Nosy Crow's Blog, page 109
March 7, 2017
There’s just under a week left to apply for two jobs in our Design team
Last week we announced that we’re looking for two people to join Nosy Crow’s design team – and there’s just under a week left to apply for both roles: the closing date for applications is Sunday March 12th.
We have a fantastic opportunity for a highly creative, talented, hardworking Senior Designer to join our design team, looking after parts of our award-winning picture book, novelty, activity and non-fiction list, and working across all of these areas.
Ideally this is a full-time role and the successful applicant will be based in the London office of Nosy Crow near London Bridge. We would consider an exceptional candidate who was not able to work full-time in-house, but we’re looking for a minimum of 3 days per week in the Nosy Crow nest.
Candidates will have experience in illustrated children’s publishing, and ideally will have worked on picture books and novelty titles. We are looking for someone who is bursting with ideas and creative energy.
A high level of proficiency in Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator programmes, excellent proven book design and typographic skills, and a love of children’s book illustration are essential, along with good written and spoken communication skills, and the ability to work to a deadline.
The successful candidate will manage illustrated book projects from initial layouts all the way through to production, supporting the illustrator or the author/illustrator throughout the creative process. The designer will report to the Head of Design but will work closely with other members of the Nosy Crow team, particularly the editorial staff, to produce child-focused, parent-friendly, high-quality books.
We are a small, close team here at The Crow’s Nest working in a friendly, highly creative and professional environment and we need a team player who is willing to muck in, particularly during busy times.
If you would like to apply for the role, please send a CV and application letter, along with samples of your design work, to Nia Roberts via email (nia@nosycrow.com).
Candidates should have the right to live and work in the UK.
And we also have a great opportunity for a creative, talented, hardworking Design Assistant to become part of our design team, supporting the whole team as they work on our award-winning picture book, novelty, activity and non-fiction lists and on some of the print marketing material for the whole Nosy Crow list.
This is a full-time role and the successful applicant will be based in the London office of Nosy Crow near London Bridge.
Proficiency in Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator programmes, excellent typographic skills, design flair, and a love of children’s book illustration and children’s books are essential, along with good written and spoken communication skills, and the ability to work to a deadline.
The Design Assistant will report to the Head of Design but will work closely with other members of the Nosy Crow design team and with Nosy Crow’s editorial and marketing staff, to produce child-focused, parent-friendly, high-quality books and compelling marketing material.
We are a small, close team here at The Crow’s Nest working in a friendly, highly creative and professional environment and we need a team player who is willing to muck in, particularly during busy times.
If you would like to apply for the role, please send a CV and application letter, along with samples of your design work, to Nia Roberts via email (nia@nosycrow.com).
Candidates should have the right to live and work in the UK.
The closing date for applications for both positions is 12th March 2017 at midnight (UK time).
Nosy Crow is an equal opportunities employer. We believe that employing a diverse workforce is an important factor in success and make recruiting decisions based on applicants’ experience and skills. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief.
March 6, 2017
Two Nosy Crow books on the UKLA Book Awards shortlists!
The shortlists for the 2017 UKLA Book Awards have been announced today – and we’re absolutely thrilled that two Nosy Crow books have been recognised!
The UKLA Book Awards are the only awards judged by active classroom teachers – it’s a great honour to be shortlisted.
Little Bits of Sky, by S.E. Currant, has been shortlisted in the 7-11 category of the awards.
Moving, wise, and beautifully written, Little Bits of Sky is a breathtaking debut for 9-12 year old readers, and an uplifting story of loss, love and finding your place in the world. Here’s a look inside the book:
And There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins has been shortlisted in the 3-6 category, too! A joyously illustrated picture book, with a clever single rhyme echoing Dr Seuss, this is perfect for sharing. Here’s a look inside the book:
You can find out more about the UKLA awards, and read the full shortlists, here. The overall winners will be announced on June 30th at the UKLA International Conference.
Congratulations Sue and Ross!
