In the Reading Corner

Justyn Edwards graduated from Southampton University with a degree in archaeology. Since then he has worked as a caravan park attendant, a paperboy and a software engineer, but never as an archaeologist. He has always wanted to be a writer and his inspiration for The Great Fox Illusion.

Justin magicked himself into the reading corner and talked to Nikki Gamble about his writing secrets. Of course, if you listen in, they won't be secret anymore.

About The Great Fox Illusion
Secrets and illusions abound as a group of young magicians compete for the prize of a lifetime in this gripping adventure, the first in an enthralling new series from debut author Justyn Edwards.

“Magic is about dreaming what is impossible and making it possible. It's the innocent young mind in all of us that loves it. We want to be filled with wonder. We want to believe. I want the winner of this competition and the recipient of my legacy to dare to dream big. So, let The Great Fox Hunt begin."

Thirteen-year-old Flick Lions has won a place on a new television show, in which young people compete to win the legacy of the Great Fox, one of the world's most famous magicians. But Flick isn't interested in uncovering the Great Fox's tired old magic tricks – she's after something much more important. The magician destroyed her family, and this is Flick's only chance to put things right. Inside the Fox's house is a secret that will change the world of magic forever, and Flick will go to any lengths to find it.

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Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Sharna Jackson is an arts educator and author of children's books. She garnered critical acclaim with her first novel, The High Rise Mystery, featuring Nik and Norva, a pair of black sisters, who solve crimes on an estate, the Tri Estate, in South London. This was followed by a second mystery featuring the sleuthing sisters, Mic Drop.

Sharna joined Nikki Gamble In the Reading Corner to talk about a new adventure The Good Turn, set in Luton, the town where she grew up.

About The Good Turn
Josephine Williams is a future-focused, internet-loving eleven-year-old who is desperate to explore the world beyond her cul-de-sac - and her browser. When she learns about Josephine Holloway - a woman who started the first Girl Scout Troop for Black girls in America - she's certain she must start her own.

Enlisting her friends Margot Anderson and Wesley Evans, the trio begin their quest for their Camping Badge. Drawn to an abandoned factory nearby, they stumble across something strange. A square, ancient television and two tatty armchairs.

Beside it, a wooden sideboard with an old photograph of a young, happy couple. What is this? Who, or what, lives here - and why?

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Mini Grey is one of the UK's best-loved illustrators with her witty visual and linguistic style that incorporates found objects and is characterised by playfulness and heaps of imagination. Her books work for a wide age range and are highly appreciated by adults as well as younger readers.

She is the recipient of  The Kate Greenaway Medal for The Adventures of theD ish and the Spoon.

In this interview, Mini talks to Nikki Gamble about her foray into nonfiction with a new book The Greatest Show on Earth.

About The Greatest Show on Earth
Here we are at 4.6 billion years ago, and as we raise the curtain . . . the STORY OF LIFE is about to begin! (Yes, that's right - we're telling the story of the ENTIRE history of Planet Earth). "In the running for the greatest children's picture book about Earth . ..
 
Take your seats for the ENTIRE history of Planet Earth, as we take a whistle-stop tour from the birth of Earth, to the age of bacteria, the era of dinosaurs..  to the moment of people (blink and you'll miss it). Narrated by a friendly troop of insects and with mind-blowing, lively illustrations, this illustrated non-fiction book will entertain and educate, as we put on a show, the greatest show, the show of the evolution of life on Earth.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Elizabeth Uviebinene studied Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick and then worked as a Marketing manager in the city. It was this experience that led to the writing, with co-author Yomi Adegoke, of the bestselling book, Slay in Your Lane, a life guide for young Black British Women.

In 2018 Elizabeth was the recipient of a Marie Claire Future Shaper award.

Now Elizabeth and Yomi have teamed up again with their first book in a middle-grade series, The Offline Diaries.

It’s a story about friendship and loyalty revolving around school and home. It’s told through a mix of diary entries and social media conversations.

About The Offline Diaries
Ade is about to start at a new school. She is NOT happy with her stepdad for making them move here.

Shanice has been at the school for a year already. Since her mum died, she's been living with her dad and annoying older brother, spending most of her time outside school in her dad's hair salon. When Ade and Shanice meet in the salon and spot each other's diaries, an instant friendship is formed, and they start to chat online...but offline is a whole other story! 

The Offline Diaries is a fresh, funny and contemporary story of friendship, told in the captivating voices of Ade and Shanice - two utterly unforgettable Year 8 girls who will seize the hearts and imaginations of readers everywhere.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Children's author, Nicola Davies is a zoologist by training.  She was one of the original presenters of the BBC children's wildlife programme The Really Wild Show.  she is a prolific writer of nonfiction, fiction and poetry for children with a particular interest in the natural world.

Jenni Desmond graduated with a master’s degree in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art (UK), her debut picture book Red Cat Blue Cat won the Cambridgeshire Read it Again! Award in 2012.  In 2015 Jenni was named Best Emerging Talent (Illustrator) at the Junior Design Awards (UK). In 2016, she was made a Maurice Sendak Fellow and her book The Polar Bear became a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the year.

Nicola and Jenni's first book, One World, takes the concept of taking one moment in time and looking at what is happening in nature in different parts of the world.

