Firefly Press is excited to announce Firefly Ignite: a programme of free online sessions for new and aspiring writers from underrepresented backgrounds. These sessions are open to writers born, raised and/or living in Wales, and aim to demystify children’s publishing.
You can find out more about the sessions below.
Firefly Ignite: Shining a Light on…
Agents – with literary agent Anwen Hooson – Tuesday 23rd May at 7pm
Editors – with Firefly editors Penny Thomas, Rebecca F. John and Rebecca Lloyd – Monday 5th June 7pm
Authors – with authors Yvonne Banham, Claire Fayers, Luke Palmer and Alex Wharton – Monday 19th June 7pm
These sessions are perfect for those who want to write for children, teens and young adults but don’t know where to start, or what to do next. Each session will provide an introduction and insight into a different stage of publishing and share some top tips for aspiring authors. There will also be an opportunity to put your own questions to any of our guest speakers.
The Firefly Ignite programme is eligible to writers who are currently underrepresented in children’s publishing. This includes (but is not limited to) LGBTQ+ writers, writers of colour, writers from working-class backgrounds, neurodiverse writers, writers from ethnic, cultural and religious minorities, and writers with a disability/ illness. We ask that you self-identify and do not ask that you prove your eligibility.
All events are free and will be held on Zoom. The sessions will be in English, but we welcome both Welsh and English language writers to join. Unfortunately, as Firefly does not publish picture books, we will not be discussing books for this age group.
As our award-winning children’s fiction list expands, Firefly has some exciting new opportunities in children’s publishing.
Please apply with a cv and covering letter to Penny Thomas at penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk Closing date April 21st.
Sales, Marketing and Rights Manager (Hybrid or remote working considered) Competitive salary, commensurate with experience.
We are looking for a dynamic, experienced manager with a remit and scope to drive business development at Firefly and contribute to its future growth in its tenth year of publishing. You will be responsible for running a small, busy sales and marketing department to promote our award-winning quality children’s fiction list.
As Firefly’s Sales, Marketing and Rights Manager your responsibilities will include: – managing the sales, marketing, rights teams – overseeing the delivery of effective sales and marketing strategies for growth in print, backlist, audio and ebook sales – managing budgets and funding – organising and attending trade fairs and other events – working with the rights agent on growing rights and licensing opportunities.
Marketing and Publicity officer (Hybrid or remote working considered) £26,000 to £28,000 depending on experience
As Marketing and Publicity Officer you will be part of a team responsible for creating and delivering innovative and effective marketing and publicity campaigns for Firefly’s quality children’s fiction titles.
This will include: – working with authors, trade, press, festivals and reading promotion agencies – supplying advance information and metadata to trade – representing Firefly at events.
You will be experienced in using social media platforms and will have previous experience in sales, marketing and/or publicity, preferably in a children’s publishing environment. You will be deadline focused and have strong organisational and communication skills.
Assistant to the Publisher (Office based or hybrid. Full-time or part-time considered) £24,000 pro rata
You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the Firefly office in south Wales; assisting the Publisher and other staff.
Duties will include: – assisting the Publisher and other staff with administration (including some HR responsibilities) – coordinating author events – liaising with the Books Council of Wales and other reading promotion organisations – fulfilling orders – coordinating stock movement – assisting with website content, newsletters and mailouts as required
You will have relevant experience, great organisational and communication skills, the ability to work to deadlines in a busy environment, and a keen interest in publishing children’s books. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable, but not essential.
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 welcome applicants from a diverse base, regardless of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.
For more information and a full job description on all posts, please email Penny Thomas at penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk
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 17th)
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.’ TheIrish 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
Penny Thomas, Publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired world rights in Young Adult novel PLAY by Carnegie-longlisted and Branford Boase shortlisted poet and novelist Luke Palmer, from Jane Finnigan at Lutyens & Rubinstein Literary Agency.
An intensely gripping and masterly YA novel about the fates of four boys, as they navigate friendships and growing up in small town England. Where Palmer’s debut novel Grow (Firefly Press, 2021) explored far-right radicalisation, PLAYlooks at adolescent male friendships and modern-day masculinity through the lens of four very different boys and the ‘games’ they play.
Four boys grow up together at school, itching to get out of their small town. They play games, scoring points from each other, anything to pass the time until they’re free. Matthew slips into his imagination, Luc pushes his body to the limit, and Johnny … well, who knows what Johnny’s up to.
But when Mark starts running errands for his older brother’s mysterious associate, he thinks he’s found the best game of all. There’s money in his pocket and his friends have started looking at him differently.
Then Mark breaks a rule. He quickly realises that the penalties in this game far outweigh the prizes on offer. And now he really is trapped. Will Mark find a way out before someone loses more than just face?
‘PLAY is a confident and deeply impressive second novel from an outstanding writer, ’ said editor Penny Thomas. ‘Luke takes us deep into the ‘games’ of his characters as they map out more or less dangerous routes through their secondary school days, in what is a fine exploration of modern-day masculinity.’
Luke Palmer said: ‘I’m delighted to once again be working with Penny and the team at Firefly to bring Play into the world. It’s a novel about boyhood and male friendship that’s really important to me and it’s a privilege to find people who are as excited about it as I am. I’m staggered by the reception that Grow received, recognised by the YOTO Carnegie, Branford Boase and UKLA Awards, and hope that readers might like this one, too.’
The title is slated for publication in October 2023.
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 Glovesby 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.
