Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
Leeza Hernandez
This page is for you - send your entry now!
Networking, promoting your work, or just plain meeting people who are doing the same thing - this page is for all you members of SCBWI living in the British Isles!
Download and complete this Word document and email it to
WebmasterATbritishscbwi.org, or simply email your full name, contact details,
and up to 150 words about your work.
You can also send an image (72dpi) – a logo or photograph – to accompany your write-up.
Note that your text will be edited to fit, and by sending us information, you are giving us permission to post it on the website.
Elizabeth with her muse,
'Giant's Head' at the Lost Gardens
of Heligan in Cornwall
Nonfiction writer Liz Armstrong Hall covers popular culture and the “odd corners” of history for both adult consumer and children's magazines Her articles have appeared in American History, St. Louis magazine , Pennsylvania Heritage , Cobblestone, AppleSeeds and National Geographic World (National Geographic Kids) . former English teacher, Liz helps U.S. college-bound students prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Writing Section and coaches primary and secondary school kids on writing basics.
Along with her SCBWI membership, she is a member of the Thames Valley Writers' Circle, Group for Education in Museums and the U.S.-based Authors' Guild.
Liz lives in Silchester, Hampshire with her husband, Ray, and Airedale Terriers, Abbey and Gracie. She grew up outside Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .
e-mail: : lizarmhallATmac.com
Website: www.lizarmhall.com
Thomas Bohm runs a book design, illustration and production service for teenage and educational publishers. In 2006, he self published an illustrated book for teenagers on punctuation called Punctuation..?, which is available to buy upon request. In 2007, he was very surprised to be awarded merits in both the book and editorial illustration, and card/invitation/flyer categories in the European Design Awards. Contact me to find out more and to request a portfolio.
Website: www.tbohm.info/bookdesign.html
Charlotte Anne Braden is a book lover and believes that just like with cats; the more the merrier. Great delight is taken in dandelions, glass beads, picture books, and, of course, fat cats. She is a member of SCBWI, Smart Writers Pro, PB Critiques and several on-line writing groups. Her publishing credits include articles in Holiday Crafts 4 Kids and Fandangle Magazine. Her newest endeavor is becoming the Assistant RA for SCBWI Scotland. She has lived in the US , Germany , Switzerland and Scotland , where she currently lives with her husband, bookworm daughter and four cats.
Email: cbradenATbtinternet.com
Mike Brownlow Born in Liverpool , I've written and illustrated many children's books as well as working extensively in most areas of illustration. I've worked for a wide range of publishers, including Ragged Bears, Time/Warner, OUP, Fernleigh and most recently Bloomsbury. My book Little Robots 
has been made into a stop-motion animated series, with 65 episodes having been completed so far. Shown on the BBC in Britain and Cartoon Network in the USA, Little Robots can be seen on TV all over the world. My latest book is Mickey Moonbeam, published by Bloomsbury. I live in Somerset with my wife and daughters.
e-mail: brownlowATdircon.co.uk
Website: mikebrownlow.com
Agent: Caroline Walsh at David Higham Assoc. Ltd
Agent Tel: 020 7434 5900
Agent e-mail: carolinewalshATdavidhigham.co.uk
Margaret Carey Since graduating from Liverpool College of Art I've earned a living by selling ice cream in a cinema, painting numerous pictures of teeth and sundry body parts, and arguing a lot about the meaning of "reasonable" and "best endeavours", and whether "best endeavours" is a reasonable requirement in given circumstances. I now write fiction for children and young adults and continue to draw and paint.
Email: mcareyATfastmail.fm
Margaret Carey was SCBWI BI's featured artist for Dec 2006 to Feb 2007
Paul Carney is a writer and illustrator living in Southeast London. In an earlier career as an administrative clerk for the Metropolitan Police, he was frequently in trouble for his caricatures of senior officers, which (usually to the great annoyance of the senior officers in question) were a popular feature of the canteen noticeboard. Although partially sighted (a fact which he used to exploit shamelessly to secure a front row seat at life-drawing classes whenever there was an attractive model), he is a prolific artist with a passion for natural history subjects. He is regularly to be found peering at insects down a cheap microscope or picking up dead birds in the street to make sketches and measurements. Recently he has been working on combining character and expression with anatomical realism in the course of developing animal characters for a range of comic projects.
