What was the inspiration for the first book or did the two come together? One of the darkest periods of my life was the seed of the first book. An individual who I am extremely close to went through many years of their childhood struggling with isolation and anxiety. Books were a fundamental doorway out of that confinement, as was the electricity of the imagination and creative expression. The longest process of creating I Go Quiet was constructing how to tell a story that wa

As a counter to COVID enjoy the second in our series of quick Q&A Blogs with the year’s best new picture book illustrators each of whom are working to bring children love, warmth and reassurance thought their work. We have old friends, new friends, peace and security in each of the five books shortlisted for the 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize and we begin with Steve Small, illustrator of Smriti Hall's I'm Sticking With You Can you tell us where you were when you heard the news that

When I started writing my Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series, I knew immediately that travel would have a key part to play. My detective heroines, Sophie and Lil, had already had adventures all over Edwardian London in The Sinclair’s Mysteries. Now it was time for them to explore new territory. Sophie and Lil are — perhaps unusually for a middle grade series — in their late teens when we rejoin them in Taylor & Rose Secret Agents. They’ve grown up a lot since we first met the

As a counter to COVID enjoy the first in a series of five quick Q&A Blogs with the year’s best new picture book illustrators each of whom are working to bring children love, warmth and reassurance thought their work. We have old friends, new friends, peace and security in each of the five books shortlisted for the 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize and we begin with John Broadley , illustrator of Mick Jackson's While You're Sleeping. Can you tell us where you were when you were asked to