My Books
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Call Me Lion, is the winner of the SCBWI 2023 Crystal Kite Award. It was short listed in the 7-10 age category for the UKLA 2024 Book Awards, was part of the Summer Reading Challenge list for 2024 and sold in France, Germany, Japan and Sweden.
It follows the story of Leo, a ten-year old dancer with Selective Mutism, and his friendship with Richa, the girl who comes to live next door. It is set during a heatwave in the centre of Luton. Call Me Lion is my first traditionally published children's novel. It was published with Firefly Press in June 2022 and you can read all about the fabulous launch by visiting my book launch page. I'm thrilled about the fantastic response the book continues to receive. Call Me Lion is in the Read For Empathy 2023 list, it's one of fifty titles selected in 2022 for every primary school in Wales where it's a huge asset in helping to raise understanding and awareness about Selective Mutism. It was shortlisted in both the Oxfordshire Book Awards 2023 and the Y5 Portsmouth Awards 2023. I'm incredibly grateful to all the support I received from SMiRA during it's creation; especially the families that are living with this condition. Call Me Lion has been endorsed by many great writers whom I admire and gained a full set of five-star reviews from the book blog tour with lovebooks.com on instagram. It continues to make waves in the SEN community and is received with warmth by readers, teachers and librarians alike. "Beautiful, sensitive, and full of warmth." Zillah Bethell "A powerful, empathetic read." Jo Cotterill. |
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Publisher Information about Call Me Lion
On the Firefly Press website there is more information, resources and videos all connected with Call Me Lion. If you would like to find out more, please visit Firefly Press where you can find out about all the other wonderful books for this age group.
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Three books for 8-12sPlease watch my promotional video about my three books, that I self published before Call Me Lion. These are: Jarred Dreams, EATS and Thirteenth Wish.
If you scroll down there is more information about these books, including another video where I tell you a bit about each one in more detail. Right at the bottom of this page you will find reader reviews too. |
Creative Stories
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I believe that if you learn a love of reading from an early age the joy of books will stay with you forever.
I aim to create stories for children that they can fall into with characters that they remember. I try to write books that children will want to keep so that they can read them again and again and share them with their friends. I'm lucky to have readers who are supportive and encouraging of the books I write. "Please let us know when your next book is due to be published. I know a lot of children who will want to read it." Kate Harvey, Head of Beech Hyde Primary. "Camilla writes with a vintage air. Her stories are adventurous, positive and fun. The perfect salve to reality." Xena Knox, YA Author |
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For further overview of my self-published books please watch my video
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In the video I describe each of my books to help you decide which one might be the best for you. If you prefer, or to know more, please read on.
Remember that I'm always happy to hear from you so if you have any questions or would like to get in touch please visit the contact me page on my website. If you would like to buy a personalised book please visit my buy books page. NB: I have very limited stock for Jarred Dreams and Thirteenth Wish. All three titles are limited edition now - no more planned to be printed so do hang onto your copies. Thank you! |
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About Jarred Dreams
The blurb:
Through the silent, grey streets of Stanbridge he creeps, the Dream Thief who captures the joy of children's dreams and drains the colour from their lives. Until the day that 12-year-old Sade moves into town with her bright blonde curls and love of art...
Sade knows something is terrible wrong, but can she find out what it is before she loses everything she loves including her own dreams?
A finalist in the 2015 New Author Prize run by the National Literacy Trust and Bloomsbury, Jarred Dreams is scary for some children and therefore recommended for 10+.
"I would definitely use Jarred Dreams as the guided reading text for Y6, not only for its quality use of punctuation but for the story line itself. The language is very descriptive, the vocabulary is extensive and there are changing viewpoints. The book content relates directly to the curriculum and opens up the opportunity for classroom discussion. " Alice Finney, Y6 & PSHCE Teacher, Cunningham Hill Junior School.
If you are a teacher, librarian, or part of a school, please take a look at my school visits page.