March 3, 2017
Nosy Crow in the wild on World Book Day
Yesterday the @NosyCrowBooks Twitter feed came alive with photos of hundreds of EXCELLENT World Book Day costumes – including lots featuring characters from Nosy Crow books! Here are some of the ones that we spotted…
Pamela Butchart and Gemma Correll’s Pugly proved to be a popular choice of costume:
@Pamela_Butchart @worldbookday daughter Jessica 7 as pugly! Thank you she loves your books pic.twitter.com/7d7MzCHA2F
— Camille Braiden (@camilleb264) March 2, 2017
@Pamela_Butchart for world book day my brother is going as pugly solves a crime #bestautherever
March 2, 2017
It’s World Book Day – and our March publication day!
Today’s an extra-special publication day – it’s also World Book Day! We absolutely LOVE seeing pictures of your costumes – please do tweet @NosyCrowBooks with photos of your best book character outfits, and there’ll be prizes for some of our favourites!
We’ve got an absolutely stellar collection of new books out this month – here’s what you can find in shops today.
It’s publication day for Sing Along With Me! Sleeping Bunnies, the latest book in the fantastic Sing Along With Me nursery rhyme board book series illustrated by Yu-Hsuan Huang. The book comes with five slider mechanisms, and both an instrumental and vocal version of the nursery rhyme – simply scan the QR code on the first page for little ones to listen and sing along! Here’s a look at Sleeping Bunnies:
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What’s More Scary, written by Min Flyte and illustrated by Matt Hunt, is out today – and this is no ordinary picture book! When a plucky little jungle explorer sets out on an adventure, he meets all sorts of scary creatures, from a massive elephant to the scariest looking vampire bat you’ve ever seen! With flaps to lift on every page and an interactive narrative, What’s More Scary encourages children to get involved with the jungle adventure and decide on the least scary route through the jungle!
Here’s what to look for in shops:
Gift Boxes to Colour and Make: Birds and Blossom, illustrated by Felicity French, is out today – personalise your own springtime boxes with this fantastically innovative book of pull-out gift boxes to colour. Simply tear along the dotted lines, fold along the scored lines and you’ve created a gift box perfect for storing all kinds of goodies, especially Easter treats.The boxes are beautifully decorated with black-and-white designs of birds and blossoms, which you can customise by colouring in with pens or pencils. Get creative with your colour scheme or use traditional colours from nature – either way, this fantastic book of easy-to-assemble boxes will make sure your gifts are truly special this springtime.
Here’s what to look for in shops:
It’s publication day for Press Out and Colour: Easter Eggs, illustrated by Kate McLelland – make your own beautiful 3D Easter decorations with this innovative board book of press-out ornaments with shimmering foil on every page! Each press-out Easter egg is intricately decorated with foil and perfect for all ages to colour in. Featuring twenty unique designs, the press-out pieces can be easily slotted together to create cheerful hanging ornaments to decorate Easter trees. These gorgeous eggs look elegant in white and gold, but are even more glorious when you add colour.
Here’s what to look out for:
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There’s a brand new beautiful cased board book edition of A Lullaby for Little One, written by Dawn Casey and illustrated by Charles Fuge, out today – a wonderfully lyrical lullaby with absolutely stunning artwork. Here’s a look inside the book:
And we’re also publishing a new cased board book edition of Hush-a-Bye Bunny, by Holly Surplice, today – a winning combination of adorable artwork, read-aloud rhyming text and soothing bedtime story. Perfect for comforting sleepy little bunnies who don’t like being left alone when it’s time to turn out the light! Here’s a look inside the book:
We’re incredibly pleased to be publishing Here Comes the Sun today – a beautiful new picture written by Karl Newson and illustrated by Migy Blanco. While all the other animals sleep through the night, Little Owl has work to do – she needs to blow the stars out one by one to make way for morning. With beautiful artwork by Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted Migy Blanco, and a wonderful rhyming text by Karl that rolls off the tongue, this reassuring picture book will have little ones ready for a peaceful night’s sleep. Here’s a look inside the book:
It’s publication day for the first paperback edition of Fairy Felicity’s Moonlight Adventure – beautifully illustrated by Alison Murray, this is a real tactile treat for little fingers, with a raised silver glittery snail trail to follow through the story. Fans of Alison’s previous book, Princess Penelope and the Runaway Kitten, will love the magical story and the abundance of sparkles! Here’s a look inside the book:
