail Sequeira
Gail was born in India and lived a nomadic existence until she found her roots in Wales where she now lives with her best friend and their dog. She began writing seriously during lockdown and now she can’t stop. Her writing reflects her interest in cross-cultural relations, solidarity with lost causes and the universal search for belonging.
Spark-Blood by Liam Kelly
Liam discovered a love of writing for children after getting his award-winning short film about a boy with a magic haircut broadcast on the BBC. Having turned his attention towards prose within the last year, he reached the shortlist for the 2021 Penguin WriteNow editorial programme, with a short story about a boy who can talk to flies. This is his first attempt at writing a full-length novel.
The Turquoise Thief by Essie Brammer
Essie is a Neurodivergent writer of MG, YA and Adult Fiction. She lives in Wales, where she works as a statistician for the government. The Turquoise Thief was inspired by her grandfather, who was a code cracker at Bletchley Park during WW2. She spends every spare moment writing – she always has, even when, as a dyslexic child, she struggled to spell anything right. Her work has been longlisted for a number of unpublished novel awards.
Category: 12+
The Cuckoo’s Nest by David Thorpe
David Thorpe is a Marvel comics writer whose prize-winning YA novel Hybrids was called ‘stunningly clever’ by The Times. He co-founded the London Screenwriters Workshop. He gave this up to move to Wales and devote his energy to saving the environment. He has since written a dozen books and 100s of articles on sustainability. Since he has cerebral palsy, he takes a stand for disability rights.
Lie or Die by Alison Clack
After University, Ali moved to London and became a Production Manager at Fountain Television Studios, working on a wide range of shows from Teletubbies to Friends. Her job brought her into contact with many celebrities, giving her a unique insight into the workings of a television show. She now writes YA and lives in Essex with a houseful of teenagers. She can often be found freezing on the side of a rugby pitch.
Nest by Rebecca Roberts
Rebecca Roberts lives in Prestatyn with her husband and children, and works as a translator. Best known for writing Welsh fiction, her YA novel #Helynt won the 2021 Tir na n-Og prize and the Children and Young Adult Category of Literature Wales’s Book of the Year. She has been published by Carreg Gwalch, Honno and Gomer, and is currently translating several of her books into English and writing for the Young Adult market.
Shadow of a Pirate by Kit Swift
Kit Swift grew up in Yorkshire, studied German at Warwick University and worked in advertising sales, publishing and international trade before sinking his roots deep into Welsh soil. He now works for Swansea University, has a PhD in English and will try to convince you that he enjoys running. Home is near Swansea, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Utopia Red by Abigail Tanner
Abigail lives in Cardiff with her husband and son. She studied art at university, but deciding it was far too creative, went onto study waste management and has worked in waste/resource policy ever since. Creativity returned (hurrah!), she wrote in her lunch break, joined SCBWI and is mentored at the Golden Egg Academy. She enjoys writing, sketchwalks, sketchnotes, and gardening (not housework) in her spare time. And watching her son play a lot of football.
Wick Wood by Lucy Mohan
Lucy teaches creative writing in South Wales and is the co-founder of PaperBound Magazine. She has studied with Curtis Brown Creative, and also has an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University. When she isn’t writing or working as a bookseller, she can be found watching daytime murder mysteries and carving her favourite film characters into pumpkins.
A huge congratulations to all the shortlistees and winners from the team at Firefly Press, and a big thank you to judges Catherine Johnson, Catherine Fisher and Malachy Doyle for making the tough decisions!
Penny Thomas, Publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired world rights in middle-grade poetry collection for children Red Sky at Night: A Poet’s Delight by Alex Wharton, author of Daydreams and Jellybeans.
Aimed at Key Stage Two, Red Sky at Night features a beautiful mix of humour and more contemplative poems while still maintaining Alex’s trademark energy and approachability. As with his first book, Alex’s use of free verse, rhyme and rhythm makes for a fantastic opportunity to nurture a love of language and self-expression whether in a school setting or at home.
In addition to fun new characters like Mr Slime, readers will be pleased to see the return of Hector the Horrible Hedgehog from Daydreams and Jellybeans in the poem ‘Hector’s Ghost’. These are presented alongside powerful, moving and emotional poems such as ‘Young Oak’, ‘The Long Way Home’, and ‘For a Quiet Day’.
‘Alex has done it again! This is a wonderful collection full of the bouncy enthusiasm Alex is known for in his events. His poetry transports the reader, inviting them into new worlds, and champions empathy in such a beautiful way,’ said editor Leonie Lock. ‘As with Daydreams and Jellybeans, the poems in this collection are perfect for sharing and reading aloud.’
