Sunday 7 November 2021

#ukteenchat

I've had some fantastic guests on #ukteenchat in 2021, I've already got more fabulous guests lined up for 2022.

For the rest of 2021 I have the following guests coming up on the chat...


Mon 8th Nov 8-9pm GMT - Lucy Hope

Tues 16th Nov 8-9pm GMT - Ruth Estevez

Tues 23rd Nov 8-9pm GMT - Kate Poels 

Tues 30th Nov 8-9pm GMT - Alexandra Page

Tues 7th Dec 8-9pm GMT - Emma Bradley


#ukteenchat is a Twitter based chat by following the hashtag to see all tweets related to the chat. It is usually Tuesday evenings 8-9pm UK time. All are welcome to come and join in or just watch 😀

Saturday 6 November 2021

BookBrunch

On Tuesday 2nd November, I was lucky to have Autumn Moonbeam announced in an article with BookBrunch. You can find that at the following link:

UCLan Publishing launches chapter book list with Autumn Moonbeam







Monday 1 November 2021

The Bookseller

Really excited to see that The Bookseller have featured my deal with UCLan and Heidi Cannon as Autumn's illustrator today.

You can see my big cheesy grin at the following link...

The Bookseller : UCLan signs Finlayson-Palmer's debut series for new illustrated list

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebookseller/status/1455145093464305671?s=20



Sunday 31 October 2021

Autum Moonbeam Illustrator Reveal!



I am so excited to finally be able to share that the fabulous illustrator,  Heidi Cannon, is illustrating my chapter book series, Autumn Moonbeam. 

The first in the series, Autumn Moonbeam: Dance Magic, will be released by UCLan publishing in July 2022. The second book, Autumn Moonbeam: Spooky Sleepover, is scheduled for release in time for Halloween, in October 2022.

Autumn Moonbeam loves gymnastics and dance so when Sparkledale Dance Academy have tryouts for their competitive dance team, Black Cats, she thinks it’s the most broom-tastic opportunity ever! Just one problem, Autumn is nervous and worries she won’t make it onto the team. And then she discovers that her nasty neighbour Severina Bloodworth, who is always throwing unpleasant comments her way, is trying out too. But with her best friend Batty by her side can Autumn overcome her shyness, lack of confidence and magical mishaps to be chosen to join Sparkledale Dance Academy?

Set in a magical world of witches for readers aged 5 – 8, the Autumn Moonbeam series will be enchanting fun and full of heart, with themes of growing into yourself, following your dreams and making friends.

You can see more of Heidi's fantastic art on her website here: https://heidioliviaillustration.com/



Friday 29 October 2021

Illustrator Reveal on Halloween

I'm really excited that my debut chapter book for 5-8 year olds will be cartwheeling into the world next year. Autumn Moonbeam: Dance Magic will be published by UCLan in July 2022.

As a Halloween treat I'll be posting an illustrator reveal on Sunday morning after 10am, so watch this space 🎃🤸‍♀️👻



Thursday 28 October 2021

Witch by Finbar Hawkins

 



I was really excited to be taking part in an Instagram tour for the release of Witch by Finbar Hawkins in paperback, with cover art by Edward Bettison 🙂
Witch is an Autumnal adventure that looks at a historical Britain with a new twist, bringing the world to life through the depth of characters, plot and landscape.
The main character, Evey, has a strong voice that is captured in an almost lyrical and evocative manner, a spell in itself. She is full of self-loathing and on a mission for revenge.
Witch takes you on a journey through traditional folk horror tropes, alongside patriarchal persecutors with a strong heroine in Evey, seeking revenge for the oppression of women but also a story of redemption and self-discovery.
It’s an exciting read, thrilling and atmospheric, and I highly recommend it.


Do check out the other posts each day over on Instagram...




Tuesday 23 February 2021

#WriteMentor 2021

 

#WriteMentor 2021

 

I’m really excited that I will be mentoring again this summer with the #WriteMentor programme. Here’s a little bit about me and what sort of submissions I’d like to see this year…

I am represented by Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates. My writing is featured in many different magazines, anthologies and online, and my chapter book for 5-8 year olds, Autumn Moonbeam: Dance Magic, will be released in the summer of 2022 from UCLan publishing.

I won the Urban Retreats six month novel writing course scholarship in 2018, ‘Off the Page’ co-writing competition with Carolyn Ward and judged by Hodder & Stoughton, honourable mentions and placing in other competitions including being a Mslexia Children's Novel Award longlistee in 2019 for an upper MG Coming of Age Thriller.

