CELEBRATIONS March 2025
As we enter into the third month of the year, let's see what our SCBWI members have to celebrate...
A huge congratulations to Tracy Bullock who has signed with agent Rachel Davis-Featherstone from Creative Roots Studio. Tracy is a former winner of the Slushpile Challenge and we are delighted to hear her big news. Tracy can now be found on the Creative Roots website. We look forward to seeing what comes next for you, Tracy.
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| Tracy is now an agented writer and previously won a Slushpile picture book challenge. |
Congratulations to Barbara Henderson who is celebrating the release of her new book, I Don't Do Mountains! this month. Barbara's novel, which is 'about a hillwalking expedition gone wrong', is publishing with Scottish Mountaineering Press who won Small Press of the Year (Scotland) at the Nibbies. This is their first children's book.
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| Barbara's novel publishes on 17th March and is available to pre-order. |
When talking about the novel, Barbara says: 'It's about a heroine who could not be more reluctant to venture into the Great Outdoors. As a teacher, I witness the dynamics between youngsters on a daily basis. This book combines the transition to secondary school with adventure, friendship, resilience and nature themes whilst raising issues of rewilding and wildlife crime amongst others.'
It's been a wonderful start to 2025 for Tom Lancaster with some DOUBLE good news to celebrate:
In true London bus style (and completely unrelated to my Searchlight win), I've also recently accepted an offer of representation from Georgia Tournay-Godfrey at The Bright Agency! After a long time in and out of the query trenches I'm thrilled to join such an incredible agency, and I can't wait to start working with Georgia to (hopefully) turn my stories into books at last!'
Tom Lancaster is celebrating both a competition win and an agent signing!
This is incredible news, Tom, and we wish you every success as you progress onto the next stage of your journey.
Congratulations also to Rachel Burrows whose poem, Orcadia, has published in an anthology alongside Michael Rosen and Brian Moses! Rachel has given us a sneak peek of her poem below and it's utterly beautiful. What an incredible achievement, Rachel. We hope you're very proud!
Rachel Burrows
Rachel's poem has been included in the Sky Surfing anthology alongside some poetry greats.
Rachel's poem, Orcadia.
Congratulations to our very own sub-editor, Fran Benson, who reached the longlist of the Bath Children's Novel Award with her manuscript Luna and The Sky Gods. The winners were announced this week and it was wonderful to see Fran's name on the list. Congratulations Fran!
Fran was one of the 21 writers longlisted out of 1900 submissions
And finally, congratulations to Tracy Curran and Lauren Beard. Their picture book, How Not To Share A Pizza, is publishing on April 3rd with Five Quills Press and incorporates some inventive pizza flavours alongside two comedic characters who need to learn to share. Five Quills Press revealed the cover on 9th February – National Pizza Day – alongside the announcement.
Tracy worked on this picture book text during her mentorship with All Stories.
Tracy says, 'I can't wait to introduce Otto and Ali to readers as I have had a huge amount of fun writing these characters. A big thanks to Lauren who has bought the story to life with her incredible illustrations, to the All Stories mentorship programme, my mentor Natascha Biebow, my agent Alice Williams and to Five Quills Press – it's simply a dream come true.'
How Not to Share a Pizza ties in with the early years maths and PSHE curriculum with themes of halving, sharing and friendship.
Have you got good news to share? A new book? An offer of agent representation? An award? Don't be shy! Why not send an email over to production@britishscbwi.org together with a picture and any links so we can celebrate with you.
*Header image: Ell Rose & Tita Berredo
*All other images provided by those celebrating
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Tracy Curran is the Deputy Editor of Words & Pictures and enjoys writing picture books, young fiction and lower middle-grade novels. Known as Little Cornish Writer, you can find her on Instagram, X/Twitter and Facebook.
She also enjoys reviewing children's books on her blog The Breadcrumb Forest.
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Ell Rose is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures.
Find their work at https://fourfooteleven.com
Contact them at illustrators@britishscbwi.org
Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of Words & Pictures.
Follow her on Instagram and X/Twitter or www.titaberredo.com
Contact her at: illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org.
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