Emma Finlayson-Palmer

Thursday, 15 February 2024

Illustrations

A few of my favourite creepy illustrations from last year...

Saturday, 6 January 2024

Writing Chapter Books - February Online Course

I have really enjoyed running my previous two WRITING CHAPTER BOOKS courses, so I will be running another from Monday 5th February.

I'm the author of the Autumn Moonbeam chapter book series, and the younger reader book - Mega Merle and the Mega Mystery. I have been editing and mentoring other writers for the best part of a decade now, and love being able to share things I've learnt about writing for children and the children's writing industry.

I have a special love of writing younger fiction, and I'm really excited to share that passion for fun fiction with other writers.

The Writing Chapter Books course will be Slack based to make is more accessible and flexible for people to attend when it's convenient to them. Including the weekly live session, where people can join in during that hour or throughout the week or beyond, when it best fits your routine and day to day life.

There will be weekly handouts, plenty of writing exercises, inspiration and weekly discussions that you can join in or add to in your own time. The handouts and the Slack group will remain open after the six weeks for those on the course to access.

Cosmic Illustrated by Heidi Cannon

A few testimonials from writers on the previous courses:

Writing Chapter Books with Emma Finlayson-Palmer is brilliant. After 6 weeks, I have a clearer understanding of this niche area of children's publishing and a solid story idea to build on. The course is well structured to help participants generate compelling characters, playful plots and wonderful worlds to weave them altogether in. The exercises in the live workshops are helpful and Emma is generous with her time and knowledge, answering our many questions and providing supportive resources. I'm thankful to Emma and the other writers - it's a fantastic course and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone curious about creating chapter books.

- Tracy Bullock

I really enjoyed this accessible and informative course that Emma provided. The information was superior and I felt that I learnt everything I needed to know about chapter books.

- Angel Dike

Wonderful children’s writing course. An abundance of material and interaction. Thank you so much Emma, I’ve been plotting & writing daily.

- Sharon Hynes

This course was fabulous. Emma gave us SO much information, which was super helpful. Emma was also extremely quick to reply to any questions, which really helped (even outside of the course times). I liked the way the days of the course varied from week to week. I really can't recommend Emma and this course highly enough.

- Tara Potter

If you're interested in learning how to write a Chapter Book (aimed at ages 5-8) do send me a message so I can send you more information ✍

Monday, 1 January 2024

Seasons of Mist and Writing Fruitfulness

Seasons of Mist and Writing Fruitfulness

Today is Monday the first of January 2024 – It’s always odd writing the date for the first time in a new year. I dare say I’ll spend the coming weeks still writing 23 rather than 24, in much the same way I spend the weeks after the clocks going forward or backwards by an hour saying: “It would have been… INSERT TIME HERE.”

When the clocks last went forward, October 2023, it marked the change from Autumn to Winter in many ways, but also plunged the days into further darkness. I try to see the shorter daylight hours as cosy times to snuggle up at home of an evening – but in reality, I struggle to adjust and hate waking in darkness and my children coming home from school when night has already arrived.

But, as we are now past the Winter Solstice, and the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight hours, it feels as though I am slowly tiptoeing my way back to lighter days, and the happiness I feel as Spring approaches.

Spring is my favourite time of year – I love the crisp, fresh days, when it’s still chilly but the sun is bright and bringing a little more warmth – birds are busy building nests, buds are bursting, and new life is blooming all around.

I love nature, and I always try to bring it into my writing. Whilst the seasons will always come and go, and with them all manner of changes, there is always beauty and inspiration to be found in the world around us. So, even on the darkest of days, both in terms of day versus night, or the darkness of what life has in store, I will look to nature, and spend time outside letting it inspire and heal me, and for it to recharge my creative battery.

I’ll leave this post with a link to a poem I have loved since my teens and one that inspired the title of my post – a poem that feels fitting given the subject matter and themes explored – Ode to Autumn by John Keats, I hope you enjoy it either in reading or listening to the audio available at the link, and find peace and inspiration in the beauty of nature around you.