Email: paulcarneyATonetel.com
Website: trypanocorax.livejournal.com
Paul Carney was SCBWI BI's featured artist for June to August 2007
Claira Jo Craig. Inspired by the look of anticipation on her young listener's faces, when "Claira Jo" has her writer's hat on, she makes sure each word is just as exciting as the next. CJ, to her friends, was thrilled and honoured when asked to be advisor for the Scottish region and looks forward to the great opportunities that lie ahead. Armed with exciting ideas to pitch, this Edinburgh lass will venture onward and upward as the advisor known for making Scotland's SCBWI events a must to attend.
Emaileagle95ATblueyonder.co.uk
Websitewww.clairajo.co.uk
Mark Chambers Graduated from Lincoln School of Art and Design in 2003 and have been working with the Bright Agency ever since. Have had many titles published by well known clients such as Random-House, Scholastic, Oxford University Press to name but a few. I live in Lincoln and enjoy keeping fit at the weekends' by playing Hockey. My work is made up of collage, digital 'Photoshop' and painted media and sometimes watercolour if the job requires it. I love the way textures can bring a piece of artwork alive and enhance it so I use and scan all sorts of different things in order to use them in my illustrations.
Email: markillustrationATyahoo.co.uk
Agent tel: 02087413334
Agent email: vickiATthebrightagency.com
Website: www.childrensillustrators.com/markillustration
Kate Drummond I've been illustrating full-time for around four years. Sometimes, to keep the wolves from the door, this gets intermingled with other design work. But any type of creative project keeps me happy. The things I like to do most are; draw with scritchy-scratchy ink pens, paint with watercolour and create tissue-paper collages. However, the things I find myself doing a lot of are: drawing using 'Illustrator' on my computer, colouring with 'Photoshop' and cutting and pasting between the two programmes! Most of my commissioned projects have been created for children of pre-school age. Some of my clients include: BBC CBeebies, BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and Pearson Education. What I'd love to do most are some book projects that don't involve using the computer! Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like to see more samples of my work, or have any project ideas to discuss.
Email: kateATtickled-pink.org
Website: www.tickled-pink.org
Najoud Ensaff (also known as Jude) I write educational and fictional material for the 8-12 and teenage market, when I'm not teaching, that is. Having given up my job as Head of English and Drama at Francis Holland School , to concentrate on writing, I'm happy to say I'm loving it. I've published a number of educational resources both individually and jointly authored; I'm a GCSE examiner; a member of this wonderful association SCBWI and a member of the Society of Authors . My novel One of a Kind was regionally short-listed out of 3500 entries in the Waterstones WOW factor competition , run in conjunction with Faber and Faber, and I was also short-listed for the Adventures in Fiction Apprenticeships for 2006. I entered the world of blogging last year and hope to have a website soon!
Email: ensaff_nATyahoo.co.uk
Website : http://www.judes-writing.blogspot.com
Lin-Marie Erasmus (maiden name Van Niekerk) Always interested in books, I have been making my own since I could draw (and later write)! I studied a degree in Graphic Design at Stellenbosch University and wrote my thesis on interaction of word and image in the picture book. To broaden horizons and investigate my love for making things with children, I moved from South Africa to London where I did a PGCE in Foundation Phase Education. What a combination - children and books in one package! But teaching consumes time, so I have recently given up my Year1 position to get into the picture book market. My work has been chosen for FigurFutur04, IlustrarteBologna05 and published in these catalogues. I have also done commercial design/illustration jobs, but really want to get a book published! I look forward to meeting people in the industry. Get in touch to discuss projects or to see more of my work!
Email: linmarievanniekerkATyahoo.com
Examples of my work online
V. Kathryn Evans I am mother or two (plus a hoard of furred and feathered things that seem to have moved in), wife of one, belly dancer for many. When not dancing or wading about in muddy fields (music festivals – what the summer is all about!) or filling in forms (which is mostly what farmer's wives do), I write fiction for children. Sophie Hicks at Ed Victor Ltd. is currently seeking the right home for my YA novel ‘Skin' – A darkly exciting adventure story with a delicious villain, abducted children, an heroic rescue and a brave little dog with purple ears. I'm currently working on ‘Carrot Marmalade' – set in Portsmouth during the Falklands Crisis it tells the parallel stories of the Crisis in the South Atlantic and the crisis that is the life of Rekekah House, age 13. How did she get in such a mess?
