Nosy Crow's Blog, page 59

Key questions (and answers) from our Introduction to Children’s Publishing evening!

Last night we held our first ever Introduction to Children’s Publishing event – it was a fantastically fun and interactive evening, filled with insider hints, tips and a comprehensive overview of working in children’s publishing!

The event was a free, ticketed event, designed for people who are interested in working in children’s publishing – no prior knowledge or experience necessary. We also partnered with The Book Trade Charity who was able to offer financial assistance for those who would need it to travel to the event.

The event began with a brilliant introduction from Nosy Crow’s Managing Director, Kate Wilson, who spoke on her own experiences in publishing, as well as her passion for children’s publishing, and the state of the industry.

“The point of this evening is to make it clear how many ways into children’s publishing there are, and how wide a range of skills are needed.”– Kate Wilson

Then we broke into small groups to get an in-depth look at different departments, with representatives from Editorial, Marketing, Production, Publicity, Rights, and Sales, who gave a brief overview of what their job entails and answered questions. We asked each of our departmental representatives to highlight a key question that they were asked. Here are their picks below (and more importantly – their answers)!

Rachel Kellehar, Head of Non-Fiction (Editorial)

Question: How did you stay motivated to get your first job in editorial?

Answer: I was offered the chance to interview for a promotion and a permanent contract at the publisher where I was working in production. I knew that the further I progressed down a production career path, the harder it would be to go back to being in a very junior role (which would also involve taking a substantial pay cut). To stay motivated, I turned down the offer to interview for the more senior production job and stayed on a temporary rolling contract, to motivate myself to keep searching for the right editorial position for me. Working in production was an incredibly valuable experience and I could have very happily built a career in that area, but deep down I knew my heart lay in editorial, and I didn’t want to give up on that dream.

Hester Seddon, Senior Marketing Executive

Question: What’s your average day like?

Answer: Usually my days are quite varied, depending on what projects I’m currently working on. If a catalogue deadline is looming, I might be 100% on the case – checking copy, looking at imagery with the designer, liaising with printers and generally, racing for the finish line! If I’m working on a campaign I’m involved at every stage, from throwing ideas around with the team, planning advertising and researching new partners to creating POS (point-of-sale materials) for retailers and evaluating a campaign’s success.

I usually think of a marketing job as quite ‘behind the scenes’ but there are times when I’ll be popping out of the office to help with events and for external meetings with suppliers and media partners.

It’s a very detail-oriented job – most of the time I’m the last pair of eyes on an advert before it goes to print! It’s also a creative job with plenty of space for trying out new ideas (pin the tail on the unicorn anyone…?) as well as writing engaging copy for a range of audiences (and experimenting with all the worst puns imaginable).

Frances Sleigh, Senior Sales Manager

Question: What’s your favourite moment of your job?

Answer: It’s a classic question and one I LOVE getting asked. For me, the answer is always the buzz of getting confirmation of a sale though. We go to customers and we present our titles; which means we show them samples, we talk about comparative titles and how well they’ve done, we talk about trends in publishing, we get their feedback on what they like/don’t like, we hopefully get an idea of whether or not they’ll buy a title.  But it’s only when you finally get the email confirmation through that you can have your ‘YES!’ moment, when you know you’ve done your job well and you’re doing justice to the books that so many people have spent time and energy creating.  I always say that if you enjoy selling things on ebay, depop, gumtree or at a car boot sale then sales is for you!

Rebecca Mason, Senior Publicity Executive

Question: What do you like best about working in publicity?

Answer: It’s a bit of a cliché, but every day is different! I love working so closely with our fab team of authors and illustrators and spending time getting to know them and the stories behind their books. Going out to events and festivals is so much fun, not only because it’s a chance to get out of the office and meet new people, but also because you get to see children reacting to Nosy Crow books in the real world. You get to see that child with the dog-eared, scribbled-on copy of the book FINALLY meet the author he loves, and then you get to see another sceptical child convinced to try something new (and enjoy it!). Plus, with whole rooms of kids free to ask any questions, things never get boring…

Michela Pea, Senior Rights Manager

Question: What do you think makes you so successful at book fairs?

Answer: Ultimately, it’s down to our passion for what we are pitching – we love Nosy Crow’s books and our international partners can feel that. Working in the creative, buzzing and sometimes chaotic open space that is the Nosy Crow office means that everyone is somehow aware of what’s going on at any point of the creative process. In most cases, the rights team is familiar with the projects we are taking to a fair long before the event. This close proximity to all our books is something that foreign customers can appreciate.

