Caroline Pitcher - award winning writer of books for children and young adults

Welcome to Caroline Pitcher's web-site.

National Libraries Day
is on
Saturday 4th February
and I will be celebrating by reading my Childrens' books
all morning
at Allestree Library.
Come along and listen with your kids!

11 o'Clock Chocolate Cake
Mine
The Dolphin Bracelet
The Shaman Boy
and
Ghost in the Glass

are all now available on Kindle:

I loved to see this mention of my favourite bookshop (Scarthin of Cromford) in the Guardian www.guardian.co.uk/independent-bookshops

Ann Atkinson, the retiring Derbyshire Poet Laureate, has published an anthology of her fantastic poems.
From Matlock to Mamelodi: 5000 miles of poetry.
I am delighted she has included this poem that I wrote in her workshop "Threads"

Wanted
in response to an Advertisement in the Derby Mercury, 1781

This is my Personal Application
to you, Mister Arkwright.
I am a Young Man now, no more a Boy,
and shall make known my Particulars.
I am as resolute as that rushing River,
and write a Good Hand on my Slate.
I shall write a Good Hand in your ledgers, Mister Arkwright,
keep note of Hours and Days, and those who may be Late.

This is my Personal Application
to be Clerk at the Cotton Mill.
I shall bring money home each and every week
to a stone Cottage in a Tidy Row.
Through my Good Hand, I shall maintain a Family,
Supplying you with Children of All Ages
to fill your Mill with Souls and Industry,
and keep good time, matching that clear River’s Rush.

This is my Personal Application
To you, Mary. I am a Young Clerk now.
I am no Weaver, Filer or Framework Knitter,
and do not need Trades Taught Me.
My Particulars are known to you already.
I promise you Constancy, and Children of all Ages
to fill our home with Busyness and Joy.
Here is my Good Hand, Mary. Will you take it? Please?

(An advertisement of September 1781 invited Young Men to Apply and Have Trades Taught Them, to be Framework Knitters, Weavers, Filing Smiths, Joiners - or Clerks.)

From Matlock to Mamelodi has beautiful poetry about Derbyshire.
Ann's anthology (annthology?!) can be borrowed from all Derbyshire libraries. You can buy your own copy, too, from Alison Betteridge at Alfreton Library Alison.BetteridgeATderbyshire.gov.uk

Winter Wishes

My new Story Dog Star is about Chookie, a blue-eyed husky pup, and has just been published in the Winter Wishes anthology.

Maybe I've read Once in a Blue Moon, That's What I Want or The Bit of Everything Dog to you in Assembly?
They're in Wow! 366 which has now raised over £30,000 for ChildLine.
So if School bought a copy, thank you!

Wow 366

I really enjoyed my session on Writing for Children at a Writing Ambitions Day for (grown up) Derbyshire Writers. It was at the Medway Centre, Bakewell. The session on writing groups was excellent, too.
I am sorry I missed the hairy Drum Majorettes.
Caroline

This illustration from Lord of the Forest has been auctioned on eBay. The painting, together with a signed hardback copy of the book sold for £620.00. The money all goes to help 21st Century Tiger. Thank you, everyone!

Every writing day is different. Here is one I wrote about for the Derbyshire Literature Newsletter: My writing day

The Winter Dragon was first published in 2003, with glowing illustrations by Sophy Williams. It's one of my very own favourites. Now it has been chosen by Bernice de Braal in RIGHT START as one of five Rip-Roaring Reads , in which monsters and baddies (or dragons!) help children overcome their fears. The other four books are Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak) The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson) A Hairy, Scary Night (Alex T. Smith) and We're Going on a Bear Hunt (Michael Rosen).

We went to Ithaka (near Kephallonia, Greece) last June and sailed out on a caique with Jamie the marine biologist and his Captain Joe. Click on the cover of my book to see what Jamie found! We watched this magnificent octopus for half an hour in a tank of sea water. When he was put back in the sea he swam home using his jet propulsion - can you see his defiant plume of ink?