To Autumn by John Keats | Poetry Foundation

Tuesday, 19 December 2023

Tangled Tales from Maverick

I was very lucky to receive copies of a new series of younger readers books from Maverick recently - Tangles Tales. A series with three different books, but with six different stories inside with an ingenious flip the book over for story two in each.

Undercover Overload, and Meddling Underling

written by Lou Treleaven - illustrated by Mario Gushiken

Movies, Magic, Maybe! and Bites, Camera, Action!

Written by Jenny Moore - illustrated by Sarah Horne

The Spectre Inspectors, and The Poltergeist's Problem

Written by W.G. White - Illustrated by Nicolas Rix

All six stories are such a joy to read, with gorgeous accompanying illustrations in each. This is a brilliant new series from Maverick Publishing, aimed at younger readers and are sure to hook in even the more reluctant readers with their punchy, but great fun stories, vibrant characters and perfectly matched illustrations that really pull you into the world.

Thank you to Maverick for sharing the early copies with me, these gorgeous new reads will be available from the 28th January 2024.

Loved this new series from @Maverick Books 🤩📚 #TangledTales #kidlit... | TikTok

Monday, 13 November 2023

Review of The Undying of Obedience Wellrest by Nicholas Bowling

Chicken House Books - The Undying of Obedience Wellrest

I’m a fan of Micaela Alcaino’s covers, and her design for The Undying of Obedience Wellrest really sets the tone and genre for the story within.

I must admit that this is the first book of Nicholas Bowling’s that I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last!

From the first line I was absolutely hooked - ‘For my fifteenth birthday my Pa left me dig my own grave.’

Mosca is a scene stealer whenever he’s around, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a pet fly in a book before. And who wouldn’t want a ‘fly on the wall’ to keep an eye on things.

The writing has an almost lyrical, melodic quality to it, with a twisty and intriguing plot to go with it. Set in 1832 it really gives a window into the lives and limitations placed upon some people during this time, and some of the prejudices they would face.

It’s a dual narrative with Ned, a gravekeeper in training starting the story, and Obedience Wellrest (Bede) a young woman interested in science, but suppressed thanks to the patriarchy of the society in which she lives.

With Ned’s Pa growing increasingly frail, he has to take on more responsibility, and with graverobbers about this is no easy talk. Whilst Bede is desperate to make her mark in life and use her intellect for science, her father is determined to marry her off to Phineas Mordaunt, a charming man that is not quite what he seems.

There are some lovely scenes between all of the characters, I do think that Bede really steals the show. She is a fabulously complex and intelligent character with great wit, and I found myself desperate for her to succeed, especially as she is taken to greater and greater depths of despair.

The Undying of Obedience Wellrest is a gothic tale with echoes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’s Monster, and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, but for a YA audience. At times there are some quite uncomfortable scenes as the macabre mystery unfolds - it’s a thrilling tale that will keep you on your toes and bringing surprises right up until the end.

Thank you to Chicken House for the review copy of The Undying of Obedience Wellrest, and make sure to check out the rest of the tour this week, details of which can be found below.

You can also join me on Twitter on Wednesday 13^th December for #ukteenchat at 8pm GMT, when I’ll be chatting with Nicholas all about The Undying of Obedience Wellrest.

Emma Finlayson-Palmer 🏳️‍🌈 She/Her (@FinlaysonPalmer) / X (twitter.com)

Saturday, 12 August 2023

Writing Chapter Books - September Course

After the success of the previous course, I shall be running my WRITING CHAPTER BOOKS course again starting Monday 11th September.

I'm the author of the Autumn Moonbeam series, and I'm going to be running a 6-week online Writing Chapter Books course.

The course will be mainly Slack based to make is more accessible and flexible for people to attend when it's convenient to them. There will be weekly handouts, lots of writing exercises, inspiration and weekly discussions that you can join in or add to in your own time if you can't make it live.