Email:
Kathy.evans1ATvirgin.net
Agent email: sophieATedvictor.com
Website: www.myspace.com/mrsbung
Email: mailto:sue.evesATmac.com
Website: www.sueeves.com
Tish Farrell Ran away to Africa in 1992 and was mind-blown into starting to write. Found
voice and story ideas by devouring Kenya’s marvellous newspapers for eight years.
Zimbabwe Publishing House published my first two books in 1995 and both won
prizes at the 1996 Zimbabwe Book Fair – which still astounds me. Also write for
Heinemann’s Junior African Writers Series and Macmillan Pacesetters, promoting
literacy in Africa. In 2005 my spoof sleuth novel Joe Sabuni P. I. 
was
translated into seven Zambian languages – another big thrill as African kids rarely
see fiction books in their mother tongue. Also write for Spider, Cricket and
Cicada magazines. My latest output is Write Your Own, a how-to-write series for
8-12 year olds covering six genres, published by Compass Point Books and Ticktock
Media. Am now struggling to take my own advice with an adventure novel set in
the 1930s Kenyan Gold Rush.
Email: tish.farrellATukonline.co.uk
Fuzz I am an illustrator living in Cambridge. My characters skip out of my head and translate into collage with the flourish of scissors and paper. I work for Childrens publishers and a variety of other illustrative sources. I love the book production process and working with others to create something beautiful and unique.
Email: fuzzATfuzzillustration.com
Website:
www.fuzzillustration.com
Louise Gardner I've been working as an illustrator for 18 years and have illustrated over eighty books for children. I live in Somerset by the Taunton and Bridgwater canal so I can watch the ducks swim by while I work! I work in both watercolour & acrylic as well as digitally
Email: louiseATloopylou.demon.co.uk
Website: www.louisegardner.com
Terie Garrison I've known I wanted to be a writer ever since I learned how to write limericks in school. I've known I wanted to write for teens ever since I read S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders as a young teenager. (That was when it was still a pretty new book, which sort of gives away my age. Oh well.) I pursued that dream with only intermittent discipline, not really hunkering down and getting serious until I was almost 40. In the meantime, I got a job as a technical writer, so at least I've been able to earn a living writing, even if it was (mostly!) non-fiction. When I moved to England from Southern California in 2000, my writing really took off. I've written six books since then, recently contracting my four-book YA series, 'The DragonSpawn Cycle' to US publisher Flux. The first book, AutumnQuest, is due out in September 2006.
Email: teriegarrison (AT) teriegarrison (dot) com
Website: www.teriegarrison.com
Staffan Gnosspelius I'm a Swedish illustrator and author.
Mostly it's children's books I write and illustrate but also other forms of narratives. My style and subject matter has been described as anything from quirky and odd to delicate and humorous. But I prefer to say that it's just the focus on the slightly more obscure sides of life. I've been based in the UK for the last eight years. I studied at Chelsea College of Art and Design, Edinburgh College of Art, Ecole Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg and I am now living in London . I am represented by Anjali Pratap at AP Watt.
Email: staffanATgnosspelius.com
Website: www.gnosspelius.com
Agent:
Anjali Pratap at AP Watt
Agent email: apratapATAPWatt.co.uk
Staffan Gnosspelius was our featured artist from November to March
Candy Gourlay
Candy Gourlay was a journalist and press photographer in her native Philippines.. To supplement her livelihood she also drew a weekly cartoon strip for a women's magazine, dubbed films with a fake American accent and attended a lot of press receptions offering free food. She married the FT's Manila correspondent and ended up in England, writing about over-the-counter drugs for Marketing Magazine and later, for the news agency IPS. When she finally succumbed to full-time motherhood, Candy avoided doing the dishes by teaching herself code and eventually became a full-fledged web designer. She returned to the Philippines in 2005, to write and present the Radio 4 documentary, Motherless Nation about the children left behind by migrant workers. The experience led to write two novels, Volcano Child and Ugly City . Ugly City won a place in SCBWI's first Undiscovered Voices anthology. She is represented by Hilary Delamere of The Agency.
Email : mumatworkATblueyonder.co.uk.
Website: www.candygourlay.com
Blog: www.notesfromtheslushpile.co.uk
Mary Harris lives in a shed at the bottom of a garden in Purton. She is trying to find her way into the illustration business by sending her work off to everybody and by making cards which she sells in Berkeley (please contact her if you like what she does, she would be thrilled). She is continually drawing and painting and would like to be paid to do this but does it anyway because she loves it. She likes reading everything, writing stories and enjoys feeding the ducks that live on the canal next to her shed, listening to thunderstorms and eating jacket potatoes.
