Emily Ilett’s debut novel, The Girl who Lost her Shadow is out now.  It is an incredible story that focuses on mental health issues and knowing when to ask for help. With themes of bravery and friendship it is an absolute must for readers 10 +.  Read my interview with Emily below.

Where did you get your inspiration from for The Girl who Lost her Shadow?

I’m trying to think backwards to remember why I was thinking about shadows in the first place. But I can’t! I find this is generally how it goes with the stories I write. They grow slowly, and almost without me noticing at first.

Around four or five years ago I wrote a short story about a girl who lost her own shadow and who gained a mountain’s shadow instead. It was a few pages long and when I’d finished it, I discovered that I hadn’t really finished it at all. The story was still growing in my mind, and The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow is what it grew into over the next few years. During this time, the question that was in my mind was: why might a shadow disappear?

I brought to this question things I care a lot about, including conservation and mental health awareness, and things I wanted to know more about – in this case, sea creatures and the underwater world. Through the research process I have discovered sea creatures I’d never dreamed of before, I’ve read about endangered species here in Scotland, I’ve learned about all kinds of different ways creatures communicate with each other and I’ve listened to a lot of beautiful whale song.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?  What has been your journey to get to publication?

I’ve always loved stories and losing myself (and finding myself) in books and when I was younger I definitely wanted to be a writer – if I got a new notebook for a birthday or Christmas I’d write firmly at the beginning: This is the story that I will finish. I never did, of course. The middle always proved a little too difficult, beginnings are so much more exciting…

After school, I did a degree in Environmental Art, and while I was doing this course I rediscovered my love of writing and began to write flash fiction pieces and playful stories folded into origami shapes. Later, I took an MLitt in Creative Writing and discovered after two weeks of trying to write grown up literature that I was at heart a children’s writer. It was an exciting discovery! I was then lucky enough to be awarded the Mhairi Hedderwick Writing for Children Award to attend a course at Moniack Mhor – a writing centre in the Highlands – which introduced me to lots of talented and inspiring children’s writers.

A couple of years later, I found out that The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow had won the Kelpies Prize 2017 and from then I entered into a whirlwind of editing. And now I’m here, my first children’s book is out in the world and I can’t quite believe it!

What was your favourite subject at school?

I enjoyed English and Art at school. In English I got to study some amazing books and poetry, including Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and I’ve always loved to draw. I like how it can be messy, fluid, gentle, wild, or slow. I still try and draw now when I have time, especially in ink, I want to get better at it. I tend to think in images (which isn’t always the best thing for a writer!) and have a huge admiration for illustrators. More surprisingly, I’m a very big fan of algebra.

What was your favourite book/books when you were a child?

When I was a child I read anything I could get my hands on but two of my favourite writers were Tamora Pierce and Robin Jarvis. In Tamora’s The Song of the Lioness series and the Circle of Magic I fell in love with all her fierce and flawed heroines, especially Alanna and Daja, enthralled by their magic and adventures. Robin Jarvis’s Deptford Mice, Wyrd Museum trilogy and Whitby Witches books introduced me to dark mysterious worlds of mythology and fate, which terrified and intrigued me in equal measure. And finally, Lyra’s stubbornness and Iorek’s loyalty made Philip Pullman’s The Northern Lights the book of my childhood and one I continue to return and reread again and again.

What are favourite current children’s books?

There are so many fantastic children’s books at the moment! My TBR pile is so tall it is forever teetering on the edge of catastrophe… Some of my recent favourite reads have been the open-hearted, moving and funny The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf; the unusual Fish Boy by Chloe Daykin; and Little Bits of Sky by S. E. Durrant, a quiet story about  two young children in care which stayed in my mind long after I finished reading it. I also want to mention The Goldfish Boy written sensitively and beautifully by Lisa Thompson, about a young boy struggling with OCD, and my current read which I am very excited about – Asha & The Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan!

Have any authors been a particular inspiration to you?