Living in Wolverhampton, gives me the perfect mix of rural and urban landscapes to influence my writing. I live with my husband, stepson, three boys, one daughter, two mischievous kitties and the youngest family members, Matilda, Mavis, and Malcolm, our chickens. My background is in Fine Art, and later working with children in variety of jobs. Now I’m also an editor and mentor and one half of Word Witches with Carolyn Ward, and I am creator and host of a writerly chat on Twitter called #ukteenchat.

I write picture books, chapter books and Middle Grade novels for ages 5-8 and 8-12, and Teen and YA. I’m also a writer of flash fiction and short stories, with some of these winning competitions or being published. I’ve written contemporary novels, Fantasy, Humour and Thriller, with a strong focus on friendship and family relationships, usually, though not exclusively, with strong female main characters who are neurodivergent, working class and LGBTQ+.

I’m keen to mentor a writer of either a chapter book or Middle Grade story. The genres I’d like to see are quite a broad range: Contemporary, Humour, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror especially Folk Horror, or Fantasy. It could be laugh out loud or making my hair stand on end, I’m happy to see all sorts of stories.

Some of my favourite books are: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (anything he’s written really!); The Truth Pixie by Matt Haig (again, all of Matt’s books); the Amelia Fang series by Laura Ellen Anderson; Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison; Instructions for a Second-Hand Heart by Tamsyn Murray; Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence; Ready, Player, One by Ernest Cline; Dear Charlie by N.D. Gomes; Noah Can’t Even by Simon James Green; To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han; The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy; The Pug Who Wanted to be a Unicorn by Bella Swift; The Other Alice by Michelle Harrison; The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson; The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder by Sarah J. Harris; Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell; Vampirates by Justin Somper; All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven; The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew; the Lottie Luna series by Vivian French; Small Spaces by Katherine Arden; The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness, to name but a few 😊

I absolutely love being a mentor and having the opportunity to work with the writers and support them and offer advice and encouragement. I am currently a mentor with the #WriteMentor Spark programme, and independently as an Editor and Mentor. I was a mentor for the first #WriteMentor summer mentoring programme in 2018, which I absolutely loved and had the opportunity to work with fantastic writers that year and each year since. It's lovely that we are all still in touch and support each other’s writing journey, and I’m looking to do the same this year.

My main reason for being part of this #WriteMentor programme is that I love being with other writers and the fantastic kidlit writing community. I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have had support via mentoring and from amazing writing groups and individuals and want to share that passion for words and the support and encouragement, with lots of positivity (think Joy from Inside Out) and gifs along the way! I’d love to work with someone who is keen to learn and share their writing with me and have fun along the way.  

There will be Q&As ahead of the application window to ask me questions, but do feel free to send me a message on Twitter if you have anything you’d like to ask.

So do apply to me if you feel we would be a good fit.😊

For further updates please follow me on Twitter @FinlaysonPalmer

Friday 12 February 2021

UCLan Publishing

Party popperI am absolutely thrilled to announce that I have signed with the fabulous Hazel Holmes at UCLan publishing and Bounce marketing. They will be bringing my chapter book for 5-8 year olds into the world in 2022 🙌 🎉🍾🥂

https://uclanpublishing.com/



I also have a shiny new page on my agency's website:

https://www.davidhigham.co.uk/authors-dh/emma-finlayson-palmer/
Party popper

Looking forward to being able to reveal my chapter book's title next week!






📚📖📚

Tuesday 2 February 2021

#ukteenchat 2021

 A new year and another diary full of fabulous guests for #ukteenchat.

2021 kicked off with Cynthia Murphy discussing her debut Horror Thriller, Last One to Die 💀

Next up was Chris Moore discussing his new release, Gut Feelings, a story told in Verse that deals with chronic illness.

Rachel Burge discussed her sequel to the Twisted Tree, a creepy and atmospheric follow up, The Crooked Mask 👹

The first of the February chats is with Sophie Cleverly, who will be discussing her brand new series, The Violet Veil Mysteries. This will be at the earlier time of 7pm GMT on Tuesday 2nd Feb.

Tuesday 9th February 8-9pm GMT will be with Andy Robb, author of Smashed.

Tuesday 16th February 8-9pm GMT with KL Kettle, author of The Boy I Am.

Tuesday 2nd March 8-9pm GMT with Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear 🐻

Tuesday 16th March 8-9m GMT with Tamsin Mori, author of The Weather Weaver 🌈🌧

All chats take place by following the #ukteenchat hashtag over on Twitter. All welcome to come and join us 😊

Plenty more exciting chats to come this year!