Bella Pearson and Anna Goodall

Meet Oxford’s newest children’s publisher, Guppy Books, and one of its star writers, Anna Goodall, author of the magical tale, Maggie Blue and the Dark World and its sequel, Maggie Blue and the White Crow.

Oxford is at the heart of the children’s book world and can now boast another excellent children’s publisher. Guppy Books is run by award-winning editor Bella Pearson. She publishes books in every genre, so that children of any age and background, with any interest or ability, can swim through the Guppy porthole and find a book they’ll love. Authors on the list include Sharon Creech, Kenneth Oppel, Louisa Reid and Oxford Literary Festival favourites the Brothers McLeod. Pearson will chat to Goodall, whose thrilling fantasy adventure Maggie Blue and the Dark World was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award, about creating new worlds, how to develop your own writing, and the author-editor relationship. An event for everyone who likes reading or writing or just wants to know what it takes to make a great book.

After working in publishing, running a small literary magazine, bookselling and very occasional journalism, Goodall took a masters in scriptwriting at Goldsmiths. But instead of doing what she was meant to do after that (write a film) she wrote a novel instead. Maggie Blue and The Dark World is her first book and was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award. The sequel, Maggie Blue and the White Crow, is out now and just as magical.

‘A sophisticated magical tale, awash in sinister villains and perplexing plights…bursting with invention’ FT

Age 9+