Alex Wharton said: ‘I’m thrilled to be publishing my second collection of children’s poetry with Firefly Press. With Daydreams we produced a book that has connected with readers of all ages and backgrounds throughout the country. I hope this second book continues to inspire and connect us through poetry!’
The collection is slated for publication in spring 2024.
Firefly Press co-founder Janet Thomas is stepping back from her voluntary role as Editor and management after nearly ten years. In that time the Wales-based publisher has grown from a standing start to a respected indie children’s publisher with a string of award successes.
Authors and staff have queued up to thank Janet for her inspirational editing and unwavering dedication to the press, which has been vital to Firefly’s launch and its subsequent success. Janet, who is also a long-term voluntary committee member with Honno Welsh Women’s Press, will now join the Firefly board and remain as a shareholder.
‘Janet is one of a kind. She is a first-class children’s editor who is deeply empathetic, selfless and endlessly hard-working for the authors, staff and publishers she supports,’ said co-founder and Firefly publisher, Penny Thomas (no relation!)
‘It was a huge stroke of luck to have met Janet and start Firefly with her back in 2013. There’s no way Firefly would exist without her dedication, good sense, talent and sheer hard work.
‘When we started out, we wanted to publish quality children’s fiction and establish a fun, successful, Wales-based children’s publisher. The reality has been exhilarating, exhausting, and, thanks to the support of so many wonderful people, has outstripped our wildest expectations and still goes from strength to strength!
‘We will miss Janet immensely as an editor and colleague, but we are so grateful that she will remain a part of Firefly at board level.’
Authors edited by Janet Thomas at Firefly include former Children’s Laureate Wales Eloise Williams, Jo Clarke, Rhian Ivory, Sharon Marie Jones, Kate Mallinder and Vanessa Harbour among many others.
Eloise Williams (Elen’s Island, Gaslight, Seaglass, Honesty and Lies), who started her children’s writing career with Firefly in 2015 said: ‘Janet has inspired us all! Thank you so much. We love you!’
And Vanessa Harbour (Flight, Safe) added: ‘Working with you has been a pure joy because you always get what I am trying to do.’
Firefly Publicity Manager and long-time colleague Megan Farr said: ‘I have learned so much from you, Janet, always calm and with a clear vision, keeping us all on track and we will all miss you hugely.’
And Helgard Krause, chief executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: ‘Thank you Janet, for the expertise, enthusiasm and commitment that you’ve given so generously to the publishing sector over so many years.’
Janet’s editorial role is being taken over by author and publisher Rebecca F. John, who has started with Firefly this week. ‘We’re delighted to welcome Rebecca to Firefly as Senior Editor,’ said Penny. ‘We couldn’t ask for a better person to join the company at this time!’
Penny Thomas, Publisher at children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired Welsh rights to The Last Firefox, a thrilling middle-grade debut by Lee Newbery, illustrated by Laura Catalán, from Penguin Random House.
The title will be one of four Welsh language adaptations to be published by Firefly this autumn, in a major new move for the award-winning indie. The others are adaptations of Firefly titles The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fisher and non-fiction titles Fantastic Football and Rampaging Rugby by Robin Bennett.
‘Firefly Press set up to publish quality fiction in English for readers everywhere, and that has been way more successful than we could have dreamt when we started out nearly ten years ago,’ said Publisher Penny Thomas. ‘That will not change, but we are now at an exciting stage in our journey where there are some wonderful titles we are able to bring to a Welsh-speaking readership too.
‘We couldn’t ask for better stories to start with than The Last Firefox and The Clockwork Crow, and the crazy humour of Rampaging Rugby and Fantastic Football (which has a new introduction from Manon Steffan Ros) for Welsh readers too, and we’d like to thank the Books Council of Wales for their terrific support in this venture.
‘We’re so delighted that Lee is to join us for this Welsh language edition of his debut title and very much looking forward to publishing it this autumn!’
The Last Firefox follows Charlie Challinor, who is made temporary guardian of magical firefox cub, Cadno, and learns that he can be brave and maybe life isn’t so scary after all.
The adaptation, entitled Y Llwynog Tân Olaf and translated by Sian Northey, will introduce Charlie, Cadno and friends to a new Welsh-language audience.
‘As a Welsh speaker myself, it has always been one of my goals to have one of my books translated into the Welsh language, so I’m thrilled that The Last Firefox has found a home at Firefly,’ said Newbery. ‘The Welsh language is truly beginning to thrive once again in Wales and I can’t wait to see Y Llwynog Tân Olaf in bookshops, schools and libraries across the country and to be accessible to speakers and learners alike!’
