Robin Stevens's Blog, page 62
March 17, 2015
Two Announcements: Audio & Brazilian Rights for Hazel & Daisy
It’s a good week for my mystery girls – yesterday we announced that I’ll be writing two more books about Daisy & Hazel for Penguin Random House Children’s Books, and today I’m able to tell you two more pieces of good news.
First, Murder Most Unladylike, Arsenic for Tea and (after its release) First Class Murder will soon be available as audiobooks! The recordings will be done some time this spring, and the audiobooks themselves should be available to buy this summer. I don’t have firm dates yet, but Penguin Random House Children’s Books (and I) are very excited about the project. I can’t wait to hear Hazel narrating her stories!
Second, I have another foreign rights announcement to share. Rights in the first three books, Murder Most Unladylike, Arsenic for Tea and First Class Murder have sold to Editora Fundamento in Brazil. I can’t believe the way my books are travelling the globe – visiting Brazil has always been a dream for me, and now my characters will actually be going there!
March 16, 2015
Deal Announcement: Two More Adventures for Hazel & Daisy
A lot of people have been asking me for a long time whether Hazel & Daisy’s adventures would end with the publication of First Class Murder in July. I am therefore so delighted to finally be able to announce some very happy news: Hazel & Daisy will indeed ride again, in two further books currently set for publication by Penguin Random House Children’s in 2016.
This makes me a very happy author. I genuinely adore writing about my girl detectives and their world, and this feels like I’ve been given a gift – I’m allowed to drop my heroines into two more diabolical murder-mystery settings and set them against two more utterly dastardly villains.
I can’t talk much about plot specifics at this stage (mostly because I don’t know much yet – I’m currently working on the final edits for First Class Murder and so I can’t think properly about other books until that’s done) but what I can say is that I’m going to be answering a popular request in Book 4 – Daisy & Hazel will be returning to a certain school and solving another hockey-sticks-and-ties-based murder. But I don’t think a mistress will be dying this time . . .
So keep your eyes peeled and your little grey cells on the alert. More details will be announced when they can be, but for now, please raise a cup of tea and a bun with me to celebrate my indefatigable girl detectives, Daisy Wells & Hazel Wong!
March 6, 2015
World Book Day 2015 – your WBD
In my last post, I talked about my own World Book Day experiences. But while I was out on school visits, lots of you were making amazing contributions to the Wells & Wong cause – and I was so impressed with your efforts that I felt you deserved your own post.
This is the first World Book Day since Murder Most Unladylike was published – but it never occurred to me that some of you might choose to dress as Hazel and Daisy. I still have such a strong sense of them as characters in my head that it’s amazing to remember that they are in yours as well – and it’s been powerfully weird to see them take shape as actual walking, talking human beings.
So, here’s a fantastic gallery of your WBD efforts. Hazel and Daisy are real!
Hazel’s costume takes shape – Maria James
@SpeakingofBks’s daughter draws the Deepdean crest
@speakingofbks’s daughter copies the Deepdean crest
Martha as Hazel
@cawdelia’s daughters: Hester from Mortal Engines and Hazel Wong
Debbie Shepherd’s daughter as a very haughty Daisy
More Daisy – perfection!
Jessica Gilmore’s daughter and her friend as Hazel and Daisy
Daisy in a rather fetching hat
Maria James’s daughter in action as Hazel Wong
And Hazel with her best friend Daisy!
Some detective conversation is clearly going on!
Lucy as Daisy Wells
@SpeakingofBks’s daughters – Pippi Longstocking and Hazel Wong!
Hazel with her magnifying glass!
Investigation time!
If you’ve got your own WBD pictures, or if you’d like me to change the credit of any of these images, please do get in touch. I am so delighted by all of these images – thank you all!
World Book Day 2015 – My WBD
This week was World Book Day, my first as a real published author. My write-up comes in two parts – my World Book Day, and yours. First, my exploits . . .
