Finally received my PDFs for Waterstones Children’s Prize 2025 and turns out I already had 3 on my TBR! Really excited to be reading and voting for the first time 📚

Just finished a proof of @EilishFisher’s Fia and the Last Snow Deer and I’m OBSESSED. The writing and illustrations painted such a vivid icy landscape I can hardly believe it’s still August! So excited to talk to kids about this one in the run up to Christmas eek!

I’ve got a second interview for a Rights Assistant role at PRH Children’s!!! @ladybirdbooks @PuffinBooks @PenguinTeen Looks like I’m booking a train ticket to London (eeeek!)

The next chapter is going to be tough, but I’m looking forward to lots of moments like this amongst all of the job applications!

What a perfect end to one of the best years of my life! I’m so grateful to all the people who supported me through it. My TBR has never been so big, but I’m all the better for it 📚❤️

Still hoping for a few more submissions so if you’ve ever had anyone do something kind for you let me know! ☺️

If you/someone you know would be interested in writing a submission please drop me a DM with an overview of the story. Or alternatively please share this post! Thank you! ☺️❤️

❤️- Ideally this would be an act of kindness that’s happened to you but if you’re a third party that’s been positively impacted that’s great too! I would be working with you to edit/improve the submission if need be- I just need a place to start!

❤️- Each submission would be approx 1,000 words. ❤️-Include details of an act of kindness… what happened? How did it make you feel? How did it impact you? The act can be big or small, from a stranger or someone you know.

⚠️Submission Request⚠️ As part of my final project for my Publishing MA I have to create an industry-standard manuscript. I’ve chosen to produce a collection of short stories of acts of kindness… which means I need some submissions! 🧵

WE’RE ON A BUS

Waiting for the last bus back to Ambleside from Grasmere - it’s 10 minutes late, we’ve been hiking all day and waiting over an hour I just want to get home 😭

Tested COVID+ earlier in the week and have felt pretty rotten trying to finish up an assignment (only 3 to go!) so a nap and cosy date night building the Lego we got in London was perfect ❤️🌷

We also felt validated to hear other members of the audience thank “red lipstick girl and her boyfriend” for asking some to not talk during the performance 🙄😆

When 1 John Williams gal and 1 Hans Zimmer boy meet. Such a wonderful evening listening to @LondonFilmMusic at @DerbyCathedral best date yet!

Dr. Staples recommends #LessonsInChemistry (my favourite read of 2023 so far!). I was thrilled to discover the set of Supper at Six at #LBF23 and put a lab coat on for the first time in years 😆👩🏻‍🔬@DoubledayUK @buildhollywood

Creating a campaign plan for @jo_thomas01’s new book Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe as part of a marketing assignment is making me miss West Wales terribly - counting down the days until I’m back, hopefully with more evenings like this!

Also if anyone is aware of the original artist, I would love to get in contact again and potentially use the art as a cover for my project- would be living/working in the Cathays area of Cardiff in 2020 ☺️

The inspiration stems from this beautiful Robin print I received from a stranger I had seen passing by my window on several occasions in the early days of the first lockdown. It is now framed in my bedroom and serves as a reminder that little things go a long way 💛

Happy #RandomActsOfKindessDay! Currently working on my proposal for my Publishing MA final project on the same topic: how random kindness has benefitted you and I’ll be (proposal acceptance and ethics pending) taking submissions. Really excited! Watch this space