Arlene Alexander, Senior Production Executive

Question: How does production fit as a department within the publishing house? 

Answer: As production is the department that manages the physical assembly of a book, we work with every other department within a publishing company, from design to editorial to sales. We also work with outside suppliers and even foreign co-publishers to produce a fantastic book within budget and on schedule.

Thank you to all who attended!

Take a look inside This is a Dog

Next month we’re incredibly pleased to be publishing This is a Dog, a brand new picture book by Ross Collins, winner of the UKLA Book Award and the inaugural Amnesty CILIP Greenaway Honour. This is a Dog is a delightfully silly story about a mischievous dog who loves the limelight, perfect for dog lovers young and old.

And today, for the first time, you can take a look inside the book!

Uh-oh! An excitable (but very loveable) dog has found his way into this First Animals book and he will NOT let any of the other animals take their turn. Dogs are far more important, after all! And when the other animals get angry, this dog comes up with a very cunning plan to outwit them . . .

Here’s a look inside the book:

This is a Dog be available in shops in August – you can pre-order the book online here. And be sure to check out other hilarious books by Ross Collins, There’s a Bear on my Chair, This Zoo is Not For You, and What Does an Anteater Eat?.

And if you’d like to stay up to date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter at this page, or with the form below.

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Out now in July!

It’s our July publication day!

We’ve got some wonderful new books out this month – from brand new lift-the-flap and board books for babies and toddlers, to beautiful new picture books and illustrated non-fiction, and incredible new fiction, there’s something for everyone!

You can watch our new books video below, showcasing all of our brand new books:

Here’s a closer look at what you can find in shops now from Nosy Crow.

A Book About Betsy Rabbit, by Melissa Crowton:

Buy the book.

A Book About Ralphie Dog, by Melissa Crowton:

Buy the book.

100 First Words, by Edward Underwood:

Buy the book.

Fairy Tales: Snow White, illustrated by Ed Bryan:

Buy the book.

What Does An Anteater Eat?, by Ross Collins, out now in paperback:

Buy the book.

British Museum Press Out and Decorate: Ancient Egypt, illustrated by Kate McLelland:

Buy the book.

National Trust: Out and About Night Explorer:

Buy the book.

British Museum: So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in Ancient Greece, written by Chae Strathie and illustrated by Marisa Morea. Out now in paperback:

Buy the book.

Princess of Pets: The Lost Puppy, written by Paula Harrison and illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller:

Buy the book.

Anna at War, by Helen Peters:

Buy the book.

A Pony Called Secret: A Time To Shine, written by Olivia Tuffin:

Buy the book.

Wigglesbottom Primary: The Classroom Cat, written by Pamela Butchart and illustrated by Becka Moor:

Buy the book.

Congratulations to all of the authors and illustrators who have books leaving the nest today!

Watch Chris Naylor-Ballesteros drawing the characters from The Suitcase

We’re proud to have published The Suitcase in May, a powerful new picture book full of heart and humanity by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros.

And today we’re delighted to share a video of Chris drawing the characters from the book!

You can watch Chris drawing the fox, rabbit, bird and the stranger, and hear him talking about how he developed the characters and style of the book, in the video at the top of this post.

You can also find out more about Chris’ illustrating process at his guest post here.

‘A simple, powerful way to introduce the idea of kindness to strangers to young children’– Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo

“At a time when over 65 million people are forcibly displaced around the world, this beautifully illustrated and wise, gentle tale of tolerance and kindness for fellow humans resonates deeply. I hope all parents share The Suitcase with their children.” – Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner

‘We slip so easily into being tribal, into being suspicious of people who seem different to us. The Suitcase gently and powerfully explores the transformation that comes when we manage to open our minds and hearts.’ – Miranda McKearney OBE, Empathy Lab

‘A sweet, gentle introduction to the idea of what home is, and that maybe home is something we bring with us.’ – Margaret Wallace-Jones, The Alligator’s Mouth

‘Sometimes a story just grabs you by the heartstrings and doesn’t let you go – this is one of those stories. Powerful, empathetic and full of heart, The Suitcase will resonate for a long, long time.’ – Louise Bolongaro, Head of Picture Books, Nosy Crow

Take a sneak peek inside The Suitcase:

You can order a copy of the book from Amazon here, or from Waterstones here.

