Wondering what to do post-NaNoWriMo?
Wondering what to do post-NaNoWriMo?
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About Wondering what to do post-NaNoWriMo?
Finished that novel? Congratulations! Our wonderful Editorial Director Rachel Leyshon is here to help with the next steps ... (more…)
Wondering what to do post-NaNoWriMo? in the news
Top Tips for NaNoWriMo 2020
Writing for NaNoWriMo can feel like a real mission – but here’s the help you need to see the month through.
Somehow, we’re halfway through National Novel Writing Month! Whether you’ve strictly kept to word-count-tracking, or just using the time as an opportunity ...
Why YOU should enter the Chicken House competition, by FROSTFIRE author Jamie Smith
Jamie Smith is the debut author of FROSTFIRE, out this month! He was picked up via the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition, and here he outlines his journey to publication and explains why YOU should enter this year …
Children's Fiction Competition: How to Get your Manuscript in Tip-Top Shape!
Children's Fiction Competition: How to Get your Manuscript in Tip-Top Shape!
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About Children's Fiction Competition: How to Get your Manuscript in Tip-Top Shape!
Thinking of entering the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition? Editorial Director Rachel Leyshon shares her top tips on what you should do before sending your manuscript off ... (more…)
Children's Fiction Competition: How to Get your Manuscript in Tip-Top Shape! in the news
The 2023 Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition is now open!
Hot on the heels of our 2022 winner's announcement, we’re so excited to share that the submissions portal for the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 2023 is OPEN!
Times/Chicken House Competition 2022 Shortlist Reveal!
The Times/Chicken House shortlist is here!
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Kid Detectives
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Kid Detectives
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About TOP 5 FRIDAY: Kid Detectives
TOP 5 kid detectives
Detectives have to be more than just plain nosy – only the truly tough, steely and determined will get to the bottom of the crime. As Humphrey Bogart says in ‘The Big Sleep’ (when asked why he keeps on investigating): ‘Too many people told me to stop.’ (more…)
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Kid Detectives in the news
Happy book birthday to our January titles!
Happy new year! And we have an awesome month of books for you to start the year off RIGHT. It's still pretty cold, so why not snuggle up in bed with one of these three fabulous reads?
First up is Mafiosa, the explosive finale ...
NaNoWriMo Nov Day 29: Trenton Lee Stewart
One more day to go! Today Trenton Lee Stewart, author of The Mysterious Benedict Society series and February's The Secret Keepers, is here to keep you going until the very end ...
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Literary Crushes
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Literary Crushes
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About TOP 5 FRIDAY: Literary Crushes
Setting aside the possibly unhealthy habit of fancying people in books rather than in real life (how can anyone ever measure up to Will Parry's determination to drift about in atoms until he finds Lyra again?) we are of course spoilt for choice in literary worlds. Here's a mix of suitable boys and very bad boys who only exist in our fevered imaginations - but we love them all.
1. THE FIRST CRUSH: Gilbert Blythe from Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables
Although there's close competition from Laurie in Little Women (how could Jo dump him), the moment Gilbert pulled Anne Shirley's braid and called her 'carrots' is hard to beat. Handsome, persistent (for years), intelligent and romantic ('I don't want your friendship, Anne...'), Gilbert doesn't have ANY faults.
2. THE ALL-AMERICAN CRUSH: Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
Those infamous, expensive parties are all for Daisy and the promise of the green light at the end of the dock. Fabulously wealthy, he's just a dreamer at heart and gets it all wrong trying to impress one (undeserving!) girl. The serious 'lifetime achievement' vote in this category should go to Atticus Finch for inspiring moral courage that has endured for more than half a century.
3. THE DISTURBING CRUSH: Edward Cullen from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight
The noughties cannot be mentioned without him, or are we all thinking of R-Pattz? Disturbing because his Byronic looks, the sparkling marble skin, the superhuman abilities, disguise the fact that he's a terrifying predator. But as his fans would say, it's not his fault he's a telepathic vampire ...
4. THE CLASSIC CRUSH: Marius Pontmercy from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables
Tempting though it is to choose swashbuckling d'Artagnan or vengeful Edmond Dantes, the animal Heathcliff or the repressed Mr Darcy ('In vain have I struggled!'), it's the idealistic revolutionary Marius that wins our vote. Susan Fletcher's Eponine might have said she was only 'a little' in love but who was she kidding, really?
5. THE FIGHT-TO-THE-DEATH CRUSH: Luca Falcone from Catherine Doyle's Vendetta
Who would you trust when you're fighting for your life? In The Hunger Games there's Gale and Peta - difficult choice. In Catherine Doyle's Vendetta you get five hot mafia brothers - nightmare decision! But ultimately, are you on Team Nic or Team Luca? And before you ask, no - you can't have more than one ...
Who have we missed? Let us know by tweeting us at @chickenhsebooks!
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Literary Crushes in the news
NaNoWriMo Nov Day 14: Catherine Doyle
Today the fantastic Catherine Doyle, author of the deliciously dark Blood for Blood series, shares her top writing tips ...
Romantic reads!
It's Valentine's Day! Why not start off the most romantic day of the year with some of our most romantic reads? Whether it's an epic time-slip romance, a hilariously awkward teen comedy or a dark and dangerous Mafia tale: we've got something for everyone ...