She would describe her work as colourful and decorative, she uses watercolours, ink, wax crayons, bleach and a computer to make her work.
She would also like to mention that she won the bronze award for the UK Randolph Caldecott Prize 2008 as she has never won anything else before.
email: createdbystarAThotmail.co.uk
website: createdbystar.blogspot.com
Leeza Hernandez Born on the Isle of Wight, I graduated from Portsmouth and then, Newcastle in Art & Design. Working in newspapers and magazines as an art director led me to illustration in a most unconventional way. I currently live in the USA but spend a lot of time back and forth to the UK. A recent career change has brought me to pursue children's books as a full-time freelance illustrator/author with heightened passion and and I signed with Prospect Agency in New York in the Spring of 2008. I'm currently polishing four manuscript/dummies for submission. My spare time is spent volunteering as illustrator co-ordinator for the New Jersey chapter of SCBWI and editor/designer for the quarterly magazine Sprouts. .
Email: leezaATleezaworks.com
Website: www.leezaworks.com
Kevin Hopgood I'm an illustrator and cartoonist working from a studio in Greenwich, SE London. Leaving art school in the mid-eighties, I specialised in comic artwork, working for Marvel Comics, 2000 AD and Games Workshop. In recent years I've moved more towards the wider world of childrens illustration, working on the Horrible Histories magazine from Eaglemoss, and illustrating my first book for Usborne.
Email: kevATkevhopgood.demon.co.uk
Website: www.kevhopgood.co.uk
Hi! I’m Susan Humphreys from Wigan but now living down the road in Skelmersdale with my boyfriend and dog. I am the unpublished author of Dr Midas and the Pirates, a time travel adventure for 8-12 year olds. My book was chosen as one of the winners in the Writers and Artists’ Yearbook 100th edition novel writing competition – and I still feel giddy!
I worked as a journalist after graduating from Cardiff University and now work as a Chief Sub Editor for the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo weekly titles.
I am hoping to find a publisher (and agent) for my book and two sequels. I am also trying to get my head round web publishing so feel free to check out www.drmidas.co.uk Website: www.drmidas.co.uk
Gill James
I write children's and Young Adult fiction, and educational materials. I always dreamt about being a writer and started turning that dream into a reality in 1997, when I joined Writers' Register in 1997. I completed an MA in Writing for Children in 2000. My first work was accepted for publication in 2000. There has been a steady stream since. However, I am not yet either rich or famous, but I am content. I suddenly found I could write "funny" a couple of years ago and created the character Dieter Dummkopf. It's an asset, though I still struggle with humour. I'm working on a Young Adult trilogy, which pushes a few boundaries. It forms part of my PhD thesis. Part I is doing the rounds. I'm also a member of the Society of Authors and the National Association of Writers in Education. I supplement my earning form writing by doing school visits.
email:gill.jamesATbtinternet.com
website: www.gilljames.co.uk
Emma King-Farlow
I am a member of the Society of Authors and the National Association of Writers in Education, as well as the SCBWI. My first children's book, Uncle Alonzo's Beard, was published by Meadowside Children's Books in May 2007. Passionate about all forms of storytelling, and bedevilled by a strong theatrical streak, I founded my own tiny theatre company, Shadow Road Productions, in the same year! Current projects include a YA novel, a shorter book for 9-12 year olds and another non-fiction project for the same age-group. The proud godmother of two little girls, I enjoy spending time with young people and am presently devising some Creative Writing Workshops for Children, in advance of a number of school visits later in the year. I am very happy to be contacted to discuss any potential writing projects or author’s visits/workshops.
email ekingfarlowAThotmail.com
website:
www.emma-king-farlow.com and http://emma-king-farlow.blogspot.com
Amanda Lillywhite
My first YA novel, a gritty urban murder mystery called Butterfly Girl, gained an honorary mention in SCBWI’s Undiscovered Voices anthology competition. Click here to read a sample chapter and synopsis. I am currently writing a new YA novel called The Deep End – it will be the first in a supernatural series based around a teenage boy and a dog. I also illustrate for magazines, newspapers, brochures, posters, websites and children's educational publishing.
