So excited to reveal the cover for ✨THE CITY BEYOND THE STARS✨, my follow-up to THE KINGDOM OVER THE SEA. Look how gorgeous it is!! Look at all the beautiful detail!! You can preorder here bit.ly/CBTS_WTS, or buy a signed copy from an indie bookshop (details to come...)

Advice to new writers from Eishar Kaur - start by writing what you love, when you have a publisher don't be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself (agents help so much), and find a community to lean on. Big yes to all of this! #sailfest2024 Sail Fest UK

‘Stevie Wonder likes me, so it’s OK that Lily Allen doesn’t like me. That’s fine.’

bali rai publishing has a definitive idea of what PoC can write or not! #sailfest2024

What a panel! Such warmth and knowledge! Sandra A Agard darrenchetty.bsky.social New Beacon Books Ashley Thorpe, Sarah Smith and Matthew Stoppard. Special shoutout to the two sign interpreters who have signed beautiful and tirelessly throughout the whole day #inclusivelibraries

"Write what consumes you." Thank you Sarwat Chadda for such a thought-provoking discussion about South Asian culture within fantasy. #SAILFest

Honestly, today was amazing. I left Sail Fest UK uplifted. Thank U so much for creating such a supportive, welcoming, embracing + warm space Sanchita Basu De Sarkar (Hon) FRSL Sinéad Gosai CHITRA SOUNDAR, you wonders! Not sure if you realise just what you’ve done for us by founding this festival. Love to u ❤️

A game-changing day of great panels, conversations and meeting old & new writing friends Sail Fest UK #sailfest2024 ! Congratulations to fabulous organisers Sanchita Basu De Sarkar (Hon) FRSL CHITRA SOUNDAR & Sinéad Gosai & the amazing speakers. Also a bonus meeting the lovely 📚Ashley Thorpe📚 in the pub!!

Sergio Mendes - What Is This (Official Visualizer) youtu.be/TAMNBQkdkBc?fe… via YouTube

Delayed thread (brains 🫠) but let me try to run through the most important/ inspirational/ interesting/inclusive conference I’ve possibly ever attended?! #InclusiveLibraries by National Literacy Trust British Library #LitInColour Penguin Books UK Arts Council England, London 👇🏻🧵

My first Reading Matters round up of children's books news includes some wonderful stuff from Mathew Tobin Hamilton Brookes WorkerBee Jon Biddle Mr Dilly Just Imagine Klaus Flugge Prize BookTrust National Literacy Trust The Island of Brilliant Frank Cottrell-Boyce Sam Leith 🐝 & more!

Audre Lorde wrote in her journal, “My feelings are real but not always right.” Again, knowing who to be mad at is part of the work.

Instant classic

The first Sail Fest UK was a massive success! Thank you for inviting me. Important conversations, calls for more change. So much incredible writing that pushes boundaries, makes kids feel seen and shows huge empathy. Our stories are for EVERYONE!! Jhalak Prize

Happy publication day ANYA’S QUEST!!! Walker Books This is a story of how we can heal our planet by waking up and listening to our hearts! It’s a magical adventure on an ice chariot with the powerful goddess of the river Ganges and is bursting with hope!

Thanks for featuring Dream Hunters this week The Week Junior ! And I love that you included a pic of mysterious Aunt Moyna.

Huge congratulations to Sinéad Gosai CHITRA SOUNDAR and Sanchita Basu De Sarkar (Hon) FRSL for the inaugural Sail Fest UK at British Library yesterday, loved the panels and the conversations that took place before, between, and afterwards!

Yesterday there were two excellent conferences on children’s literature at British Library - National Literacy Trust & Lit in Colour plus Sail Fest UK. Folks from both events ended up in conversation afterwards.

Submitted the full text for the Beyond the Secret Garden book this week. It pulls together seven years of writing from Karen Sands-O'Connor and me on racially minoritised characters in children’s literature in the UK. Can’t wait to share the cover and full details!

We’re just 3 weeks away from my book launch date. I still can’t believe it! It’s been such a long time between the day I first saw the book cover on screen to receiving my first physical author copies. Keeping one close to me on the sofa here 😂😂😂