Books for Keeps gave it a 5 star review: 'Nico...calls his pet 'the chameleon of the sea'
'The book communicates a strong sense of place - a sunny Mediterranean fishing village where the people live an open air life'

The octopus did remind me why I had written this book:
'An illustrated story of this quality is worthwhile in its own right, but this one also provides a context for a great deal of learning - about a particular sea creature and about a lifestyle.'

or buy from Amazon

'The Dolphin Bracelet' appears in
Like Mother, Like Daughter? an anthology for mothers and daughters.

'In this delightful collection... Caroline Pitcher strikes a poignant note in the story of a family holiday with a terminally ill mother' (Valerie Coghlan in Books for Keeps)

The beautiful

Lord of the Forest

is out in paperback.

'For something genuinely awe-inspiring, try Lord of the Forest.......this unforgettable story about a tiger could stop even the stroppiest of infants in their tracks.'
(Nicholas Tucker in The Independent)

'I defy anybody's head not to turn at this magnificent picture book.'
(Emma Shaw in the Derby Evening Telegraph)

'Caroline Pitcher's language is as measured as a tiger's footfall......repetition, alliteration, and rhyme hidden in the prose all contribute to the "tigerliness" when reading aloud......Jackie Morris's drawing is skilful and accurate'
(INIS - Children's Books Ireland)

'The best animal picture book of the season is Lord of the Forest...... Ms Morris's illustrations are lavish and painterly, and the story—who exactly is the king of the jungle?—holds the reader in suspense until the very last page.'
(The Economist)

'beautiful watercolours distinguish this quiet story about grace, humility and identity'
(Kirkus Review)

One of the best things I've ever done is to write
Tam The Eldest
for
Lines in the Sand
Help the children of Iraq
Published by Frances Lincoln for £4.99.

This anthology of writings on war and peace raises money for UNICEF's emergency appeal for the children of Iraq.

PLEASE BUY IT NOW.

If you like a giggle, try my novel
11 o'Clock Chocolate Cake

it's the story of the summer just gone.

It was published by Egmont - complete with recipes for Late Night Noodles, Skanky Skons and Great Huge Cookies!

'What a joy to read! A great book for teenage girls, that had me constantly laughing aloud..... Sadness, tears, joy, depression and anger all take turns to feature. The layout is rather unusual....... the nicknames are very funny...... I loved this book, and read it in three days....... It's like an older version of a Jacqueline Wilson story, but with a few added twists, that keep you guessing until the end.' (a young reviewer in Education Otherwise)

'...a delicious slice of teenage life. Readers will be engaged at once..... Great stuff.' (Adèle Geras in Times Educational Supplement) 'This is a real giggle about the most important things in life - friendship and food!' (Mizz)

Click on the picture below to visit Scarthin Books:

Scarthin books seen from the other side of the mill pond at Cromford

or better still visit in person.
You will find every wall covered in books, new and second hand, and friendly staff who live and breathe books. If it all becomes too much you could stop off in their cafe for some delicious home cooked food and proper coffee.

My friend Siobhan is taking commissions to write a poem to your loved one, and donate to charity at the same time. Two ways to feel good! www.prescribedpoetry.co.uk

Kathryn White writes great books - see www.kathrynwhite.net

Why not visit the Scattered Authors' website

or an exiting new site launched on World Book Day www.authorhotline.com

or of a wonderful writer and wonderful friend Berlie Doherty

or of a fantastic writer and fantastic friend Patricia Elliott.

See the publications of a small Nottingham press Five Leaves.

Bridget Mackeith has illustrated lots more books www.bridgetmackeith.co.uk.