On Thursday morning I visited JAPS in Dulwich. The school was wonderful – they had even set up a display to welcome me (which looked slightly like an altar. I felt very briefly almost famous).
My display at JAPS!
I gave an assembly to the whole school . . .
JAPS girls talking about crime fiction!
. . . and then held two workshops with Years 5 and 6.
Plotting detective novels . . .
Giving my expert help . . .
Some young authors with my books!
Of course, I had to wear the Sherlock hat.
With some fantastic poster art by a fan!
I was so impressed by the imagination and enthusiasm of the JAPS girls. Workshops always amaze me – the same prompts throw up endless new stories, all of them absolutely fantastic and unique.
JAPS did a brilliant job of hosting me, too – I got a lovely detective bunbreak, and a beautiful bunch of flowers! A huge thank you to librarians Gail and Rachel, and all of the teachers and girls who helped make the day so special.
WBD bunbreak!
My flowers!
On Thursday afternoon, I went to Village Books, Dulwich for a very special tea-time event. Village Books have been some of the biggest supporters of my books since Murder Most Unladylike was first published, so I was delighted to finally be doing an event with them. And they made some beautiful displays to welcome me!
Village Books Dulwich display
Village Books window
Village Books tea-time sign
Hazel and the rest of the Village Books staff had set up a beautiful (and delicious) tea, and I had a huge amount of fun reading from Arsenic for Tea and helping everyone create their own Wells & Wong mysteries.
With my tea!
On Friday, I visited the lovely St Mary’s School in Cambridge to give a talk to Year 7s.
I had a brilliant time introducing the girls to the books, and I hope I showed them how fun fictional murder can be!
The talk at St Mary’s, about to begin!
Signing books at St Mary’s Cambridge
My first World Book Day as an author couldn’t have gone better – I had a marvellous time, and I can’t wait to do it all again next year!
February 27, 2015
World Book Day – How To Dress Up as Daisy & Hazel!
World Book Day, Thursday 5th March, fast approaches, and exciting plans are afoot up and down the country. I’m going to be visiting JAPS in Dulwich in the morning, and at half past three I’ll be taking tea at Village Books Dulwich – if you’re interested in joining me, please visit Village Books’ website to get the free ticket you’ll need.
I’m busily planning lots of Wells & Wong goodness – and from some emails I’ve received, it sounds like I’m not the only one. Readers have been in contact asking for help with dressing as Daisy & Hazel, and I’ve been very excited and happy to oblige them.
So, would you like to dress as a member of the Detective Society this World Book Day? Here’s how!
The Deepdean school crest
– The Deepdean uniform is grey. Daisy & Hazel wear white shirts, grey pinafores and ties (though any sort of grey school uniform with a tie will do). If you want to be really completist, their house colours are green and blue – so their ties should be green and blue as well.
– Thanks to my agent, Deepdean has a crest – please see the picture to the right!
– Both Daisy and Hazel might carry magnifying glasses. They certainly carry school books, and Hazel is never without her casebook and pencil!
– Daisy’s hair is blonde and wavy, done up in two pigtails.
– Hazel’s hair is long, black and straight, in one long braid.
And that’s it! You now have all you need to become a member of the Detective Society. The really important thing to remember is that you don’t have to look anything like either of the girls to dress as them. World Book Day is all about imagination, and you’re allowed to imagine being Daisy or Hazel no matter what the outside of you is like.
Whoever you choose to dress as, I hope you have a wonderful World Book Day 2015! And if you do dress as one of my detectives, please send me the evidence!