And if you’d like to stay up-to-date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter with the form below, and you’ll never miss a thing.

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Anna At War is the Independent Booksellers’ Children’s Book of the Month!

This week we’re publishing Anna At War, a brilliant and moving wartime adventure from Helen Peters – the highly-acclaimed author of Evie’s Ghost.

And we’re thrilled that Anna At War has just been named the Independent Booksellers’ Children’s Book of the Month!

The Independent Booksellers’ Children’s Book of the Month is chosen by a panel of independent booksellers, co-ordinated by The BA Children’s Bookselling Group. The Children’s Book of the Month has been running since 2018 and aims to showcase independent bookshops’ power and unique expertise to drive sales of children’s books.

Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at the BA, commented: “Anna at War is a brilliantly moving story, and I fell in love with the brave Anna. We are so pleased that the panel has selected this exciting, beautifully written book for Children’s Book of the Month.”

As life for German Jews becomes increasingly perilous, Anna’s parents put her on a train leaving for England. But the war follows her to Kent, and soon Anna finds herself caught up in a web of betrayal and secrecy. How can she prove whose side she’s on when she can’t tell anyone the truth? But actions speak louder than words, and Anna has a dangerous plan…

Here’s a look inside Anna At War:

Pick up a copy from your local independent bookshop.

Q&A with David Solomons and editor Kirsty Stansfield

Author David Solomons sat down with his editor Kirsty Stansfield, to discuss his latest book, My Cousin is a Time Traveller  – the super-powered fifth and final book in the My Brother is a Superhero series!

Luke’s dad has bought a lot of gadgets recently and not one of them works as it’s supposed to. Maybe it’s because a machine-from-the-future is stalking Bromley, playing havoc with all the tech and trying to stop Star Lad going on a date. Could this be the Rise of the Machines? Luke knows what he must do – he just needs his fellow SCARF members to help, or it will be the end of everything…

—

What got you into writing about superheroes?

As my editor you know, of course, that the first book in the series was originally entitled My Brother is a Divisional Sales Director. I believe it was you who suggested the move to something more “child-friendly”. Although I will always wonder about the book that might have been…

How much do you plan your books before you start writing?

I feel that the answer my editor wants to hear is that it’s all under control from the first page. And indeed it is. I anticipate not just every plot turn, but am also able to picture the precise position of every comma on the page prior to setting down a single word. There’s definitely not a point in the process – every single time – when I haven’t the faintest idea what happens next. Apparently I’m what’s known as a “catastrophist,” which means that I’m always imagining the worst thing that could happen. This is excellent for writing exciting adventure stories, but less good for walking down the high street in real life without crying.

Long-hand or word processor?

Hardback Black n’ Red A4 lined notebook, Mitsubishi 9800 matured HB pencil imported from Japan, because graphite conducts ideas (it’s a FACT!). Giant iMac that blots out the spectacular countryside view that I’ve spent a lifetime craving and now that I have cannot enjoy without dislocating my neck. Once I’ve warmed up on the page writing a chapter or two, I then spend eight hours deciphering my handwriting before shovelling the words into the Mac. Repeat until mad.

How much do you enjoy thinking up chapter titles?

Is there a version of being an author that consists solely of coming up with punny chapter titles? Can I be that, please?

The pun is the most advanced form of humour. Discuss.

See, this is why you and I get along so well. I am addicted and you are a pun enabler. I’m like an ice-cold, preternaturally handsome racing driver steering a course through a pack of howling cars. I see a gap (pun) and, narrowing my bolt-blue eyes, I go for it! No matter the risk to life, limb or sense. I just can’t help myself. Sorry, what was the question again?

Influences?

I never write under them.

Flight or invisibility?

This is a very strange offer from Easyjet.

Why are people so sniffy about comics?

I read something on Twitter the other day, to the effect that as a culture we individually prize words and pictures, elevating them to the highest art-forms, but when we put them together denigrate the result. Also, I think it’s because comics are floppy. There’s a stiffness hierarchy in literature. Hardbacks (get all the reviews), then trade paperbacks which are hardbacks that aren’t trying too hard, then actual paperbacks. All of these editions can stand up on their own. Not comics. Too floppy. That’s why in a vain push for respectability, they also sell bound comics.

