Happy 2020 everyone! Yes, it really has taken me this long to come out of hibernation from Christmas. I’m a bit like a hamster during the winter.
However, I was thrilled to discover that Nevertell has been longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2020! This award is for an outstanding first novel (oh the flattery!) by a first time author writing for young people. I can’t tell you how heartening this is and how proud it makes me to have been included.
It also uniquely honours the editor for their role, which in Nevertell’s case was the wonderful Annalie Grainger: a brilliant editor who was truly a pleasure to work with - and an author in her own right too. I think it’s great to remember just how many people are involved in bringing a book like Nevertell into the world, and the vastly important role an editor plays in that, which is impossible to overstate. Especially when working with a newbie author like me who has no idea what the ropes look like, let alone where they’re kept.
Apart from anything else, this list has sorted my reading out for the year. All of the titles look fantastic… Ideally I’d like to get through them all by the time the shortlist is announced in April, but as I’m a slow reader I’m not sure I’ll manage it. BUT! I’m going to try anyway.
Anyone joining me in my mission to read the Branford Boase longlist? Let me know what you might start with. I’m thinking I’ll begin with A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Bushby. What’s yours going to be?