Email: amandaATcrazypanda.com
Websites: Crazy Panda and Butterfly Girl
Amanda Lillywhite was SCBWI BI's very first featured illustrator
Linda Sarah I am an illustrator, musician and writer who lives in London and loves creating pictures, poems, stories and songs. You can see a few more words and pictures here: www.aoiportfolios.com/artist/
lindaloughran
Email: lindaloughranATgooglemail.com
Anita Loughrey
As well as being a member of the SCBWI, I am also a member of the Society of Authors and the National Association of Writers in Education. My background is in education and I was a primary school teacher for fifteen years. After being suspended for reading Harry Potter to my class in 2002, I decided to sit down and write my own children's novel. The novel is aimed at 9-12 year olds and I am now working on the sequel. I have also written several picture books, but my children's publishing success so far has been with educational texts for primary-aged children.
Email: amloughreyATyahoo.co.uk
Web-design: http://www.sunrisewebs.info
Catherine Marche I have been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember, and I have been a freelance illustrator for three years. I can produce illustrations to your specifications for children's books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, posters, advertising, greeting cards and websites. My style is free and loose. Please contact me to discuss your projects and don't hesitate to request printed or emailed samples.
Website: http://catherinemarche.com
Layn Marlow I'm a writer and illustrator now living in Hampshire, having graduated from Southampton Institute with a first class degree in Illustration in 2002. Since then I've had great fun working on several character-led picture books for very young children with Oxford University Press, Little Tiger Press and Orchard Books. The first of these projects introduced me to children's literary agent Nancy Miles, who has represented me ever since.
My first degree was in History of Art, which let me write words about pictures. Soon afterwards, through a combination of working in libraries, living in Belgium and being a parent, I rediscovered illustration and pictures about words . Then I just fell in love with picture books! I enjoy the constant challenge of balancing words and pictures, showing and telling, and picture books provide the perfect theatre, where the relationship between these two is sometimes supportive, sometimes subversive!
Email: layn.marlowATntlworld.com
Website: www.laynmarlow.co.uk
Layn Marlow was SCBWI BI's featured artist for March to May 2007
Jon Mayhew
Having taught English in Special and High Schools for nineteen years, I have a love of children's literature. Writing has always let me escape but lately, I seem to be escaping to Victorian London, or a weird, Hammer Horror version of it. Publishers are squinting at ‘Mortlock,' my first novel as you read this! Extracts from this and my other work can be found on my website and Blog. My home seems to be populated by hundreds of children (I am assured there are only four), some teenagers, some younger, numerous animals and a very patient wife. I play in ceilidh bands (traditional music is very important to me), run marathons, walk my two Jack Russells, irritate my wife and then go and hide in a dimly lit room to write.
Email: jlmayhATglobalnet.co.uk
Website: www.jonmayhew.co.uk
Desdemona McCannon I love to look at children's drawings and listen to their games – I often feel so envious at their natural outpouring of ideas and stories. The most rewarding work I have done recently is collaborating with children making paper story environments. I work commercially too, alongside running the MA in 'Illustration for Children' at North Wales School of Art. My students continually refresh my enthusiasm with their brilliant ideas for creating child-centric work. I really enjoy the SCBWI events and love meeting authors and editors and talking shop endlessly. You can see my work at www.flickr.com and on my website www.lemonmerchant.co.uk . If you are interested in the MA course, you can contact me at the college d.mccannonATnewi.a.cuk
Diana McCannon was featured artist for June to Sept 2006
Sarah McIntyre writes and illustrates a weekly comic strip called 'Vern & Lettuce' for the DFC, a new comic magazine published by David Fickling. Before studying illustration at Camberwell art college, she illustrated a series of books about animal conservation for a small publisher in the USA. She is currently illustrating two picture books, one with David Fickling and another with Scholastic UK and is represented by agent Rosemary Canter at United Agents. Past jobs include running the House gallery in Camberwell for six years and working as ship's illustrator for the Cutty Sark tea clipper in Greenwich.