Through the silent, grey streets of Stanbridge he creeps, the Dream Thief who captures the joy of children's dreams and drains the colour from their lives. Until the day that 12-year-old Sade moves into town with her bright blonde curls and love of art...
Sade knows something is terrible wrong, but can she find out what it is before she loses everything she loves including her own dreams?
A finalist in the 2015 New Author Prize run by the National Literacy Trust and Bloomsbury, Jarred Dreams is scary for some children and therefore recommended for 10+.
"I would definitely use Jarred Dreams as the guided reading text for Y6, not only for its quality use of punctuation but for the story line itself. The language is very descriptive, the vocabulary is extensive and there are changing viewpoints. The book content relates directly to the curriculum and opens up the opportunity for classroom discussion. " Alice Finney, Y6 & PSHCE Teacher, Cunningham Hill Junior School.
If you are a teacher, librarian, or part of a school, please take a look at my school visits page.
About EATS
The blurb:
When best mates Lucas and Tucker win a competition to cook with celebrity chefs everything comes to a boil. Can they stir up trouble and serve the just desserts in time?
Set in the present day, EATS is a culinary adventure tale for children aged 8-12. It is full of twists and turns that will have kids on the edge of their seat.
“A rip-roaring Dahl-esq romp that will have kids gripped.”
“CNPID”
“Fantastic!”
“Brilliant!”
“Loved it!”
“A delicious story with all the best ingredients - friendship, fun, adventure - and a bone-chilling twist.” Helen Moss, Author of Adventure Island and Secrets of the Tombs series.
EATS was shortlisted in the 2017 Winchester Children's Funny Fiction Award, judged by Little Tiger Press, receiving "Highly Commended" status from the Winchester Literary Festival.
When best mates Lucas and Tucker win a competition to cook with celebrity chefs everything comes to a boil. Can they stir up trouble and serve the just desserts in time?
Set in the present day, EATS is a culinary adventure tale for children aged 8-12. It is full of twists and turns that will have kids on the edge of their seat.
“A rip-roaring Dahl-esq romp that will have kids gripped.”
“CNPID”
“Fantastic!”
“Brilliant!”
“Loved it!”
“A delicious story with all the best ingredients - friendship, fun, adventure - and a bone-chilling twist.” Helen Moss, Author of Adventure Island and Secrets of the Tombs series.
EATS was shortlisted in the 2017 Winchester Children's Funny Fiction Award, judged by Little Tiger Press, receiving "Highly Commended" status from the Winchester Literary Festival.
About Thirteenth Wish
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The blurb:
When Jayden discovers a hidden room on his thirteenth birthday, he hopes it means trouble for his stepdad, Gary. Instead he finds himself battling through unbelievable encounters with Pip, his pyjama-wearing side-kick, in the biggest adventure of his life. The boys need Sally before they are lost from the world forever. “What a riveting read! When I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down. I was immediately drawn into the mystery of the strange world that lies beyond the secret room in Jayden's stepdad's house. A world where animals and objects disappear before your eyes, where you are never hungry and nothing seems to last except an old tent... Camilla Chester has written a great book for all readers who love mystery and adventure, who enjoy being drawn into strange magical worlds and who will relish the challenge of trying to work out for themselves just what is going on and why... and how to help Jayden resolve his problems. It will keep them gripped to the end.” Elizabeth Dale, Award Winning Children's Author. "Daisy finished Thirteenth Wish by Camilla Chester last night and is suffering a serious book hangover! She didn't want it to end." TBC member Kel Mason |
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How To Buy My Books
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If you're based in the UK you can buy personalised copies of all my books direct from my website: Buy Books. As you can see from Josie's reaction personalised books make great gifts!
I've very limited stock of Jarred Dreams and Thirteenth Wish. Call Me Lion is still available in bookshops and Amazon and all four titles are available as eBooks. Call Me Lion is also in audible. |
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What's Next?