Two novelists under one roof…

You are referring to my wife, the New York Times best-selling novelist, Natasha Solomons (I’m contractually obliged to address her like that. “New York Times best-selling novelist, Natasha Solomons, we’re out of Andrex.”) However, plot twist! We might be looking at three writers under one roof. With his permission, here’s a verbatim extract from my son’s latest school essay. For context, he is six years old.

Some creatures are carnivores and eat meat. Some are herbivores and they eat plants. The Crabajellysquidturtle is different because it is the only animal in the world that is a cottonivore. This means it eats socks, socks, socks! If it is really hungry, it might eat a vest or two instead.

Are you over Blake’s 7 ending yet?

Thanks so much for bringing this up. Paul Darrow, the actor who played the role of Avon, one of TV’s most magnificent anti-heroes, just passed away and now I’m sad all over again. For those unaware of the series, it has an ending that makes the finale of Game of Thrones look like Noddy. I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s been forty years, so – EVERYONE DIES! And why, you may ask, is my editor asking me about this, other than to cause me existential pain? It’s because My Cousin is a Time Traveller is the final book in my series and as I was writing it I was thinking a lot about endings. At one point, Luke the eleven-year-old protagonist, is prompted to ask his dad about the TV show, to discover that it has haunted his father in much the same way it has me. However, I would just like to point out to Kirsty that we cut all the Blake’s 7 stuff from the book. Since you ask, here’s one of the excised passages:

“Did Blake and his merry band of galactic outlaws defeat the evil Federation and zoom off in the Liberator, with the promise of more exciting adventures to come?” Those were my favourite endings, because they weren’t really endings at all.

Dad cleared his throat awkwardly. “Not exactly. The Liberator was captured and destroyed, then later in the very last episode all the heroes die at the hands of the baddies.” A glassy expression slid over his face and I knew he was back there, watching TV as a boy. “I was twelve years old. It was a Monday in late December, Nineteen Eighty-One, just after eight-fifteen pm,” he said, frozen in the moment. He shuddered. “They don’t make them like that anymore.”

Best thing a kid’s ever said about your books?

I’ve had a few parents tell me that my books were the ones that got their child reading, which is enough to move even my stony heart. Kids are most impressed when I’m dedicating a book to them and correctly spell their name.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Meryl Streep.

—

Thank you, David. That was very enlightening and “pun enabler” is the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me. A contract for Luke is in the post.

You can take a look inside My Cousin is a Time Traveller below:

Buy the book.

And if you’d like to stay up-to-date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter at this page, or with the form below, and you’ll never miss a thing:

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Discover the inspiration behind I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak – and read an exclusive preview of the book

This August we are very proud to be publishing I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak: a moving, beautiful story, with a wonderfully unique hero, from an incredible new voice in middle grade fiction – perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Kate DiCamillo. And today we’re delighted to share this piece by Carlie on her inspirations behind this wonderful book – along with an exclusive preview of I, Cosmo.

Here’s Carlie on the inspiration behind the story:

I have always wanted to write a book from a dog’s perspective, because dogs have always been my closest friends. I could talk to them when it seemed like no one else was listening.

Before my family adopted our German shorthaired pointer, Sally, she was our neighbor’s dog. I was six years old, and every night, I’d read to her through the metal fence separating our houses. Together, we visited secret gardens, green gables, and worlds where dragons roamed. At the end of each story, I’d press my nose to hers and say, I love you, silly dog.

Some nights, I’d give anything to go back there, to that tiny yard in suburban North Carolina, even just for a few minutes.

I remember the evening that our neighbor knocked on our door during dinner. (We were eating lasagna, I think; Sally had a soft spot for noodles.) By all accounts, the conversation went something like this.

Neighbor: “I’m going to become a priest.”

My dad: “Well, okay.”

Neighbor: “Can you take my dog? I can’t take my dog.”

My mom: “Are you sure you—?”

Neighbor: “She’s already been to the pound twice. You know what’ll happen if I send her back. They’ll—”

Me, mouthful of lasagna: “Mommy! All I want for my birthday is a dog. Thatdog.”

(My birthday was three whole weeks away, but boy, did I want to give Sally a home; in this very particular instance, I was not above emotional blackmail.)

Sally stayed at our house that night. At herhouse. And for the next seventeen years, I loved her fiercely. I love her fiercely, still.

Here is what I remember most: Sally had the softest ears and the worst breath. She was gentle, but strong when I needed her to be. And I think that she would have liked Cosmo’s story, read to her through the fence.