February 23, 2015
Publishers Weekly starred review for Murder is Bad Manners
I’m delighted to be able to say that Murder is Bad Manners (the US edition of Murder Most Unladylike) has been awarded a star by Publishers Weekly magazine, in a fantastic review:
‘Eighth-grader Hazel Wong lives in the shadow of her best friend Daisy Wells, a girl so flawless that even retching seems to agree with her. Inspired by pulp fiction paperbacks, the girls form a secret detective agency at their boarding school, opening their first big case when their teacher, Miss Bell, turns up dead. Set in 1934 England, this first book in the Wells & Wong Mystery series is part murder mystery, part diary, and a pitch-perfect snapshot of adolescent friendship. Daisy is the classic mean girl: privileged, selfish, and as beautiful as she is heartless – all qualities that Hazel lacks. (Narrator Hazel isn’t even the heroine of her own story!) The girls are in over their heads, but Daisy, used to bending everyone to her whims, refuses to admit it, so it’s up to pragmatic Hazel to save the case, and their lives. Their yin-yang friendship, like the camaraderie of Sherlock and Watson, is as integral to the story as the revelation of the murderer. A sharp-witted debut for Stevens, one that will leave readers eagerly awaiting subsequent instalments. Ages 10-up.’
Not long to go now until the book is released in the US – and I can’t wait!
February 22, 2015
Arsenic for Tea is The Times Children’s Book of the Week
Arsenic for Tea was given a fantastic mention in today’s Sunday Times!
‘This is the second of Robin Stevens’s Wells & Wong mysteries. The first, Murder Most Unladylike, has just be shortlisted for the Waterstones children’s book prize for emerging authors. These Agatha-Christie-indebted tales involved detective duo Daisy Wells and her sidekick Hazel Wong, wealthy schoolgirls from England and Hong Kong. In the first book, they investigated a murder at their boarding school. This time, Daisy’s family’s stately home – a hotbed of jealousy and greed – provides a rich cast of suspects when it’s not just the cake candles that are snuffed out at a birthday tea party. Emotional conflict, logical deduction and the period setting make for an entertaining, nostalgic brainteaser.‘ – Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times
Arsenic for Tea reviewed in Guardian Family
Arsenic for Tea was featured in this weekend’s Guardian Family section!
‘Arsenic for Tea, the second book in Robin Stevens’ fabulous Wells and Wong schoolgirl detective series – think St Trinians mixed with Miss Marple. These are thrilling books for tween detectives who adore solving dastardly murders, jolly hockey sticks and iced buns for tea.’ – Guardian Family, Saturday 21st February 2015
Reader emails – and Hazel and Daisy in my head
Readers have been getting in contact recently to talk to me about my books. Sometimes they apologise for emailing, as though reading what they have to say doesn’t fill my heart with utter joy. Honestly, knowing that a book I wrote has made a difference to an actual person’s life is the most unexpected and amazing thing about being an author. Please don’t ever stop emailing, and please don’t ever think that you’re going to bother me or waste my time. I love every single email, and I promise to reply to every one.
I had a particularly wonderful email yesterday from Willa, who wanted to tell me that ‘Hazel is like a friend to me’. I completely love this. Like a lot of authors, I had a slightly lonely childhood, and one of the things that made me feel better was spending time in books with my favourite characters. I was (and am still) pretty sure that Mitt and Cassandra Mortmain and Princess Cimorene were real, somewhere – and (confession time) the one Agatha Christie novel that I have never read is Curtain, because I can’t bear the thought of Hercule Poirot dying.
Romola Garai as Cassandra in I Capture the Castle
But the other thing I really like about Willa’s comment is that I feel exactly the same way. It’s really hard to talk about without sounding bonkers, but I am definitely one of those authors who believes in their characters. I know lots of authors don’t, and I think that’s perfectly valid, but to make my made-up people live on the page they need to exist absolutely in my head first. It’s a funny sort of double-think: I know that I won’t ever turn around and find Hazel sitting next to me, but when I really consider that fact I’m astonished. She and Daisy feel so real to me – I know what they’d say in any situation and I know the way their minds work. They’ve been the voices in my head for years, and the fact that now they’re in your heads too is incredible.
So, thank you Willa, and thank you to everyone who’s contacted me so far. I’m more and more convinced every time I get a new email in my inbox that I have the smartest and best readers in the world.
