I grew up in Devon, France and West Sussex. I studied English Literature at university and have taught in secondary schools for 23 years, including 15 years at an inner-city London comprehensive.

Although this story was written using words and expressions from multicultural London, I found it an easy to follow read. I was rooting for Donny from the off, and the unwavering love he had for his mother despite the crappy life she gave him, was heart warming. Sara Collins The Confessions of Frannie Langton , (2016 shortlist) winner of the 2019 Costa First Novel Award, was published by HarperCollins and translated into more than fourteen languages, optioned for television, filming now. Emma Hughes No Such Thing as Perfect (shortlisted 2019) was published by Century in 2021, and her second novel It’s Complicated will be coming out in 2023. We’re celebrating Pride Month here at The Book Network! Why do you think it’s important to support LGBT+ writers?I have appeared at the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, Chichester Festival and the Petworth Literary Week, and I am a frequent guest on BBC Radio London. I give regular talks for schools, libraries and colleges (including World Book Day), as well as prisons. After all, what could possibly go wrong? All Donny has to do is lie low at the park until Zoe’s return. But, lost in France and arrested as an The message I took away from the novel was that despite all the inequalities of this world there is always hope for justice. Sometimes you just have to be the one to stand up and make a change. Donny’s unwavering love for his mother despite all the time they spend apart touches your heart. His devotion to her through the years of his childhood never falters, even leading him to feel guilt when enjoying the cooking of his foster mother. His belief in his mother through everything is one of the really powerful messages in this book and kept me rooting for him. Catherine Chanter (2013 winner) The Well was translated into twelve languages. Published in UK by Canongate Books. The novel is now being adapted as a film for direct MGM and Hello Sunshine.

And then these incidental characters like in Gloves Off by Louisa Reid , about a girl who takes up boxing. She develops a romantic relationship with a fellow boxer. It’s not essential to the plot, and I think that’s just as important. There’s a big mixed bag at the moment and I think I’ve seen the effect on teenagers is absolutely superb. I went to a How to Get Published day at Writers and Artists, and Alysoun Owen , their editor, I chatted to her for 5 minutes and she said “Why don’t you write a blog about this?” So I started a blog a few years ago with them, looking at my journey to publication. And of course The Good Literary Agency helped. They are crusaders for diversity and representation in fiction so they’ve definitely helped being supportive of everything from me being a lesbian writer, to my themes of underrepresented teenagers. A fast-paced, tender and unflinching depiction of teenage friendship and resilience against the odds.

The talk prompted several questions from the floor about coping in the classroom and what her future plans were. She stressed the importance of giving unconditional positive regard and praise, and, on occasion, giving students some breakfast! The book has been taken up by the Juventus charity which works with young people. Nicola also works with the Outward Bound programme. A second novel is in the pipeline. Garrard, who works with the charity Minority Matters, said: “In 2014 I read a news article about the suffering of separated child refugees in Calais, just 21 miles from our coast. I filled my small campervan with donations and clothing and took these essentials to Calais a number of times, volunteering with a grassroots French refugee charity. I’m writing a new novel for teenagers, it’s set in a rundown seaside town with three brothers who are left to fend for themselves.