Thank you, Carlie!

Wise, funny, and filled with warmth, I, Cosmo is Charlotte’s Web meets Little Miss Sunshine – a beautiful and heartwarming story of one dog’s attempt to save his family, become a star, and eat a lot of bacon. And here’s a very first look inside the book – you can read the first chapter of I, Cosmo below:

I, Cosmo will be available in shops in August, and you can pre-order the book now – and if you’d like to stay up to date with all of our book news, you can sign up to our books newsletter here, or with the form below.

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The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher Edge has won the inaugural STEAM Children’s Book Prize

The winner of the inaugural STEAM Children’s Book Prize has been announced, and we are delighted that Christopher Edge has been awarded the prize for The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day!

The aim of the prize, which is awarded by UCLan Publishing in partnership with BIS (The British Interplanetary Society), is to highlight the importance of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) subjects, and to recognise books that provide children with engaging, fun, and exciting literature. It’s the first prize to concentrate solely on STEAM in children’s books – and we are so thrilled that Christopher has been named the winner for The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day!

A mind-bending mystery for 9+ readers, combining cutting-edge science, gripping adventure and real heart, The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day is perfect for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ross Welford, and Neil Gaiman.

You can take a look inside the book below:

Buy the book.

And you can listen to the first chapter of the audiobook edition of the book below:

Buy the audiobook.

Congratulations, Chris!

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon is now available as an audiobook

Today we’re delighted to share a brand new audiobook edition of The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge – brilliant storytelling blending science, adventure and real heart from the acclaimed author of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright and The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day.

Secrets, spies or maybe even a monster… What lies in the heart of the wood? Charlie, Dizzy and Johnny are determined to discover the truth, but when night falls without warning they find themselves trapped in a nightmare. Lost in the woods, strange dangers and impossible puzzles lurk in the shadows. As time plays tricks, can Charlie solve this mystery and find a way out of the woods? But what if this night never ends…?

Brilliantly narrated by Imogen Wilde, you can buy the audiobook of The Longest Night of Charlie Noon from Audible, Amazon, and Apple now – and you can listen to a preview of the audiobook below.

Buy the audiobook.

You can also read the opening of the book below:

Buy the book.

‘An important piece of all of our histories’

July 1939:  Three Jewish refugee children from Germany and Austria, the ‘Kindertransport’, waiting to be collected by their relatives or sponsors at Liverpool Street Station, London, after arriving by special train.  (Photo by Stephenson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

This May we published No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton – a captivating story, filled with warmth and heart, with wonderfully authentic ballet writing and an important message championing the rights of refugees.

It is a book which feels particularly timely at the moment: this week is Refugee Week: an annual, nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.

And we recently received an incredibly moving and powerful message about No Ballet Shoes in Syria from Rachel Meier, a Waterstones bookseller, which she has very kindly given us permission to reproduce below. Here is Rachel’s letter:

I received a reading copy of No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton not long ago, and I just read it and wanted to tell you that I loved it. I saw the video on your website of Catherine talking about it and knew it would be a book for me, but I didn’t anticipate just how hard it would hit me.

The writing is so lovely and the story is so sensitively told, really powerful and vitally important. I think this is a book that will really change how kids see the world and that is such an amazing thing. We have it on our ‘diverse books’ table at work and I am so excited to recommend it to everyone I can!

The thing that really struck me is the parallels drawn between refugees from the second world war and refugees today (and I also appreciated the explanation given of the difference between asylum seekers and refugees). My grandparents were all Jewish refugees who came to England after the second world war, so Miss Helena’s story really moved me. Catherine may have seen the photo I’ve attached while doing research (the description of Miss Helena’s sister with the long plaits in particular made me think she might have) – the girl with the plaits and the doll is my Grandma, on the Kindertransport (you can see her twin brother’s knee next to her!). We only discovered the photo by chance because a family friend recognised my Granna. It makes me both sad and pleased that people are still learning about this as it is such an important piece of all of our histories.

You can see the photograph of Rachel’s Grandma at the top of this post – we are so grateful to Rachel for sharing her family’s story.

And here’s the video that Rachel mentions, of Catherine describing the inspirations behind the book:

You can find out more about Refugee Week here, and more about the Kindertransport here. And you can buy No Ballet Shoes in Syria from Waterstones here.