They joined Nikki Gamble In The Reading Corner to talk about their joint project.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Annaliese Avery is a former library manager and children's book editor who lives in Suffolk, England. She has an MA in creative writing and a lifelong interest in physics and astronomy and in 2017 she founded an astronomical society.

Her debut novel The Nightsilver Promise,  a magical fantasy adventure packed with astronomical interest and dragons was published in 2021. The second book, The Doomfire Secret was published in April 2022.

In this episode, Annaliese talks about destiny, worldbuilding and a heroine who refuses to let fate be the master of her future.

About The Nightsilver Promise 
When Paisley Fitzwilliam is summoned to receive the track of stars that will determine her future, she is filled with hope for the future. But the fate she is dealt throws everything upside down.

Then her mother goes missing and the closely guarded secret around her brother Dax is more at risk than ever before. It seems that the previous metal nightsilver might hold the key. .

. Can Paisley defy her stars and change the course of history? A breathtaking journey through the Floating Boroughs and the dark sewers of London, capital city of the Empire of Albion. A thrilling fantasy debut with immersive world-building and tons of action!

About  The Doomfire Secret
When Paisley Fitzwilliam escapes the clutches of the Dark Dragon, she has just one thing on her mind - getting her brother Dax back from the icy Northern Realms, where he was whisked away by the fierce and mysterious dragon riders, the Krigare.

It's clear that Paisley's track is unique, but with the Dark Dragon and the King's Guard now on her trail, she faces danger at every turn. To rescue her brother and keep the Heart Stone from the clutches of the Dark Dragon, Paisley must harness her power and seek new and dangerous alliances. .

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Lucy Hawking is a journalist, writer and science educator. With her father, the late Professor Stephen Hawking, she co-authored a series of books, George's Secret Key to the Universe, which introduced the science of cosmology through a blend of fiction and information.

Lucy's new series pitched at a slightly younger reader in a similar vein tackles issues of pollution and climate change through an engaging adventure story sprinkled with genuinely funny humour. In this episode, she talks about the new book, Princess Olivia Investigates: The Wrong Weather.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Jennifer has always wanted to be a writer, but really started when she applied for a Creative Writing MA at Brunel University, which is where she first got the idea for Alex Sparrow and the Really Big Stink., her debut book. Since then she has written two more books in the Alex Sparrow series, a standalone middle-grade fiction, Mo Lottie and the Junkers, and the spooky Crater Lake books.

Jennifer's new series, Dread Wood gives us horror pitched for readers of 9+. In this episode, she talks with Nikki Gamble about the mechanics of writing horror, consideration for younger readers and some of the underlying themes.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Katie Cotton studied English Literature at Oxford University before becoming an author and editor of children’s books. Her books Counting Lions and The Road Home were both published internationally and received starred reviews in the US.  Other books include
Bricks: The House a Greedy Pig Built and The Road Home.

Katie's most recent book is The Secret of Splint Hall, a historical fantasy, underpinned by a family mystery. Katie joined Nikki Gamble, In the Reading Corner to talk about the book.

About The Secret of Splint Hall

1945. War has ended, but for sisters Isobel and Flora the struggles still continue. They've lost their father and had their home destroyed in a bombing raid, and now they must go to live with their aunt and her awful husband Mr Godfrey in their ancestral home, Splint Hall.

From the moment of their arrival, it seems that this is a place shrouded in mysteries and secrets. Who are the strange men who arrive with packages at night? What is the source of the strange blue sparks coming from the ground? And why do the locals seem to hate their family so much? As the girls begin to unearth an ancient myth and family secret, the adventure of a lifetime begins.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk

Lissa Evans has written books for both adults and children, including the bestselling Old Baggage, Their Finest Hour and a Half, longlisted for the Orange Prize, and Crooked Heart, longlisted for the Baileys Women's. Prize for Fiction.

For children, Small Change for Stuart, was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Costa Book Awards. It was followed by a sequel Big Change for Stuart. Lissa's next novel was the wonderfully witty, even satirical, Wed Wabbit, which employs fantasy and humour to explore some complex ideas about childhood, psychology and society.

Lissa's most recent book, Wished, pays homage to some of the great classics of children's literature, particularly Edith Nesbit's Five Children and It, which Lissa admires greatly - the story is, however, wholly her own and will reward the reader with many surprises, twists and turn.

In this episode, Lissa talks to Nikki Gamble about the book.

About Wished
Ed and his sister Roo are faced with the most boring half-term holiday in history: five days spent in the company of their elderly neighbour, Miss Filey, and her ancient, smelly cat. But when they find a box of birthday candles in a cupboard in Miss Filey's house, their world is changed completely. Because these are no ordinary candles and every single one of them comes with a wish.

There's only one problem: some of those wishes actually belong to someone else . . .

From the bestselling author of Wed Wabbit, Wished is a hilarious misadventure about how the biggest wishes can come true, in the most unexpected ways.

Support the show

Thank you for listening. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by subscribing to our channel. and by purchasing books from our online bookshop, Bestbooksforschools.com

In the Reading Corner is presented by Nikki Gamble, Director of Just Imagine. 

Follow us on Youtube for more author events YouTube.com/@nikkigamble1

For general news and updates: follow us on X @imaginecentre  Bluesky  https://bsky.app/profile/justimaginecentre.bsky.social  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/justimagine_books/

Full details about the range of services we provide can be found on our website www.justimagine.co.uk