Tove Jansson has a very special place in my heart. I remember the first time I read The Summer Book, I think my eyes were all wide and my mouth hanging open the whole time. I didn’t think a book could be so quiet and beautiful and curious. I’ve since read the Moomin books and continue to be astonished by the sheer generosity of her writing. She will always be a writer I return to when I forget how much a sentence can hold and still be so simple.

I know lots of young people who have dreams of becoming a writer when they are older. Do you have any words of advice for them?

Hello young writers! I’m so excited to meet you and your stories in the future. There is a lot of helpful writing advice out there – enough to lose yourself in for days – and so what I really want to say is to be gentle with yourself. Be nice to yourself. Trust yourself, because you definitely can do it. You’re wild enough and brave enough and compassionate enough to write all the stories you want to write. I know it’s difficult to finish a story – it’s the hardest bit maybe – but keep going and you’ll get there one day. I know it.

The Girl who Lost her Shadow is out now, published by Floris Books.

https://www.florisbooks.co.uk/book/Emily-Ilett/Girl+Who+Lost+Her+Shadow/9781782506072

I am delighted to be hosting this leg of Victoria’s blog tour for The Boy with the Butterfly Mind – a wonderful and eye-opening story which encourages us all to treat each other with a little bit more understanding. Below, Victoria talks about the brilliant work done by the Scottish Book Trust. Thanks Victoria!

Happy 21st Birthday to the Scottish Book Trust!
The Scottish Book Trust turned 21 this August, and as a little ‘Happy Birthday’ message, I’m dedicating this stop of my blog tour to the brilliant work they do in supporting writers across Scotland.

 

I’d heard of them before when I worked as a teacher, but it wasn’t until I signed a two-book deal with Scottish publisher Floris Books in 2017, that I realised how much help they had on offer for writers at every stage of their career. Although I was comfortable working in a school environment as a teacher, I wasn’t quite sure how that would translate to me visiting schools as a writer. What should I talk about? How should I approach schools? What should I charge? All of these questions and more, were answered when I attended a SBT Working in Schools Industry Lab that September.
As the SBT website states, their Industry Labs are ‘twice yearly workshops to hone skills and gain new insights into the nuts, bolts and business of writing.’ One of the things that makes these Labs special, quite apart from the enthusiasm of the SBT organising team and the skills the speakers they select bring, is the fact that they’re fully funded, which means participants don’t need to cover the cost of the 2-3 full-day sessions. These valuable opportunities are therefore much more accessible to writers, many of whom are already struggling to balance their budgets. They’re also a great chance to meet other writers and learn from their experiences – writing can be a lonely business, and sharing tales of rejection or celebrating small successes over a glass of wine can make all the difference!

At the Working in Schools Lab I also found out about the SBT Live Literature database, a searchable online directory holding information on hundreds of writers, playwrights, poets, storytellers and illustrators. Those on the register are eligible to receive the full fees – currently £175 per hour plus travel expenses and accommodation – for any Live Literature-funded event they are asked to attend.
Needless to say I signed up for the Live Literature register as soon as my debut novel was published! The Live Literature programme brings reading and writing to the heart of Scotland’s communities by part-funding author events (the organiser pays the rest). Each year Live Literature supports around 1,200 author visits, reaching approximately 50,000 people across all 32 local authorities in Scotland.
As part of the wider Live Literature programme, the SBT also fully-funds a number of school residencies. I was very fortunate to be asked to work as Author in Residence at Forrester High School in Edinburgh during the 2018/2019 academic year. This residency involved working with the English department and school librarian to devise and deliver a series of workshops designed to improve the writing confidence of the participating students, and ultimately enhance their portfolio pieces for their Higher English exams. A full description of the TV pilot show pitch project we worked on can be found on my website here. It was a valuable and rewarding opportunity to work collaboratively with a school to develop their students’ creative writing, and one that would not have been available if it had not been for SBT funding.

This year I also gained a funded place on the SBT’s Marketing Industry Lab, where participants got the chance to look in-depth at topics such as websites and copywriting, blogging and vlogging, pitching, and PR. These workshops are brilliant for building confidence, and for giving writers access to the knowledge of industry experts – I’m sure I’m not the only one who went straight home to tweak my website, update my SEOs and change my approach to pitching for events!
As well as benefitting from workshops and residencies, I’ve also spoken at a number of Live Literature events over the past eighteen months, including the West End, Wigtown and Birnam Book Festivals, the Glasgow Big Book Show, and at a number of schools who received SBT funding. With Live Literature funding, Brechin High in Angus was able to ask me to be their Patron of Reading this year, and I’ve immensely enjoyed the opportunity to run creative writing workshops at Brechin High and other schools with the SBT’s support. Without the SBT providing direct support for events such as these, schools and event organisers would struggle to cover speakers’ fees. Not only would this directly impact authors themselves, but also result in thousands of children and many community groups missing out on important opportunities to connect directly with writers, and be to inspired to read, and perhaps even write themselves.
Over the last couple of years I’ve met many writers in Scotland who have benefitted from the Scottish Book Trust’s support, from New Writers’ Award winners who have gone on to have books published, workshop attendees who have gained valuable knowledge to further their writing careers, to Next Chapter Award winners and a whole host of Live Literature-listed story-tellers! Despite our different experiences of the writing world, the one thing that unites us is the encouragement and assistance we’ve received from the Scottish Book Trust, and I’m sure they will all join me in wishing this fantastic charity a very Happy 21st Birthday, and many more successful years to come.

The first thing to say about The True Colours of Coral Glen, is who could resist a cover that gorgeous? It draws you in with its beauty and the next thing you are walking out of the bookshop with it under your arm. A quick nod to Jamie Gregory for the fabulous cover illustration.

I love the premise of this story. The central character, Coral,  sees the world through a rainbow of colours and can see things in a way that others can’t. Thus we are treated to some wonderful descriptions of things based on their colour as Coral sees them. A hat that is Plum Fandango, traffic lights that are always Ruby Starlet and tears that are Sparkle Festival.

At the start of the story Coral is struggling to deal with the death of her grandma. She blames herself and cannot find a way to deal with her grief. She then meets a strange boy at the graveyard who promises to help her say a final goodbye to her grandma if Coral promises that she will help him in return. What follows is a macabre tale involving ghosts, witches and a pretty terrifying dark entity called Muckle Red.

However it is not all scary stuff and there are plenty of lighthearted moments. I particularly loved Skaw the worm who I read in Begby from Trainspotting’s voice the whole way through.

The True Colours of Coral Glen is a marvellous and original story with more than a hint of darkness, which kids will love. Add it to your to be read list, you will not be disappointed!

If you have read Sophie Anderson’s debut novel, The House with Chicken Legs, you will already know what an incredible and utterly beautiful storyteller Sophie is. If you have not read The House with Chicken Legs, then where have you been? Get it, read it because it is marvellous and one of my favourites of the last year.

Which brings me to The Girl who Speaks Bear. Released on the 5th September, I was beyond excited to win a signed copy of the American proof a few weeks ago.

The Girl who Speaks Bear is another beautifully crafted book that is wrapped in Slavic folklore. It is the story of 12 year old Yanka who was discovered in a bear cave as a baby and follows her journey of self-discovery.  She feels out of place in her small village and when she wakes one morning to find her legs have become those of a bear she decides to leave and head into the Snow Forest to find out who she really is.

Yanka’s story is interspersed with traditional tales from the mysterious wanderer, Anatoly, and together they forge a truly magnificent story about family, identity, courage and belonging.

With many books that I love, I find myself reading quickly to find out what happens. With The Girl who Speaks Bear the writing is so exquisite and beautifully poetic that I wanted to savour every single word.

This is an absolute must read – a real masterpiece. It is one of the most astoundingly beautiful books I have ever read and I urge everyone to go and read it when it is released!

 

Konnie Huq’s debut children’s book is the hilarious and heartwarming story of a nine year old girl who is trying to deal with her best friend moving away, her lack of a pet and the most annoying boy in the world joining her class and moving to the house next door. Cookie is a relatable wee girl and children up and down the country will be able to identify with her struggles with friendships, jealousy and disappointment. She is a very likeable character who is not without her flaws and shows that nobody is perfect, but that’s okay!

