@writercornish.bsky.social is a new UCLan author 😍

Thanks, Sarah. I totally agree!

😂

Me please! Thanks, Sarah

Yes please!

I recommend following Louie. She’s very funny, kind ang generous to the #KidLitUK community

Ooh, thanks! What’s the best way to reach you?

I agree, but it does seem bizarre that 14-15yos are so unrepresented in fiction - what about the 12yos who want to read a couple of years up?

Would love to chat to you about your PhD sometime!

There’s a huge shortage of 14-15yo protagonists in children’s fiction. It jumps from 12 (and sometimes 13) to 16 - and not all 12/13yos are ready for YA themes/content

Independent bookshops are doing really well - a good number have separate teen sections

Yes, this happens quite a bit!

Being asked to age up or down came up often in my research - but lots of people are out there batting for teen books so hopefully things are changing (slowly!)

Exactly - which also means authors are less likely to write them. I called my essay ‘Help, my protagonist is 14! Should I hit delete and start again?’ 😂

Each branch of Waterstones does its own thing. A few now have teen sections but others are resistant. One manager told me she wouldn’t create a teen section until more teen books were published, so it’s very chicken and egg

Me too - snerdling with We All Want Impossible Things, which I’m loving

I would love to know the answer to this! #kidlituk

I wrote an article about this very issue for my MA in Writing for Young People recently. The good news is that there are signs of change!

My big girl has come home from uni for the weekend and we have plans to watch the new Paddington, eat nice food and read our books!

It’s gorgeous!

Love your books!

Brilliant - thank you! 😊

I’ve been pruning my ‘whispers’ today!

It’s going so quickly! You were great on the Leaf 🍃 panel yesterday btw 😊

Ooh, can’t wait for this - I love the Aveline Jones stories

Neither of those are very Friday the 13th-y though, are they?!

I’m reading Gay Club by Simon James Green and listening to Geek Girl with my youngest daughter #ukkidlit

Congratulations! 🎉

Done ✔️

Writing friends 👇🏼