It's all about promotion for the new book, Project Pony at the moment. If you are interested in a promotional visit for your school please get in touch via my contact me page on my website, or via the publisher, Firefly Press.

I will be announcing a creative writing competition very soon with the chance to win your very own Loki, courtesy of Crafty Ponies. 

I'm absolutely thrilled about the production of this special story. It is the same illustrator as used for Call Me Lion, Irina Avgustinovich and she has done a stunning job. Just wait until you see the flick pages.

​Ponies, ponies, ponies!

You have probably heard the devastating news about the death of Alex Wheatle, aka The Brixton Bard who was due to be part of the stunning line up this weekend. The festival is still going ahead and tickets are still available from the W&A website: www.writersandartists.co.uk 

I was rubbish at taking photos this year. If I get sent any pictures from the three wonderful (and very different) schools I visited (Manor Lodge, Grove Juniors and Little Heath) I promise I will post them. I met wonderful children and staff. It is magical to think of them reading my books in the sunshine this weekend!

I do want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who continues to support me. I do not take anything for granted and understand what a huge privilege it is to be able to create books that inspire the next generation of readers and writers.  

I was lucky enough to be invited as the Y5 author for Writer's Week at the famous SPARK school in Kingston-Upon-Thames, Coombe Hill Juniors. I did a KS2 assembly then workshops with each of the Y5 classes. It was a fabulous school, really warm and welcoming and I could see from the signed walls in their library that I was amongst good company. I'm looking forward to World Book Day week and still have MONDAY available if you're looking for an author visit then please get in touch via my contact me page.

A while ago, prompted by my previous publicist Karen Bultiauw, I applied to be the Writer-In-Residence at the famous Gladstone's Library. I was lucky enough to be short-listed, but I didn't get selected. However, as a result of the application, I was invited to be a speaker at the Hearth Festival which took place in early February at the library.

The other writers selected were Sarah Rarlow, author of The Acheaelolgy of Loss, Deborah Alma, the Emergency Poet and Poetry Pharmacist and Carole Hailey, author of The Silence Project. Here we all are along with Gladstone's Warden, Andrea Russell and the organiser of Hearth, Louisa Yates. 

Before arriving at Gladstone's (for the first time) I read the books written by my fellow speakers and was blown away. When the time came I felt slightly intimidated and I was pleased that my great writing friend, Kirsty Collinson was able to come with me on the adventure. Nevertheless, I was the only Children's Author and the other author's books were so powerfully profound - what did I have to contribute? But then I remembered the power of children's books. We are not the weaker relation, far from it. We set the lifelong love of books in those early, formative years. Our writing is powerful and memorable. In the end I needn't of worried - I fitted in just fine but I felt truly honoured and humbled to be included in such an amazing event. 

If you get the chance I do recommend staying at Gladstone's Library and if you use Bookshop.org to buy books (please don't use Amazon) then consider choosing Gladstone's as your beneficiary. They really do run wonderful opportunities for writers and readers alike. 

Being part of the writing community is a huge privilege and one I do not take for granted.

As a member of the Scattered Authors Society I get to take part in the annual writing retreat which is held at Folly Farm every January. It is the highlight of my year and makes getting through the winter completely achievable.

We share experiences, skills, ideas and knowledge and I get to spend time in a beautiful place with wonderful people.

I'm hugely grateful to be able to be part of something so special.

One of the many bonuses of being in Children's Publishing is that you get to go to other people's book launches. Some are better than others and I don't always post about them, but this one was super fun and probably, Jonathan Stroud, is an author that you will have heard of. If you haven't yet discovered this trilogy then you're in for a real treat. Probably only suitable for ages 11+ I would say. Enjoy!

This is the first of many upcoming posts and blogs that you will see before the launch of my next book, Project Pony. This photo features the lovely Turko, the X-polo pony that I still ride despite him just turning 28 years old (very old for a horse). The star of Project Pony is Loki, a cheeky palomino pony, that Nat, the main character, becomes close with. He is very funny, loving and greedy and based on the Terrific Turko. The book is out on 1 May 2025 with Firefly Press. Look out for all my posts about it that will increase with my own excitement! 

There's a new podcast on the block called Lit-Picking. It is run by authors Matt Killeen and Chip Coquhoun and the premise is that readers interview authors.

My episode drops this Thursday (28 November) at 5pm and I've been invited to listen along live. 

You can find it by searching Lit-Picking on any of your usual podcast platforms. Or here is the link from the one I use: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lit-picking/id1778220373

It was a lot of fun to be part of and I was lucky enough to meet my interviewers, Felicity and Esme when I visited their school in September. Have a listen live, or check it out later!

Totally delighted to officially announce that I am now officially a Writer-in-Residence for First Story:. firststory.org.uk/writer/camilla-chester/

I am due to start my first residency with Laurette Academy in early December. I'm really excited to be given the opportunity to work with a mixed year group of around twenty students who are all keen to develop their creative writing skills. We will be meeting weekly for sixteen weeks with the aim of producing a published anthology that celebrates group and individual achievements. 

Usually working with KS2 this will be a new challenge for me and who knows, it may even make me return to that teen romance I ditched.

Can't wait to get going and see what the students have to say.