(See update at the bottom. If you’re here because you want to know about my new crime series, starring HM The Queen, check it out at www.sjbennettbooks.com.) Just over a year ago, after the launch of The Bigger Picture and a wonderful panel event at the Oxford Literary Festival, I
World Book Day 2020
I love World Book Day – or World Book Week, as we children’s authors tend to think of it, as we’re booked up back-to-back for days by schools. This year I was asked to contribute to a blog about inspirational books by Champneys (the spa people). You can find all
Prepublished
The podcast is finally ready to share! I’ve been making this over the last six months with my brother, Christopher, who’s been a brilliant cheerleader, sounding board, tech guy and producer. It’s given me the chance to talk to friends in the industry about what it takes to get your
Patron of Reading
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m the new Patron of Reading at Weald of Kent Grammar School. I’ll be working with the students over the next few terms to encourage their writing (they already have so many ideas for what they want to do) and celebrate the love of reading
Winning Like a Girl
The first six months of this year have mostly been about getting well (Did you know one in seven women will get breast cancer? I was incredibly lucky mine was found very quickly), getting my husband well (long story – but basically the NHS has saved both our lives recently)
Find me on ABBA
Yes, when I was 12 I was addicted to ABBA’s ‘Arrival’, which I played on repeat, and I nearly won a talent competition with my routine to Dancing Queen. But in this case, ABBA stands for An Awfully Big Blog Adventure, and it’s where I blog once a month about
Launching Venus
Launching Unveiling Venus at Village Books in Dulwich. A special evening, packed with old friends, some of whom I’ve known since school.
It’s an honour
Don’t expect an author to be free for tea in February or early March. This is one of our busiest seasons. World Book Day is on Thursday 1 March this year, and children’s authors will be visiting schools that day and both weeks either side of it. On the day
Unveiling Venus
1857 is about to become 1858. Mary Adams has become Persephone Lavelle, the darling of the Pre-Raphaelite art world, but she is barred from seeing the one man she truly loves. She’s tired of London and longs for a new adventure. So when her rich friend Kitty invites her to
Festival summer
Summertime, in the book world, means getting out there, going to a vast convention centre or a muddy field, and meeting people. Right now, as soon as I’ve finished the copy edit for Unveiling Venus, I’m off to the Edinburgh Festival to take part in and chair a couple of