National Trust: Colours, A Walk in the Countryside, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw, is out today. The third in a series of concept books created with the National Trust, this board book takes very young readers on a summer walk through the countryside, looking at all the colours of the rainbow. With beautiful illustrations from Rosalind Beardshaw, this elegant little book is a great way of bringing children closer to nature. Here’s what to look for:
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Robins, Wrens and other British Birds, illustrated by Nikki Dyson, is in shops today – packed full of facts about brilliant birds and their homes, and bursting with beautiful illustrations, this sticker book is perfect for young nature lovers. With over 120 stickers and lots of detail to add to every scene, this book is an excellent introduction to all types of birds for young readers who love stickering. Here’s what to look for:
It’s publication day for Look and Say What You See on the Farm, illustrated by Sebastien Braun – from horses in the stable to lambs in the field, this look-and-say book for little ones is a great way to start learning about nature on a farm.With a ‘Can you see?’ strip across every spread and objects to name, this beautifully illustrated book is designed to stimulate speech and build vocabulary. Here’s what to look for:
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Ned the Nature Nut’s Nutty Nature Facts and Jokes, written by Andy Seed and illustrated by Sarah Horne, is out today. This nutty nature joke book is full of side- splittingly hilarious jokes and fascinating facts based on nature. Full of green-fingered giggles and wildlife witticisms, as well as incredible facts about nature, Ned the Nature Nut will turn you into a nature nut too! Written by Andy Seed, winner of the 2015 Blue Peter Book Award, and featuring hilarious black-and-white illustrations from Sarah Horne, this will have children roaring with laughter. Here’s a look inside the book:
We’re very happy to be publishing A Duckling Called Button today – the second book in the WONDERFUL Jasmine Green series, written by Helen Peters and illustrated by Ellie Snowdon.
Jasmine’s dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and trying to keep them out of trouble. Unfortunately, this often means getting herself out of difficulty, too! In A Duckling Called Button, a nesting duck is killed in a terrible accident, and Jasmine and her best friend Tom rescue the eggs and try to hatch them in an incubator. It’s a risky business but soon Button is running around, getting into scrapes. Until the day he gets into a scrape with no escape… Here’s a look inside the book:
And finally, it’s publication day for The Jamie Drake Equation, the new book by Christopher Edge, author of the highly acclaimed, Carnegie-nominated The Many Worlds of Albie Bright – and another phenomenal novel for 9+ year olds, combining great storytelling, popular science, and lots of heart.
Jamie’s dad is an astronaut.This is a good thing, because how cool is that? And a bad thing, because he’s orbiting Earth and Jamie misses him badly.
Doing his homework at the observatory one night, Jamie inadvertently picks up a weird signal on his mobile phone. Could it be from an alien civilisation? Turns out, they’re the only ones who can help Jamie bring his father back. But how do you rescue an astronaut without heading into space yourself?
Combining action and adventure with cutting-edge space exploration and a compelling emotional core, this is truly awesome storytelling. Here’s a look inside the book:
Congratulations to all of today’s authors and illustrators – and happy World Book Day!
March 1, 2017
Come to the next Nosy Crow Reading Group – we’re discussing Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans
Would you like to come along to the next Nosy Crow Reading Group?
In March we’ll be discussing Wed Wabbit by Carnegie Medal-shortlisted author Lissa Evans, which The Guardian called “a riotously funny adventure tale”, and which The Times described as a book that “could make the floppiest ears prick up and the most downcast child hopping happy.”
We’ll be meeting on Wednesday, March 22nd at 6.30pm, here at the Nosy Crow offices – 10a Lant Street, London, SE1 1QR – for a discussion of the book (along with wine and crisps). If you’d like to come along, just register for a place with the form below, or at this page.
You can order Wed Wabbit online from Waterstones here.
We hope you can join us!
February 28, 2017
Come and work for Nosy Crow: we’re hiring a Senior Designer and a Design Assistant
We are currently looking for two people to join Nosy Crow’s design team!