I was involved in Megaread for www.thelauracentre.org.uk

You can e-mail Caroline at lineyATcarolinepitcher.co.uk (replace 'AT' with the usual)

There is a wealth of information about writers and writing at www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk

You can read Nikki Gamble's interview with me and other writers at www.writeaway.org.uk

If you want to learn how I became a writer you may find this interview interesting www.whystudyenglish.ac.uk

We have lots of writers in the East Midlands. You can find out more about us at this new web site: writingeastmidlands.co.uk

Luka's tune from The Shaman Boy was written and played by Max Johnson.

You can hear him play or contact him here http://www.myspace.com/maxjohnson2.

NB The publishers listed are those publishing the books in the UK - often different publishers are used in other countries.

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All texts on this entire site are the copyright © of Caroline Pitcher unless otherwise attributed.
All illustrations remain the copyright © of the artists acknowledged herein, or their publishers.

Helen Davis reviewed my latest novel The Shaman Boy:
	'Two things immediately stand out: the warmth and originality of the characters, and the richness of the imaginative description. Reading the book is a sensual experience of shape, colour and texture… the startling use of imagery and language point to the fluid and unsettled nature of reality, throwing up questions about how we see the world, about freedom and choice. Luka, a blind boy, discovers that he has the power to transfer his spirit to move with an animal, allowing him to experience the world from a stunning variety of perspectives, to marvel at the miracle of the universe. Sharply contrasted against this dizzying world of possibility is the harsh reality of a village suffering the trauma of recent war. The orphan children love to hear Luka’s stories but Florin’s ability to process any story or information is reduced starkly to “bang bang dead.” Ultimately, The Shaman Boy is a book about power. Luka must move between the powerlessness of fear and the power of imagination, love and infinity. ..' You can read the whole review at www.writeaway.org.uk
Click on the book cover above to see the characters, hear Luka's tune and read more reviews.	Berlie Doherty describes The Shaman Boy as 'a feast of a book'.

Silkscreen	and	Mine

Silkscreen has won an Arts Council Writer's Award, and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. 'This is a powerful, moving and suspenseful story about loss and despair; but also about how good wins through eventually and how hope can triumph. The writing is excellent - the pitch,the pace and the juxtaposition of modern life against a Victorian background are absorbing and adept. A gripping read.' (Sheila Wood in The Bookseller)		The Times said Mine was 'an unusually moving story of a girl unwillingly tuned into lamenting voices from the past....remarkable' It was selected as one of The Times Top Three Teen books of 1997 and chosen by the wonderful Berlie Doherty for `I wish I'd written'. `Poetic prose and precise figurative language evoke a powerful sense of time and place' (Books for Keeps) `an enjoyable story written with great sensitivity' (School Librarian) 'I really enjoyed the book and I would definitely read more books by Caroline Pitcher. I would also recommend it to anyone. Mine is very expressive with vivid descriptions that I could picture in my head immediately. Mine is beautifully written. It was really gripping and I couldn’t put it down. The plot is quite complex even though the book is a quick read. I would give Mine 9 out of 10. A must read.' (Nicola Ho (12) in Writing in Education)

Books for Keeps gave it a 5 star review: 'Nico...calls his pet 'the chameleon of the sea' 'The book communicates a strong sense of place - a sunny Mediterranean fishing village where the people live an open air life'	The octopus did remind me why I had written this book:	'An illustrated story of this quality is worthwhile in its own right, but this one also provides a context for a great deal of learning - about a particular sea creature and about a lifestyle.'
	or buy from Amazon

The Littlest Owl is NOW out in paperback. Gillian (8½) wrote to me to tell me of her own ending. 'One goes to a willow tree in Canada, Two goes to a willow tree in Ohio, Three goes to a willow tree in California, and Four in a tree in Texas!' What far-flung Owlets! She says 'I really liked the book, it was awesome.' Thank you, Gillian.

Here is my newest picture book with charming illustrations by the very talented Tina Macnaughton. Paperback out in January. Buy from Amazon

			These Little Owls do get around
			and NOW: