🎉🎉 PUBLICATION DAY!! 🎉🎉
Its finally here. THE SHELL KEEPERS is now available to buy online and in shops (buying links in bio!)
Its been a journey to get here and I'm so grateful to the many people who have championed this book and encouraged my writing.
Thanks to @bathnovelaward for recognising this story years ago. And massive thanks to my wonderful agent @laurenemmagardner for believing in this story and guiding me solidly on the way!
@chickenhousebooks , you're all super stars! Special thanks to Rachel Leyshon my editor who had brilliant in depth conversations with me about the world of the Democonch and helped me explore where the story could go. To @onesilversummer for the fab design, and to Jazz, Ruth, Esther for all your work to get this book out.
And to the brilliant @trindles_ for your perfect cover! I can't wait to see this in shops. 🐚✨️
I hope this book brings joy, helps young readers explore the magic there already is in the world around us and know what part they can play in protecting it. And I'm looking forward to the journey of helping THE SHELL KEEPERS to sail.
Thank you for your support! 🙏 ❤️🐚🎉
#childrensbooks
#kidlituk
#summerreads
#diversebooks
#conservation
#shells
#middlegradebooks
#oceanside
Congratulations to @krahimwrites on the launch of Max and Ella Stuck Together through @nosycrow 🎉
A fabulous launch event at @waterstonesealing . As Kristina said, the book is a celebration of the fact that its not just your genes that make you but your friends, family and experiences in life - all kids should get to celebrate being uniquely themselves. 💛
Lovely to catch up with brilliant 2025 debut buddies and enjoy some robust conversations about which chocolate biscuits is the best (Bourbon creams - no matter what the polls say) 😊
May Max and Ella fly!
As part of the Y-Our Story project , @trulyjwrites Truly Johnston , Children’s author , made a presentation on her book ‘The Shell Keepers’ in Acton Library on 20 April attended by students from East Acton School Year 5 & Year 6 and St Vincent School Year 3
Thank you to @ealing.libraries and especially to brilliant Shanthi for hosting me today at Acton Town Hall Library.
It was wonderful to speak to the children of East Acton Primary school and Saint Vincent's Catholic Primary School to talk about the Shell Keepers, making stories and developing good characters.
I had a first in my character development exercise - I asked the children to choose a name for a character i'd drawn and develop traits for them. I didn't realise they had chosen their teacher's name and trolled her saying she loved snakes! She drew the line at them naming her partner 🙈😂 jokers.
It felt special to be able to share how libraries had shaped me and to see the kid's huge enthusiasm for the books they love 🙌🏽📚
#GoAllIn2026
#nationalyearofreading2026
#library
The Shell Keepers has made the shortlist! 😮🎉
Thank you so much to the judges @sita.brahmachari@lanishanicole and @christine_pillainayagam . I can't imagine how hard you've had to work to narrow this list down! I'm incredibly honoured to have made this shortlist. 🙏
When I started writing The Shell Keepers I wanted to write a dual heritage protagonist to provide a story that I couldn't find when I was a kid.
Writing it helped me to connect with and explore my own experiences growing up with two cultures 🇬🇧 🇱🇰 and it is a privilege now to be able to speak to children about what shaped me and the value of what shapes them.
It's incredible to see The Shell Keepers on this list and also to be introduced to all the other fantastic voices and stories that the @jhalakprize prize so brilliantly shines a light on.
Thank you to the fab team @chickenhousebooks books ❤️🐔 and Congratulations to my fellow Children's and YA shortlistees @fidan_writes@forestxiaodraws@manjeet_k_mann@hey.chante and my @belllomaxmoreton agency fellow the brilliant @kenechiudogu 🎉📚
#jhalakprize26
#representationmatters
🦖🎉 Massive congratulations to @mayo.ao.writer and @creativedewen on the launch of Kid Rex to the Rescue!
It was a fittingly fabulous launch party for this book that's full of joy, heart and imagination. 💚
Lovely to see so many friends and happy faces there. I didn't get too many pictures, but great to catch up with @jenniferclaessen_ , @angelkdike@zeenagos and many more! And wow, the view from the @hachettechildrens building 👀
Also super representation from the @gll_literaryfoundation crew to wish this wonderful book well on its way.
I've had a fun time reading it with my toddler already this morning! 🥰🦖🦖 and I know we will read it in repeat.
Available online and in shops now- Go get it! 🏃♂️
#childrensbook
#picturebooks
#goallin
📣 I'll be at Royston Library on the 11th April at 11am.
Come and join me for a postcard writing workshop for children aged 7+ and think about how we can use our senses to tell a story. We'll have a fun time 😊🎉📚
Thanks for having me @hertfordshirelibraries
Booking link is through the QR code.
#GoAllIn2026
#readingforpleasure
#library
A wonderful afternoon yesterday celebrating the launch @gll_literaryfoundation chapter 2! 📚🎉
Thank you GLL for selecting me to be a part of this. I am so looking forward to working with the brilliant team @bromleylibraries , my fabulous fellow bromey authors, @pennychrimes , @ryanashcrawford , @abiolabello and Vanessa Taylor and the wider gll literary foundation family.
This innovative scheme was set up to promote reading, champion authors and celebrate libraries and it was lovely to hear from last years authors including @wakefordwrites . And to catch up with so many new author buddies. 🙌🏽
Great food. Great people and a lot of passion for childrens literature. What a room to be in! 😍
Oh wow! The Shell Keepers has been longlisted for the Jhalak prize! 🎉
Its amazing to be on this list with these incredible writers ❤️ thank you @jhalakprize 🙏 what an honour.
Super to see @trindles_ beautiful cover artwork for the book here, and thanks @chickenhousebooks for publishing and my lovely @litagentlauren 🐚🐚
Congratulations to all the longlistees 🎉🎂 My TBR pile has just grown again 😅
A lovely afternoon and draw along at @moonlaneink yesterday afternoon.
It was great to catch up with the wonderful @lucytc_writes and celebrate lunar New Year with her beautiful book Logan's Lantern. The book is a lovely celebration of the lantern festival at the end of Lunar New Year and a story about learning to face your fears.
The illustrations by @yaling.jade are beautiful and atmospheric and we had fun learning how to draw the charismatic little dragon! 🐉
📚Happy World Book Day! 📚
And just like that, it's come to an end.
Thank you so much to Torridon Primary School for having me today! 👏🏽👏🏽❤️
- I spoke to around 600 kids,
- delivered 4 assemblies,
- did my first sessions for KS1,
- busted out the ukelele and a special sea song I wrote,
- answered a MILLION questions and had a tonne of fun! 🎉
It was so great to see the kids dressed up and excited about their favorite characters.
It was my first time delivering sessions on WBD and I can see why it's such a buzz. It's a brilliant opportunity and so neccessary to celebrate our shared love of stories ❤️
#worldbookday
#nationalyearofreading2026
#goallin
🎉 I am very excited to share that I have been selected as a partner Author for the @gll_literaryfoundation 2026 programme!
I am so looking forward to working with the fab team @bromleylibraries and the other brilliant authors on the programme to promote reading for pleasure and help kids in the borough get inspired about books.
It's especially great to have this opportunity in the national year of reading. Thank you to @gll_literaryfoundation and here's to a year of literary fun together 📚🙌🏽🧡
#GLF26
#nationalyearofreading2026
#worldbookday