Told from Cookie’s perspective we learn that she is dealing with all sorts of issues. Her best friend, Keziah is due to move away, she still hasn’t got the pet she wants (a small kitten in the pet shop she names Bluey) and she does not like the new boy, Jake, who she has to sit next to in class.  But there is a glimmer of hope. Her favourite quiz show, Brainbusters, wants a pair of children from their school to compete and Cookie is determined that she will get on the team.

Cookie is a fabulous gem of a story with themes of friendship, kindness and understanding and some great science ideas thrown in for good measure. Fans of Tom Gates will love the chatty format and there is plenty of challenge and ideas to keep every reader interested. Konnie Huq has pitched it perfectly and children are going to be able to empathise with Cookie and her struggles! Fantastically enjoyable read that chidlren are going to love. I certainly did.

 

Every so often a book comes along that is so intriguing and original that it simply blows you away. Callum and the Mountain is just such a novel. It is a beautiful and poetic piece of storytelling about our relationship with the spiritual and natural world with a mythical feel to it. It is told in such a way that it genuinely feels unlike anything I have read before.

Callum Maxwell lives in the small peaceful village of Skerrils in Scotland. It is a lovely wee place where not much happens. That is until the school unexpectantly explodes and Callum finds his life beginning to change forever as he meets various spirits and starts to see the world in a completely new way.  Throughout the book we see the development of the fascinating relationship between Callum and his Papa, a real connection between young and old. It always feels like we are inside Callum’s head and we live the story with him and even when I wasn’t reading it I still felt I was with him.

One of the things that I really love is how Alan McClure has included lots of Scots vocabulary, giving the characters a real authentic, believable feel. It has lots of wonderful examples of this beautiful language.

Callum and the Mountain is a beautifully crafted novel that has a magical, mysterious and almost ethereal feel to it. It is intriguing, mystifying and absolutely exquisite. It is one of the most interesting books I have read for a long time and I would absolutely recommend it!

Thanks to Alan McClure for the advance copy.

Callum and the Mountain is published by Beaten Track Publishing on 15th August.

Having read and loved Padraig Kenny’s debut novel Tin a few months ago, I was incredibly excited to read his new novel, Pog, and was not disappointed by this intriguing, heart-warming and emotional tale.

After recently losing their mum, David, Penny and their Dad decide to move to their family’s old house, situated in the heart of a somewhat mysterious forest. It is meant to be a fresh start after the death of their mum and an opportunity for the three of them to try and move on, but with each of them still trying to deal with their grief in their own way, relationships remain strained.

On top of this, the children begin to hear noises in the attic. On further investigation they discover a strange but friendly creature called Pog, who we discover is dealing with bereavement of his own and coping with an overwhelming sense of loneliness . As more creatures start to emerge from the forest and out from ‘The Necessary’ (a mysterious door leading to another realm), we quickly find that not all these creatures are as friendly as Pog and have some far more sinister intentions.

Pog is a brilliantly entertaining story of other-worldly beings that live side by side with humans, normally unheard and undiscovered. The fantastically rich and diverse characters make this a compelling and enjoyable read. However, at its heart, Pog is a story of a family coming to terms with the death of a loved one, dealing with their individual grief in their own ways and coming together again as a family. It is a warm, exciting and overwhelmingly uplifting and positive book that I absolutely loved.