I'm currently working with Firefly on my new book Project Pony and will keep you posted about publication. I've also been working on something new about an autistic girl and her love of dogs.
I now have nine, short books published with the online school resource, Serial Mash, including three in a series of stories about a girl who moves to live near a City Farm. To find out more about Serial Mash: Click Here. I joined the Fiction Express team in 2023 and my first book Alex in the Middle is published with them.
I'm also working freelance with The Writers & Artists Yearbook in conjunction with Bloomsbury Publishing as the Children's and YA Events Manager. I organised and hosted the 2023 and 2024 Children's Writers & Illustrator's Online Festival and am currently pulling together the lineup for 2025. For more info please visit their website: www.writersandartists.co.uk/events-and-courses/childrens-writers-illustrators-festival-2024-weekend-pass
I was part of the lineup of authors for the youth programme at ilb24 in Germany, which is a highly acclaimed literary festival held across Berlin in September. I'm one of the speakers at the Hearth festival at Gladstones Library in Feb 2025.
Between January 2019 and March 2020 I worked with the Discover Children's Story Centre in Stratford on their Catching Words Project. This meant working with different schools in London to help them create their own class book. It is a wonderful organisation and a fantastic project.
If you would like to keep up with everything I am up to, please take a look at my blog.
I now have nine, short books published with the online school resource, Serial Mash, including three in a series of stories about a girl who moves to live near a City Farm. To find out more about Serial Mash: Click Here. I joined the Fiction Express team in 2023 and my first book Alex in the Middle is published with them.
I'm also working freelance with The Writers & Artists Yearbook in conjunction with Bloomsbury Publishing as the Children's and YA Events Manager. I organised and hosted the 2023 and 2024 Children's Writers & Illustrator's Online Festival and am currently pulling together the lineup for 2025. For more info please visit their website: www.writersandartists.co.uk/events-and-courses/childrens-writers-illustrators-festival-2024-weekend-pass
I was part of the lineup of authors for the youth programme at ilb24 in Germany, which is a highly acclaimed literary festival held across Berlin in September. I'm one of the speakers at the Hearth festival at Gladstones Library in Feb 2025.
Between January 2019 and March 2020 I worked with the Discover Children's Story Centre in Stratford on their Catching Words Project. This meant working with different schools in London to help them create their own class book. It is a wonderful organisation and a fantastic project.
If you would like to keep up with everything I am up to, please take a look at my blog.
Book Reviews
As I mentioned before, reviews for Call Me Lion have been published as part of the blog tour organised by Lovebooks.com. These are usually posted onto GoodReads too.
My self-published books have been out for a while now but you can still read reviews of Thirteenth Wish, EATS and Jarred Dreams by looking them up on Amazon.co.uk and/or Goodreads. They are also reviewed on My BookCorner.
There is a review of EATS on The Letterpress Project site which you can read by clicking on the link, but please be warned it contains a few spoilers! Letterpress Review of EATS
I am always keen to receive positive reviews. They make a big difference in encouraging school bookings, book sales and telling new readers that I exist and they might want to give my books a go, so if you've read any of my books please review them if you can. If you don't want to, just star rate the book. You'll be helping me out!
You can always email me your reviews, if you prefer and I will try to post them up on the blog: email me. Thank you!
My self-published books have been out for a while now but you can still read reviews of Thirteenth Wish, EATS and Jarred Dreams by looking them up on Amazon.co.uk and/or Goodreads. They are also reviewed on My BookCorner.
There is a review of EATS on The Letterpress Project site which you can read by clicking on the link, but please be warned it contains a few spoilers! Letterpress Review of EATS
I am always keen to receive positive reviews. They make a big difference in encouraging school bookings, book sales and telling new readers that I exist and they might want to give my books a go, so if you've read any of my books please review them if you can. If you don't want to, just star rate the book. You'll be helping me out!
You can always email me your reviews, if you prefer and I will try to post them up on the blog: email me. Thank you!