Email: jabberworksATusa.net
Website: www.jabberworks.co.uk
Blog: jabberworks.livejournal.com
Sarah McIntyre is our current featured illustrator
Lee McGovern. I am so glad to be a part of the SCBWI. I have met some really talented people and made some great friends. It is such fun for me to spend time with others who adore writing and illustrating for such a special group of people - children! I do freelance editing and create picture book texts, as well as middle-grade fiction. I am happy to be contacted to discuss writing projects for any medium. And
thank you to Candy Gourlay for providing the adjacent illustration!
email: LMcgovern AThotmail.com
Felicity Moore
I took voluntary redundancy from work almost 12 months ago, to concentrate on developing my writing and illustration. To date I have produced two dummy picture-books which are doing the rounds and I'm now working on my next two picture books. I like using watercolours and also coloured pencil. Originally I was using pen and ink with a watercolour wash but the line was too harsh and I've gone back to pencil now for the drawing. Lately, I've been experimenting with acrylics too. I often draw a VERY vague scribble of a thought down first and only start to work on the image when I'm doing the actual drawing. I find that all the freshness of line comes out with the first drawing. Hopefully 2006 will see something published, that's my aim for this year.
E-mail: felicitymooreillustrationATyahoo.co.uk
Paul Morton Originally trained as an illustrator (Liverpool Polytechnic) using watercolour, pencils and paint but I now move light around for a living. I have run Hot Frog Graphics illustration and design studio, based in Barnsley, for over 25 years, and though I have worked for many of the big names in advertising throughout the world, my abiding passion is for picture books. My favourites (at the moment) are just about anything illustrated by Charles Fuge. Eric Carle is another hero as are the Ahlbergs, the beautiful pictures created by Bee Willey, oh and I love The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban. My plum job, if I couldn't be artist in residence on the Starship Enterprise, would be to illustrate a volume of classic Nursery Rhymes. I am currently trying to get a couple of book projects published, well seen, or just accepted for reading in the first place would be nice!
E-mail: hotfroggraphicsATblueyonder.co.uk
Websites: hotfroggraphics.com ; www.hotfroggraphics.blogspot.com
Nicola Pearce
I was Featured Artist in the Spring Edition of Words & Pictures 2005. My earlier work was in theatrical publishing, particularly for pantomimes and children's shows. I have been a commercial artist for many years (posters, leaflets, adverts and greeting cards). Since getting an agent last year I've been lucky to illustrate several children's books. My style is 'amusing-cropped-wobbly-etching with bright colours and funny viewpoints!!!' My children feature in my work though I love mythical creatures, cute animals and complete fantasy fairyland madness! I often have simple graphic compositions but the details, colours and textures are especially important. You can view some of my work on my website and I can easily send more samples. Please contact myself or my agent for any projects you have in the pipeline!
E-mail: jepearceATtiscali.co.uk
Agent Tel : 01473 824083
Agent e-mail: infoATsgadesignart.com
Website: www.sgadesignart.com
Anne-Marie Perks came to children's book illustration with a degree in fine art and graphic design. Over the years she has worked as an art director, graphic designer and freelance illustrator, and has won several awards in painting exhibitions. She illustrated her first children's book, The Tortoise Who Bragged, Stokes Publishing, US, in 1999, which was followed by two more, Clever Calculator Cat (1999) and Clever Calculations and Other Cool Creatures (2000) Stokes Publishing, US. Since being in the UK, she has been included in Lines in the Sand, New Writing on War and Peace (2003) an anthology published by Frances Lincoln, and received a BA Honours degree in Illustration for Children's Publishing. Anne-Marie serves British SCBWI as the Regional Illustrator Coordinator, teaches animation and digital design part-time and is working on an MA in Children's Illustration.
Email: annemarieillusATaol.com or illustratorsATbritishscbwi.org
Anne Marie Perks was our featured illustrator from April to May 2006
Eileen Nester Ramchandran.
I have been a member of SCBWI-BI since 1998 ... joining was one of the first things I did when moving from New York to London! I am an aspiring children's book writer, with a handful of completed (but not yet published) picture books to my credit. I also write chapter books and middle-grade fiction. By training and experience, I am a magazine and newsletter editor and writer, and I am fortunate to be able to continue honing these skills through my work as editor of Words & Pictures , SCBWI-BI's quarterly newsletter. This position has also introduced me to so many wonderful and talented members. Finally, I am the mother of three young sons (Nikh, Douglas, and baby Jaison) - they provide laughter, inspiration, and more story ideas than I could ever write! Please contact me if you wish to discuss any projects. Illustration: 'Mr. Giraffe and the Butterfly' by Nikh Ramchandran © 2006
email: eileenram0708ATbtinternet.com
Leila Rasheed . I write fiction for 9 – 12 year olds and teenagers. My first novel is to be published by Usborne Fiction in Spring 2008. Getting published is easily the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me! Other exciting things that have happened to me include being caught in a bombing raid when I was a child living in Libya, being trapped in a bathroom with the LARGEST SPIDER IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE when I was a teenager visiting Malaysia, and moving to Belgium, land of chocolate, a few years ago. I love all kinds of children's books, but especially Great Adventures (like The Hobbit ), funny books (like The Phantom Tollbooth ), magical-mysterious books (like A Traveller in Time ), clever books (like The Mouse and His Child ) and books that pull me in with powerful writing (like The Owl Service ).