February 15, 2015
A Wonderful Week for Wells & Wong!
I have had the most incredibly exciting few days. School visits, signings, workshops and prize shortlists – it all feels like the most amazing dream. Would someone mind pinching me?
On Tuesday I went on a mini tour. In the morning, I visited the brilliantly supportive Waterstones Hampstead, and once again they put on a fab school event. I spoke to kids from Rosary and Christ Church primaries about why we all love mystery novels so much, and why I wrote Arsenic for Tea and Murder Most Unladylike. They asked some excellent questions, and were generally incredibly enthusiastic – I’d like to thank them for listening, their teachers for being so positive about fictional murder, and booksellers Yael and Debbie for being great hosts.
With bookseller Yael
Talking mysteries!
Reading from Murder Most Unladylike
I then jumped on the train to St Mary Cray, to visit Waterstones Orpington and Leesons Primary. I’d encourage you all to visit Waterstones Orpington if you are anywhere near it – it has a gigantic children’s department (it takes up almost half of the store space) and some very creative and passionate booksellers. They’ve made some amazing displays for Arsenic for Tea, and bookseller Laura even drew Daisy & Hazel fanart. (I’m not sure she believed me when I told her how much I loved it – I hope she’ll believe me now!)
With an amazing Waterstones Orpington display!
Fan art – Daisy and Hazel by bookseller Laura
Leesons Primary was also brilliant. It’s full of inspirational and very clever educational displays, and it’s clearly a wonderful learning environment. The kids were so engaged, and I hope they enjoyed my talk – I really enjoyed speaking to them!
Signing at Leesons Primary
After I had finished my events, I realised that I had enough time to stop in to some central London Waterstones branches – Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and Gower Street. I signed copies of my books and met booksellers, and I was so amazed and impressed by how committed they all were to selling my books. I know how special it is to have this kind of support, and I am so grateful for the work Waterstones booksellers, in London and the rest of the country, are doing for the Wells & Wong Mysteries.
With the Gower St Waterstones window display
And I had yet another reason to be grateful to Waterstones staff on Thursday, when it was announced that Murder Most Unladylike is one of the shortlisted books for this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. I’ve said it before, but I am so, so honoured to be a part of the list – it’s quite literally a dream come true.
With the Waterstones Children’s Prize shortlistees at Waterstones Piccadilly
On Saturday I travelled to Oxford (the place, by the way, where I wrote the first draft of Murder Most Unladylike, when I was a bookseller at Blackwell’s Broad Street). In the morning I signed books at Waterstones Oxford. It was lovely to meet everyone, but I think my very favourite signing was to two-year-old Amelia, whose parents selflessly bought the books to give her in six years (they will read them themselves in the meantime). Zoe Greaves and the rest of the Waterstones Staff were such great hosts – I hope I’ll be able to arrange another event with them soon!
Signing at Waterstones Oxford
In the afternoon I went to the Story Museum, a fantastic celebration of children’s fiction. They have a wonderful exhibition space (the 26 Characters exhibition is in its final week, but I’ve heard their plans for the future and they sound just as fun), a delicious cafe (with lots of cake!) and a brilliant programme of events for both aspiring writers and illustrators (they are great at understanding that there are plenty of ways to be an author). I gave a session on How to Be a Daring Detective, working with twenty brilliant young writers to help them create their very own mystery stories.
Working on stories!
I gave each group a random setting, crime, victim and clue and asked them to create suspects and a murderer, and I was genuinely impressed by the depth and brilliance of the stories that emerged. We had villainous bus drivers, old ladies with stuffed penguin collections, thieving sheep herders, jealousy, mistaken identity, buttons dropped from stolen coats and even beautifully drawn suspect line-ups from one group. I had a wonderful time, and I hope everyone who came along did too!
With some daring detectives!
With detective Corey
All in all, it’s been a dream week – thank you again to everyone who helped to make it so great, and here’s to many more!