We have a fantastic opportunity for a highly creative, talented, hardworking Senior Designer to join our design team, looking after parts of our award-winning picture book, novelty, activity and non-fiction list, and working across all of these areas.
Ideally this is a full-time role and the successful applicant will be based in the London office of Nosy Crow near London Bridge. We would consider an exceptional candidate who was not able to work full-time in-house, but we’re looking for a minimum of 3 days per week in the Nosy Crow nest.
Candidates will have experience in illustrated children’s publishing, and ideally will have worked on picture books and novelty titles. We are looking for someone who is bursting with ideas and creative energy.
A high level of proficiency in Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator programmes, excellent proven book design and typographic skills, and a love of children’s book illustration are essential, along with good written and spoken communication skills, and the ability to work to a deadline.
The successful candidate will manage illustrated book projects from initial layouts all the way through to production, supporting the illustrator or the author/illustrator throughout the creative process. The designer will report to the Head of Design but will work closely with other members of the Nosy Crow team, particularly the editorial staff, to produce child-focused, parent-friendly, high-quality books.
We are a small, close team here at The Crow’s Nest working in a friendly, highly creative and professional environment and we need a team player who is willing to muck in, particularly during busy times.
If you would like to apply for the role, please send a CV and application letter, along with samples of your design work, to Nia Roberts via email (nia@nosycrow.com).
Candidates should have the right to live and work in the UK.
And we also have a great opportunity for a creative, talented, hardworking Design Assistant to become part of our design team, supporting the whole team as they work on our award-winning picture book, novelty, activity and non-fiction lists and on some of the print marketing material for the whole Nosy Crow list.
This is a full-time role and the successful applicant will be based in the London office of Nosy Crow near London Bridge.
Proficiency in Indesign, Photoshop and Illustrator programmes, excellent typographic skills, design flair, and a love of children’s book illustration and children’s books are essential, along with good written and spoken communication skills, and the ability to work to a deadline.
The Design Assistant will report to the Head of Design but will work closely with other members of the Nosy Crow design team and with Nosy Crow’s editorial and marketing staff, to produce child-focused, parent-friendly, high-quality books and compelling marketing material.
We are a small, close team here at The Crow’s Nest working in a friendly, highly creative and professional environment and we need a team player who is willing to muck in, particularly during busy times.
If you would like to apply for the role, please send a CV and application letter, along with samples of your design work, to Nia Roberts via email (nia@nosycrow.com).
Candidates should have the right to live and work in the UK.
The closing date for applications for both positions is 12th March 2017 at midnight (UK time).
Nosy Crow is an equal opportunities employer. We believe that employing a diverse workforce is an important factor in success and make recruiting decisions based on applicants’ experience and skills. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief.
February 27, 2017
Nosy Crow at the Wray Castle Festival and Knole Children’s Book Festival
The programme for the 2017 Wray Castle Children’s Book Festival, held in early March, has been released and we’re very pleased to say that, in a programme of FANTASTIC events, Nosy Crow authors and illustrators are out in force!
What’s more, at the end of March, the Nosy Crows will also descend on the first ever Knole Children’s Book Festival, so get set for another helping of EXCITING events that showcase a whole load of FABULOUS stories.