Provided for review by Books for Topics and originally published here:
https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/review-pog

Abi Elphinstone is the most exquisite storyteller I have ever come across.
My first introduction to Abi was the wonderfully enchanting Sky Song that I read last year. It was such a glorious adventure that I knew I would need to read everything that Abi went on to write.
When one of my favourite days of the year approached and the World Book Day offerings were announced I was delighted to see Abi and Everdark in there with some other outstanding authors . An introduction to The Unmapped Chronicles, Everdark is a gripping adventure which sets the scene for what is to come.
Rumblestar, therefore, was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and, I have to say, it was even better than I could have possibly hoped for.
Rumblestar is the story of two unlikely heroes – Casper Tock, an eleven year old boy whose life is dictated by bullies and his own need for rules and timetables – and Utterly Thankless, whose defient persona hides a troubled wee girl at heart.
The two embark on the most fantastical adventure through Rumblestar in an effort to defeat the evil harpy, Morg.
Abi Elphinstone has a sensational and awe-inspiring way of telling stories. She has created a world that is believable in its vulnerabilty, honesty and susceptibility to evil and I didn’t want to leave. I was a more than a little gutted when it was over.
At the heart of the story are two slightly awkward and insecure characters (3 if you include Arlo, the tiny smoke breathing dragon).
Watching their characters develop and the friendships grow is really what this story is about. But it is wrapped up in the most amazing magical adventure – a glorious world that you never want to leave.
As a teacher, I can’t help to think about the possibilities for learning and inspiration contained within this book.
Rumblestar is possibly the most magnificent and wonderful story I have ever read. Full of adventure, excitement and all sorts of twists and turns, it is an absolutely breath-taking work of brilliance. Loved it!

Ps. READ EVERDARK FIRST!

I love reading and sharing books written in Scots and I believe it is vitally important that we continue to preserve, promote and enjoy the Scots language. It is such an expressive and beautiful language with a wonderfully rich vocabulary and it so enjoyable to read, speak and listen to.

There are lots and lots of brilliant Scots translations of children’s books which I love and have written about before. From David Walliams to JK Rowling to Julia Donaldson there is definitely a growing bank of children’s books in Scots, which shows the demand and interest is there.

However, what I have noticed is a distinct shortage of original children’s books written in Scots and some of the brilliant original books that are out there are out of print. (Some of Susan Rennie’s original  books spring to mind)

Within schools, early years settings and homes, we are crying out for some more original children’s  books in Scots whether that be picture books, short stories, novels, graphic novels or comics.

We need every child to have access to books that reflect the way they speak and use the vocabulary that they use to allow them to engage with and develop a love of books and reading from an early age. We need children to see that their culture and language are valued.

Which brings me on to the beautiful and fabulous Nib Nebs, an original, enchanting story about Jack Frost written in Scots, by Susi Briggs. It is an excellent rhyming story which conjures up images of winter, snow and cosying up with family . The language is so descriptive and the illustrations are utterly exquisite, providing lots of scope for discussion and reenactment. I particularly loved the opportunities to join in with actions – ‘strinkle, strinkle, strinkle’ -making it an ideal book to read with young children. There is also a helpful glossary at the back.

Nip Nebs is a brilliant wee book. It flows beautifully with wonderfully rich vocabulary and is perfectly illustrated. Let’s have more like it!

I picked up Boot from the host of books on the shop shelf because I could not resist the bright inviting cover with the delightfully cheery little robot dancing along the street with a broken umbrella.  I do love a robot story and Boot is up there with the best.  This enchanting story of the little lost robot trying to make his way home is full of charm, adventure and humour and the brilliant illustrations top it off, making it an excellent and endearing story.

Boot is the tale of a little robot who wakes up in a scrapyard with only two-and-a-half memories. He is not sure where he is or why he is there but in his limited memory he knows that he belonged to a girl called Beth and that he must find his way back to her and back to his home, wherever that may be.

On his adventure he meets those who want to do him harm as well as a wonderful array of friends, all with their own personalities, strengths and quirks.  Boot soon comes to realise that he and his friends are not like other robots who blindly follow instructions. Somehow, they have developed the ability to feel emotion. I absolutely willed the group to succeed on their quest to find Beth and find their happy ending.  There are some real philosophical questions at the heart of Boot about the nature of home, family and friendship and about the development of Artificial Intelligence.

I absolutely loved Boot. It is a glorious story about friendship and belonging and I really adored the loveable central character who is perfectly depicted in the brilliant drawings.  I was genuinely upset to come to the end of the book, but overjoyed to discover that there are 2 more adventures coming in 2020!