A stunning post-apocalyptic novel from north Wales has reached the shortlist for the prestigious Yoto Carnegie Medal for writing, it was announced today (Friday March 17^th)

Originally published in Welsh as Llyfr Glas Nebo, and adapted into English by the author, Manon Steffan Ros, The Blue Book of Nebo is a beautifully crafted story of a mother and son who have survived The End – when the lights went out and the everyday 21st century world they knew disappeared.

Manon said: ‘I am truly honoured that The Blue Book of Nebo has been shortlisted for the Carnegie. This prize is one that is particularly close to my heart, as I can remember being a young bookworm, enchanted by stories, and noticing that so many of my favourite books carried the word Carnegie on the cover, either as winners or having been shortlisted. I had no idea what it meant – or indeed how to pronounce it – but it became the mark of a good book for me, a sure stamp of something I knew I’d love. To think that my own book now boasts the word on its cover is such a privilege – I still can’t quite believe it!’

And the Carnegie shortlisting is a first for award-winning independent publisher Firefly Press, based in South Wales. 

Firefly Press Publisher Penny Thomas said: ‘We are so delighted that the judges have selected The Blue Book of Nebo for this hugely respected shortlist. It is such a powerful novel, deeply moving and yet simply told, with a resonance that reverberates with readers long after the last page. 

‘Firefly received four Carnegie nominations this year which is a huge achievement for our small, quality children’s fiction list, and we’d like to congratulate all the authors and illustrators on their achievement! These nominations are a testament to the creative power in Welsh children’s fiction at present.’

Praise for The Blue Book of Nebo:

 ‘A gentle, yet powerful read about how we live and what we pay attention to.’ The Irish Times.

‘A tender, tragic, post-apocalyptic story, told with great simplicity and power.’ Imogen Russell Williams, The Guardian

‘Simply wonderful, beautifully conceived, written and observed. A story infused with warning and sober hope.’ Nicola Davies

‘I loved the fragile, tender heart of this story. Beneath the bleak exterior the relationship between a mother and her children glows with respect and compassion,’ Zillah Bethell

‘An unforgettable story about survival – the survival of a language, a culture, and all of humanity.’ Francesca Rhydderch

Manon Steffan Ros’ beautiful young adult novel, The Blue Book of Nebo, has been longlisted for a 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing, after publisher Firefly Press received a bumper FOUR nominations for this year’s Carnegies. *

The Blue Book of Nebo, adapted by the author from her award-winning Welsh novel Llyfr Glas Nebo, is a deeply moving, post-apocalyptic story of a mother and son’s survival and relationship after a nuclear fallout, set in north Wales. Described as ‘a gentle, yet powerful read about how we live and what we pay attention to’ by the Irish Times.

Dylan was six when The End came, back in 2018; when the electricity went off for good, and the ‘normal’ 21st-century world he knew disappeared. Now he’s 14 and he and his mam have survived in their isolated hilltop house above the village of Nebo in north-west Wales, learning new skills, and returning to old ways of living. Despite their close understanding, the relationship between mother and son changes subtly as Dylan must take on adult responsibilities. And they each have their own secrets, which emerge as, in turn, they jot down their thoughts and memories win a found notebook – the Blue Book of Nebo.

Firefly Press Publisher Penny Thomas says: ‘We were stunned to receive four Carnegie nominations this year, and we are really delighted that the Carnegie judges have now longlisted The Blue Book of Nebo. This is a very fine, moving novel, beautifully adapted from its original Welsh by the author, and we feel it deserves every success!’

‘The Blue Book of Nebo is simply wonderful. Beautifully conceived, written and observed. A story infused with warning and sober hope.’ Nicola Davies

Manon says: ‘I’m absolutely honoured. The Carnegie especially means a great deal to me as I can remember seeing the word on the cover of some of my favourite books when I was younger and learning to recognise it as a sign of a great read!’

*Other Firefly titles nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal this year were:

The Song that Sings Us by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jackie Morris, which was nominated for both the Yoto Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration, respectively

The Red Gloves by Catherine Fisher , which was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing

Firefly Press is an award-winning independent publisher of quality fiction for five to nineteen year olds, based in south Wales. We are shortly celebrating our tenth anniversary. We are looking for an experienced children’s book editor to join our small, dedicated team.

You will have a proven track record in editing chapter books, middle-grade and YA titles. You will have several years’ industry experience of working with authors on structural editing as well as copyediting and proofreading. You will have impeccable grammar, attention to detail and excellent deadline-keeping skills.

You will be involved in commissioning and project management across the list. You will also be working with sales and marketing on advance sales and rights materials and representing Firefly at trade and other events as required.

Children’s Book Editor
– Hybrid or remote working considered
– Competitive salary commensurate with experience
– This is a permanent role
– Full time or four days pro rata
– Closing date: 24th February 23

For more information or to apply please send a C.V. and covering letter to penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk by the closing date.

Firefly Press is a committed equal opportunities employer and employs people on the basis of their abilities. Positions are open to all suitably qualified candidates, and we aim to attract applicants from a diverse base, regardless of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

Business Manager

Full time or four days pro rata; £30,000 to 35,000, salary commensurate with experience. Hybrid working a possibility.

We are looking for a dynamic, experienced publishing business manager to take on a varied remit with the scope to drive business development at Firefly. Your responsibilities will include managing the sales, marketing and rights teams, and promoting the development of new opportunities in these areas; organising Firefly’s presence at trade fairs; working with the Publisher on business promotion, budgets, targets, royalties, and grant support. Reporting to the Publisher, you will work with a small team of committed staff to maximise the potential of Firefly’s quality fiction and non-fiction lists. 

This will include: 
– Working with sales, marketing and design to developing new sales opportunities for front and backlist titles within the UK and overseas trade markets and into the non-trade direct and special sales markets
– Managing the sales, marketing and rights team
– Developing rights and licensing opportunities
– Overseeing traditional rights sales 
– Organising Firefly’s presence, at, and attending, trade fairs
– Working with the publisher on budgets, targets, royalties, sales data and grant support
– Working with the publisher and staff on business and marketing strategies for Firefly’s continued growth.

To apply please send a CV and covering letter to Penny Thomas:
penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk

The closing date for this position is 20th February 2023.