WRAY CASTLE FESTIVAL, 4th – 5th March
On Saturday 4th March at 10am, Axel Scheffler, Gruffalo illustrator and creator of Pip and Posy teams up with Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning Philip Ardagh for some frankly improbably but side-splitting adventures with the Grunt family! They wash with cheese, eat roadkill and argue with one another all the time but they are strangely lovable, all the same. One thing’s for sure—there’s NEVER a quiet moment with the Grunts around! Tickets are £5 and you can book online here – if you’re new to the weird and wonderful Grunts, here’s a look inside their first book:
On Saturday 4th March at 12.30pm Philip Ardagh launches his latest book: The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge, a Medieval Knight in Training for the National Trust. Listen to Philip read extracts from his latest book and be the first to get your hands on signed copy of this exciting, historical and action-packed mystery—full of historical facts and trivia. This is a FREE event and open to all visitors to Wray Castle on the Saturday. Take a peek inside The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge, a Medieval Knight in Training:
On Saturday 4th March at 1.30pm join Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler as he introduces the latest adventures of his delightful characters, Pip and Posy. Good friends (most of the time!) this charming pair, Pip and Posy, always have fun and will delight toddlers and parents alike. There’ll be live drawing and storytelling, and maybe even a surprise guest… or two! Tickets are £5, so grab yours quick before they’re gone – and then channel some summery vibes with a quick look inside Pip and Posy’s latest adventure:
On Saturday 4th March at 1.30pm join Andy Seed and his squirrel sidekick Ned the Nature Nut for an hour of jokes, quips, puns and funny facts about nature based on Andy’s new book for the National Trust, a nutty, nature joke book full of green-fingered giggles and wildlife witticisms, as well as incredible facts about nature. Tickets are £5 and you can book yours online here. Look inside Ned and Nature Nut’s Nutty Nature Facts and Jokes:
On Sunday 5th March at 10am Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam creators Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton will lead a show-stopping event to celebrate the launch of their new book. As always, with Shifty McGifty and Slipper Sam, adventure — and crime! — is never far behind, particularly when there’s a diamond-thieving penguin on the loose! Tickets are £5 and you can book yours online here. Take a look inside their latest adventure, published this March:
KNOLE CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL, 24th – 25th March
On Saturday 25th March at 10.30am award winning author Tracey Corderoy will entertain with the most recent – and delicious – smash-hit, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: Up, Up and Away, as well as her other brilliant books. Tickets are £5 and you can book online here. While you’re at it, take a look inside her latest picture book, illustrated by Steven Lenton:
Last but not least, on Sunday 26th March at 10am you can catch Philip Ardagh talking all about his latest hysterically historical book for The National Trust, The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge, a Medieval Knight in Training. Tickets are £5 and you can grab yours here.
If these events have piqued your curiosity, take a look through the full programmes for the Wray Castle Festival and Knole Children’s Book Festival. This March is certainly shaping up to be a wonderfully book-filled month – we hope to see you there!
February 24, 2017
There are just a couple of days left to apply for a Senior Publicity Manager role at Nosy Crow
Last week we announced that we’re hiring a Senior Publicity Manager, and there are just a couple of days left to apply for the role – the closing date for applications is Sunday February 26th.
This is a really exciting opportunity for a talented, experienced and well-connected publishing PR professional to lead the promotion of Nosy Crow’s fast-growing, award-winning Children’s list. The successful candidate will join our team as Senior Publicity Manager on a full-time basis, working in our London office near London Bridge.
The role of the Senior Publicity Manager is to shape and lead the PR strategy for each of Nosy Crow’s authors and illustrators, our high-profile list of titles and multi award-winning brands.
The Senior Publicity Manager reports to the Head of Sales and Marketing and will be joining a dedicated, bright and vibrant Sales and Marketing Department.
We are a close team and we value the experience and creative input that we can each provide to help shape our products to be the best they can be.
Key responsibilities and tasks:
To plan and successfully deliver imaginative, tailored, effective, and wide-reaching publicity campaigns, for short, medium and long term projects, across all Nosy Crow brands, authors, illustrators and titles.
To work closely with the Editorial and Sales and Marketing teams to ensure successful execution and maximise sales from first acquisition to sell-through.
Key skills, characteristics and capabilities:
Proven track record of leading and delivering creative and strategic campaigns for both established and debut names and brands, within a range of budgets
Proven success in organising festivals, events, conferences, launches and book tours with wide-reaching event, librarian and bookseller contacts
Excellent contacts in all aspects of the media
Effective management skills to direct both internal and freelance staff, where required
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Ability to constantly prioritise and be proactive in a busy (but fun!) environment
A keen interest in children’s books
Previous experience working on children’s book campaigns desirable, but not essential
The successful candidate will require the right to live and work in the UK.
To apply, please email your CV, accompanied by not more than 500 words on what you think you could contribute to Nosy Crow, both personally and as a PR professional. Please send to Catherine Stokes (catherine@nosycrow.com), with details of your current salary. We look forward to reading your application.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 26th February (UK time).