email: leilaanne99AThotmail.com
website: Hopefully-coming-soon.com
Keith Robson . I began my career in the art department of D.C.Thomson in Dundee , moving on to I.P.C./Fleetway magazines in London after which I became freelance and began writing and drawing for both firms. Main characters were ‘Jonah' in ‘Dandy' and ‘General Jumbo' in ‘Beano'. I still occasionally contribute to D.C.Thomson publications but in recent years have worked extensively in pre-school television. I was set designer/builder on the animation series ‘Story Store', and illustrator on ‘Singing Kettle' and ‘Squeak!' for ITV and several Gaelic series for BBC Scotland. In 2006 I illustrated the history book 'Time Tram Dundee' and enjoyed the many related school visits which prompted my decision to train as a teacher. I am presently a tutor/mentor with R.E.S.P.E.C.T. a counselling service for young people in my home town of Hartlepool . We are currently producing a comic, ‘Monkey Crew' which addresses issues that concern young teens in today's society.
email: krobson7AThotmail.co.uk
Paolo Romeo has recently moved to London after having lived for many years in South East Asia. It was in Bangkok in 2002, where he first thought of starting to write a YA novel. Since then he has been working on a fantasy story on and off for a while. Only since January 2007 he has seriously taken up writing again, and thanks to SCBWI members like Candy, Miriam, Christopher and Christine, he has since been able to carry on his project; or ‘masterpiece' as Chris calls it. He plans to finish his novel before retirement and hopes to see it published before… before it's too late!
Email: infoATpoliannor.com
Website: www.poliannor.com
Atabey Sanchez-Haiman. Since I was a child I have enjoyed drawing and making collages. I was influenced by the beautiful bright colors of my childhood in Puerto Rico and the simplicity and practicality of the designs and products of Sanrio. During a trip to Hello Kitty's homeland, Japan, I was captivated by the colors and designs of both modern and old Japanese art.
M y main medium is acrylic and I also like using different materials to create varying textures. I use wallpaper, origami paper, wrapping paper, candy wrappers and other materials, then use my computer to combine them all.
I created MUNDOATABEY.com, a place where giraffes, gorillas, sock monkeys, birds, fish, guinea pigs, elephants and robots coexist.
Website:
www.mundoatabey.com !
email:
atabeyATmundoatabey.com
Atabey Sanchez-Haiman was our featured artist for March to May 2008
Marisa Cherry Saunders . Upon first entering my degree, BA (Hons) Printmaking with Illustration, my prime interest and aspiration was to write and illustrate books. During the three years of study that ideal did not change or weaken; it grew stronger, as did my ideas, and I have now finished my first children's picture book 'The Armadillo's Tale' which I am at present submitting to publishers. I work mostly with linocuts, producing quirky and detailed images. I am available for commissions or friendly comments.
website: www.blackcherryart.co.uk
email: www.kookycherryAThotmail.co.uk
Paul Strickland. Author, illustrator, designer and paper engineer, I have produced over 40 picture and pop-up books and many associated toys and games over the last 20 years. I have been lucky to be published all over the world. Based in the UK , I spend a lot of time in the US . I particularly like to talk and work with my audience and care passionately about the importance of inspiring and empowering children through the power of picture and words. I have done talks and workshops in the UK , US and Italy , appearing at Book Festivals such as Edinburgh and Cheltenham , schools, libraries and even events on the Kid's Field at the Glastonbury Festival.
website: www.paulstrickland.co.uk
email: paulATpaulstickland.co.uk
Kati Teague I have been illustrating children's books for over 20 years and specalise in multicultural illustrations for young children. To date I have illustrated over 60 books which have been published in more than a dozen languages worldwide. It is the best job in the world - being paid to stay at home and draw pictures! Please contact me if you have a project you want to discuss or you would like to see more of my work. I would be happy to send samples
on a cd or by email.
Email: katiteagueATmacace.net
Website: www.sproggs.com
David Thorpe Writer of fiction, children's books, environmental journalism, and comics. Winner of the 2006 HarperCollins contest to find a major new children's writer with my novel Hybrids. It's for anyone aged about 10 upwards and is about all the horrible things that could happen if you keep using a computer and your ipods and mobiles too much.
"A stunningly clever novel" The Times.
"The central premise is that humans begin to bond with the pieces of technology that they use most. Like all pandemics, it creates hysteria. David Thorpe has imagined his world through and through, with its Gene Police, its Centre for Genetic Rehabilitation, and its feral, desperate kids who have hybridised and want to stay out of the clutches of the authorities. The question of what it is to be human isn't asked directly, but the whole book implicitly deals with it." Orange Prize-winning author Helen Dunmore
Email: helloATdavidthorpe.info
Website: www.davidthorpe.info ; www.myspace.com/david_thorpe
Donna Vann. I've been writing stories and plays ever since I could hold a pencil, but had my first children's book published only after I had three kids of my own. I love exploring the mystery of faraway times and places including outer space, and also enjoy creating characters who don't feel they belong. To avoid getting stuck in a rut I have written picture books, historical adventure, fantasy, plays, and non-fiction. My schools creative writing workshops are fun and a good way for me to meet my audience!
email:
writerATdonnavann.com
website: www.donnavann.com
Jennie Walters I began writing for children by contributing seven books to the 'Animal Ark' series under the name of Lucy Daniels (there are quite a few of us about!). Then came the joy of a series under my own name, Party Girls, (Hodder), and now I am in the middle of the 'Swallowcliffe Hall' trilogy (Simon and Schuster) – a series of historical novels for girls aged 10-13, based around a large country house and featuring three girls from the same family through the years 1890, 1914 and 1939. The first (House of Secrets) was published in July ; the second (Standing in the Shadows) comes out in January 2006, and the third (Shelter from the Storm) should appear in August 2006 – if I hurry up and write it! Fellow Wordpooler Amanda Lillywhite designed the website.
Website: www.swallowcliffehall.co
Iain David Welch I knew that I wanted to be a children’s book writer when my mother bought my brother and I a copy of The Mirror Stone by Michael Palin and Alan Lee. I studied Illustration at the University of the West of England and have since become an Art and Design as well as a Design and Technology teacher. Watercolour illustrations with a bit of pen and ink thrown over the top are my personal favourite thing in the world, apart from my dog Tilly, and I am addicted to the works of Quentin Blake and Alan Lee. I live in Herefordshire and am a card carrying vegetarian. I am available for working with anyone and have my own website.
Website: www.iainwelch.co.uk
Email:
iainwelchATiainwelch.co.uk
Annie West I was born in Glasgow but I have lived in Ireland since I was three. I graduated from Art School and went into film & TV design, but after about ten years I decided it wasn`t for me. I started working as a book Illustrator about 15 years ago. I have had about a dozen children`s books published, most of them with Irish Publishers but one or two in the UK and America. I have an exhibition of work annually and originals of mine hang in the homes of of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, among others! I do a lot of workshops for children and school visits, and I also coach rugby. I`m married to a Farmer and I have three kids and two goldfish.
Email:infoATanniewest.com
Agent email: sophieATedvictor.com
Website: www.anniewest.com
Directory
- Liz Armstrong Hall
- Thomas Bohm
- Charlotte Braden
- Mike Brownlow
- Margaret Carey
- Paul Carney
- Mark Chambers
- Claira Jo Craig
- Kate Drummond
- Najoud Ensaff
- Lin-Marie Erasmus
- Sue Eves
- Tish Farrell
- Fuzz
- Louise Gardner
- Terie Garrison
- Staffan Gnosspelius
- Candy Gourlay
- Mary Harris
- Leeza Hernandez
- Kevin Hopgood
- Gill James
- Emma King-Farlow
- Amanda Lillywhite
- Linda Sarah
- Anita Loughrey
- Catherine Marche
- Layn Marlow
- Jon Mayhew
- Desdemona McCannon
- Sarah McIntyre
- Lee McGovern
- Paul Morton
- Felicity Moore
- Nicola Pearce
- Anne-Marie Perks
- Eileen Ramchandran
- Leila Rasheed
- Keith Robson
- Paolo Romeo
- Atabey Sanchez-Haiman
- Marisa Cherry Saunders
- Paul Strickland
- Kati Teague
- David Thorpe
- Donna Vann
- Jennie Walters
- Iain Welch
- Annie West