Hodder Children's Books

Hodder are delighted to announce that they have acquired the new novel from Siobhán Parkinson. This news comes hot on the heels of Siobhan`s appointment as the new Irish Children`s Laureate last month.

Anne McNeil, Publishing Director for Hodder Children`s Books, has brokered a deal with Sophie Hicks at Ed Victor Literary Agency. Parkinson has been signed up for a two book deal for her new children`s novels.


Anne McNeil says:

"I am thrilled to have acquired Siobhan`s new novel for the Hodder Children`s list.  I read it at Bologna, and it provided an oasis of perfectly poised calm against a mad noisy background. It moved me, and is one of those rare books where the form matches the content - where the two are equally balanced.  The naive voice of the story teller at the heart of the book makes the reader unsure of the facts surrounding him - is he a killer? Is he on the run? Is he, in fact, a victim?  The writing packs a punch - and allows us to view a damaged world through a child`s eyes. I knew I had to buy it. And that was before the author, Siobhan Parkinson, was d as Children`s Laureate, Ireland.  I am more pleased that I can say that she is joining us on the Hodder Children`s Books list - she is coming to a home that will cherish her. "

Siobhán Parkinson says:

"My agent told me at Bologna that a certain publisher was loving my book, and I was all a-tremble to find out who, why, how, whether ...? And then it all happened, and I`m thrilled skinny to be part of such a prestigious list."

Siobhán Parkinson is an Irish author for children, young people and adults. She has published more than twenty books since 1992, many of them translated into other languages. Sisters - No Way! won the Bisto Book of the Year Award in 1997, an award she has been shortlisted for nine times overall. She is four times the recipient of the Bisto Merit and Honour awards. She has been named on the international Ibby Honour list twice and has received several White Raven awards. Most recently she won an Oireachtas award for Dialann Sár-Rúnda Amy Ní Chonchúir her first book in Irish. Other award winning books include Amelia, The Love Bean, Breaking the Wishbone and Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (Maybe).
Siobhán spent her childhood in Galway and Donegal and studied English Literature and German at Trinity College, Dublin. In the past she has been a board member of CBI. She currently works for Little Island, a new Irish imprint, as Commissioning Editor. She is an outspoken champion of the cause of children`s literature, and writes and speaks passionately on the subject both in Ireland and internationally.

Siobhán lives in Dublin with her husband, the woodturner Roger Bennett.

For further information about Siobhán Parkinson please see www.siobhanparkinson.com

For further information please contact Fritha Lindqvist at fritha.lindqvist@hachettechildrens.co.uk or phone 020 7053 6656