February 23, 2017
Attack of the Demon Dinner Ladies wins Inaugural Islington Primary Schools Book Award
We’re thrilled that Pamela Butchart has won the Islington Primary Schools Book Award for Attack of the Demon Dinner Ladies, illustrated by Thomas Flintham, and the fourth title in the Baby Aliens series. Susan Moore’s futuristic, action-packed novel Crimson Poison, the first book in the Nat Walker trilogy, was also shortlisted for the award.
The award is run by Islington Education Library Service and is voted for by primary school children from an initial selection of sixty titles across a variety of genres.
The Shortlisted Authors L-R: Shane Hegarty, Pamela Butchart, Susan Moore, and Piers Torday
Over two hundred schoolchildren from thirty-eight local primary schools poured into the Emirates Stadium for the awards ceremony. Pamela and Susan were joined by fellow shortlisted authors Shane Hegarty and Piers Torday to speak about their books and to have a Q&A with the children.
The authors answered questions about where they got their ideas from – Pamela said she often gets ideas from the children she teaches, and Susan was inspired by her time at the Skywalker Ranch working on ‘Star Wars’; and what they wanted to be when they grew up – Susan wanted to be a writer and Pamela wanted to be a dinosaur. In turn, Susan asked the children what gadgets they would like to invent and Pamela taught them how to order a pie in Dundonian.
Organisers John Calcott and Will Lack read out some of the children’s responses to the project and highlighted their enthusiasm, and how so many had found a new love of reading and discussing books with their friends.
Islington Education Library Service created the Islington Reading Road Map for the award, which featured genres of books listed along various key roads in the borough, in association with Waterstones. Currently thirty-eight schools in Islington subscribe to the education library service, which equates to approximately 3,500 children. The service not only lends books to schools, but also items from a huge catalogue of artifacts and a costume department.
We were kindly invited back to Islington Central Library after the awards ceremony and had a tour of their amazing collection…
A huge thank you to Islington Education Library Service for organising the Reading Road Map and the event!
February 22, 2017
There’s just a few days left to apply for a Production Assistant role at Nosy Crow
Last week we announced that we’re hiring a Production Assistant, and there are just a few days left to apply for the role – the closing date for applications is Sunday February 26th.
This is an incredible opportunity for a hardworking and super-organised individual with the right to live and work in the UK to join our team at Nosy Crow on a full-time basis, working in our London office near London Bridge.
The role of the Production Assistant is to assist the Production team in the production of our full-colour and black and white books and help in the processing, circulation and approval of materials and in communicating with our suppliers and in-house departments.
In addition to this, over time we’ll expect the Production Assistant to take on responsibility for handling day-to-day production of the mono list, ebook conversions and reprints of some full-colour titles. We’ll provide all of the support and training that is needed to do this, and our hope is that the job holder be handling the production of their own small list not long after joining us.
The Production Assistant reports directly to the Head of Operations.
We are a very small team and we value the experience and creative input that we can all provide to help shape our products to be the best they can be.
Key responsibilities and tasks:
Process and manage mono fiction reprints and provide support for mono first printings with a view to taking responsibility for the mono front list production over time
Handle the book conversion of all mono titles through Faber Factory, ensuring that files are converted accurately and that full metadata is supplied
Process all incoming material – ensuring it is approved or distributed in a timely manner
Collate proof and advance quantity requirements – gathering information from internal departments and communicating them with external suppliers, and assist the Production team in the ordering of material in preparation for Book Fairs
Providing administrative support to the Operations department
Providing some general office administrative support
Key skills, characteristics and capabilities:
Outstanding organisational skills
Accuracy and a keen eye for detail
Strong numeracy skills
A collaborative and co-operative approach
Can-do attitude and a willingness to ‘muck-in’ when required
A strong interest in children’s publishing and the book production process
Some experience of working in a book production department or publishing environment is advantageous but not essential
To apply please send your CV and an email outlining why you want to work in production and for Nosy Crow (no more than 500 words please) to Alex Dickinson (alex@nosycrow.com). The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 26th February 2017.
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