But there’s more! If you’ve ever met me, you’ll know I often bang on about the experience of moving from London to Melbourne and how one of the best aspects of that move was discovering all the Australian literature I’d been missing out on. So to one lucky person who attends my launch I’ll be giving a fabulous prize to celebrate some of my favourite teen fiction of recent years written by British and Australian authors – my Brits Meet Aussies ideal reading pack, containing SIGNED copies of these books (plus a bunch of other gorgeous stuff that I’ll let you see in a few days):

THE BRITS

If you haven't laughed within the first ten pages, see a doctor.

Funny, heart-warming and feel-good. Best concept ever.

So page-turning you'll get RSI. Sequel on its way!

Lucy Christopher grew up in Australia but currently lives in the UK.

Whereas I grew up in the UK but currently live in Australia! Swapped, much?

THE AUSSIES

The latest story from the first author who inspired me to write a teen novel.

Finely written, schmaltz-free goodness from Simmone Howell.

A real weepy, beautifully written.

(Hmm, having some technical issues with the sizing there – rest assured that all the books I’m giving away are the usual size!)

You know what you have to do to win: BE THERE!

Owing to a considerable amount of confusion and bewilderment over my singing mice confession, I’ve uploaded some live footage of the “Let It Snow” mouse. He’s standing next to some book. Unfortunately his friend, the “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” mouse has been rushed to singing mouse hospital for Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery. He hopes to be fully recovered by Christmas Day.

UPDATE 14th December: and you can read part 2 here.

And the reason for my dancing?

See here, where fellow YA author Cat Clarke on her blog “This Counts as Writing, Right?” comes up with five reasons to read Girl, Aloud (Cat’s debut will be published by Quercus…see her blog to find out more).

and also here, where one of my writing heroes, Luisa Plaja, of the brilliant “Chicklish”, calls my book “a wonderfully-observed, realistic and moving mix of relationship drama and gentle comedy”. This is very special because Luisa is one of the reasons I started writing Girl, Aloud back in 2006. If you don’t know her work (shame on you!) do check out Split By A Kiss (very soon to be followed by Swapped By A Kiss, which I’m dying to read).

and finally here, where author, bookseller, reviewer, supremo Litopia podcaster (yep, she’s a busy woman) Eve Harvey of Vulpes Libris describes it as “a dark comedy full of bittersweet self-effacing humour” and claims I nearly made her cry (only nearly? Hmm, more work on that needed! I’ll get ya good n proper next time, Eve).

Don’t forget to enter my competition to win a copy of Girl, Aloud – open to all! Winner to be drawn on Friday 4th December. See here.



Kass Kennedy is in trouble. Her manically up-and-down dad has finally lost it – he’s entered her for The X Factor. This would be slightly less of a crisis if:

a) she could sing

b) any tiny bit of her wanted to be a star, and

c) she hadn’t lost her two best friends over a boy in brown boots.

Somehow Kass must get out of it with her sanity, friendships and family still intact.

“Addictive. Original. True.” Joanna Nadin, author of the tragically normal diaries of Rachel Riley

“Difficult issues treated with intelligence and gentle humour, and complex, lovely, real characters.” Jaclyn Moriarty, author of Feeling Sorry for Celia