Autumn updates from London — and a fox who saves the day 🦊🍂

Hello from a sunny London!
It’s a crisp and beautiful autumn day here with the blue skies a welcome change after recent rain and grey clouds. As the leaves start to turn, here’s hoping for some spectacular colours after such a warm summer. (I once followed the changing autumn colours down the east coast of the US— it was breathtaking!)

Moving on to my writing life, I have some exciting news about Ferdinand Fox — and a few new adventures that I think you and your young readers will enjoy.

Ferdinand Fox Saves the Day — Out Now!

I’m thrilled to share that Ferdinand Fox Saves the Day — a six-story illustrated collection for readers aged 6–8 — is now available!

Encouraging reading for pleasure

This special edition brings together three brand-new stories with my three original picture-book fox tales in a lively illustrated chapter-book format designed to inspire a love of reading. My aim was to create a book that bridges the gap between picture books and early chapter books — keeping the rhythm and fun of rhyme while offering enough text to stretch early reading skills and hold a child’s attention.

The short, self-contained stories are designed to make it easy for children to dip in and out, revisit their favourites, or share them with younger siblings — perfect for home reading or classroom story time.

Four of the tales are action-packed page-turners full of adventure, mischief, and quick thinking, while the remaining two show Ferdinand’s gentler, big-hearted side — the qualities that make him so endearing to readers of all ages.

A huge thank-you to my advance readers who helped me shape the format for this edition; all were adamant that they wanted scattered illustrations throughout! I suspected this would be the case, but wanted to be sure.

And, needless to say, a huge thank-you to Andrew Smith, whose beautiful artwork perfectly captures Ferdinand’s character and the different settings!

Available now on Amazon if you search in your country, and coming soon to all online and high-street bookshops. Quick links below. (US and UK are affiliate links from which I earn a small fee at no cost to you.)

Order on Amazon US →
Order on Amazon UK →
Order on Amazon CA →
Order on Amazon AUD →

I hope you and your children enjoy! Please do write or comment and let me know.

Coming Soon — The Christmas Tree Wish in Italian!

I’m also delighted to share that the Italian edition, L’Albero di Natale dei Desideri, should be out next week!

It’s been wonderful seeing this gentle festive story translated by the hugely talented Elena Papaleo — she took great care in explaining her interpretations, and I can’t wait for Italian readers to meet the little tree who dreams of being chosen for Christmas.

Don’t forget that you can order The Christmas Tree Wish in English, French (Martin le Sapin de Noël), or German (Chris Christbaums Weihnachtstraum). Search by title online.

The Secret Lake — Japanese Edition on the Way!

In other foreign news, I’ve heard that the Japanese edition of The Secret Lake is due out in late November. The cover, which I’ll be able to share later this month, features stunning watercolour artwork — a truly magical interpretation that I think readers will love. My son will be in Japan in November so I’m hoping he can snap a picture in a bookshop!

Virtual Book Club Visits

I recently had a wonderfully relaxed session with a mother and daughter book club in Florida, chatting with 9–11-year-olds who’d just finished The Secret Lake. We talked about their favourite books, how I get story ideas, and how I plan characters and plots. They even had a sneak peek at Ferdinand’s upcoming cover!

Clara has apparently already gone on to buy books 2 and 3 and devoured them! I have another US session coming up later in the month which I’m equally looking forward to – like most authors, I love meeting my readers!

If you’d like to book a virtual author visit — for your home book club or school class — do get in touch. Sessions can be from 30 up to 60 minutes, and I love connecting with readers wherever they are in the world.
Contact me via my website →
View my School visits page

Garden Robin Update

Finally, a little wildlife news! Those who follow me on Instagram will know that I have a pair of friendly robins in my garden. By early 2025, both were feeding from my hand. I named them Robbie and Roberta.

Robbie first appeared on his own two years ago, and I was thrilled when I discovered that he had a ‘mate’ last November. They had a very busy nesting season, but I haven’t see Robbie since late July. The last time he visited, he sat on my hand with a distant look and not feeding. Roberta – who has that same look in the picture below taken a few weeks ago – is still visiting and still takes mealworms from my hand — though she’s far quicker and shyer than Robbie, who used to perch calmly and look me in the eye while eating.

I’m hopeful Robbie will reappear before winter sets in. I think she’s missing him!

You can see more photos and videos over on my Instagram.

That’s it for now. I hope your children or pupils enjoy Ferdinand Fox Saves the Day if you order a copy. Please do let me know. And if you can take a moment to leave a short review on Amazon, Goodreads or your preferred store it would mean a lot to me, and help other families discover these fun stories.

Happy autumn once again, if that’s your season right now! And happy reading and rhyming!

Karen