Hodder author Jamie Buxton has been short-listed for his title I Am the Blade (editor Beverley Birch) in the Branford Boase Award.
The Branford Boase Award was set up to encourage new writers and is given each year to the most promising work of fiction for children by a first time novelist. The judging panel has had an uncanny ability to pick future best-selling and critically acclaimed authors. Previous shortlisted and winning writers include Marcus Sedgwick, Meg Rosoff, Philip Reeve, Cathy Cassidy, Kevin Brooks, William Nicholson, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Mal Peet and Bali Rai.
Julia Eccleshare (judging panel) says: “This year’s varied and impressive shortlist is a very positive statement about the strength and health of children’s books. Everyone is looking for creative new authors and it good to see them being spotted by both the major houses and the small and independent publishers”.
Congratulations to Jamie Buxton and Beverley Birch!