My Books
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My new book, Call Me Lion, 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 is out with Firefly Press on 16 June 2022. Proof copies of the book are currently being read by librarians, book reviewers and bloggers. It is expected that reviews will start to slowly come out, so look out for those on Goodreads if you want to see what readers think of the book. If you are local then you're welcome to come to the book launch: 2-4pm Sunday 19 June at Harpenden Leisure Centre. I'm also running a competition through local schools to find budding dancers who would like to learn a disco routine as part of the book's launch celebration. All of the information about the launch and the competition is on my Book Launch & Competition page. If you would like to pre-order Call Me Lion you can ask to do so through your local bookshop, or you use the Waterstones website which is really easy to navigate. I am thrilled about this book coming out. It's my best writing and an important story. I know that the book will be an asset in school libraries and will help to raise understanding and awareness about Selective Mutism. 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. |
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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 an overview of my 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. 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
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
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
How To Buy My Books
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If you're based in the UK you can buy my books direct from my website: Buy Books. This is the best way to ensure the money comes to me as booksellers take a cut (Amazon takes 60%)
As you can see from Josie's reaction personalised books make great gifts! It is possible to buy them through bookshops but you will need to order them. Amazon no longer holds stock for Jarred Dreams or EATS in paperback but all three are available as eBooks. |
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What's Next?
Book four, entitled Darna's Sky, largely set in Singapore, was a finalist in the Mslexia Children's Novel Competition 2019 which led to signing with my agent, Laura West at David Higham Associates. Laura has since changed careers and although I am still with DHA I am now represented by Veronique Baxter. Darna's Sky remains unpublished, and since then, I have written a fifth book entitled Call Me Lion.
Call Me Lion is about a boy dancer with Selective Mutism and set in Luton during a Heatwave. Call Me Lion is being published by Firefly Press and is due out in the UK in June 2022.
I'm currently writing a new book which at the moment is entitled Who Cares? featuring a young carer as the protagonist. For this I have been working with The Young Carers Crew in Stevenage and have made contact with young carer organisations in Norfolk too.
I now have eight, short books published with the online school resource, Serial Mash, including two in a series of stories about a girl who moves to live near a City Farm and I've been commissioned to write the third story. To find out more about Serial Mash: Click Here.
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're interested in finding out more about the Catching Words Project for your school: Click Here.
If you would like to keep up with everything I am up to, please take a look at my blog.
Call Me Lion is about a boy dancer with Selective Mutism and set in Luton during a Heatwave. Call Me Lion is being published by Firefly Press and is due out in the UK in June 2022.
I'm currently writing a new book which at the moment is entitled Who Cares? featuring a young carer as the protagonist. For this I have been working with The Young Carers Crew in Stevenage and have made contact with young carer organisations in Norfolk too.
I now have eight, short books published with the online school resource, Serial Mash, including two in a series of stories about a girl who moves to live near a City Farm and I've been commissioned to write the third story. To find out more about Serial Mash: Click Here.
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're interested in finding out more about the Catching Words Project for your school: Click Here.
If you would like to keep up with everything I am up to, please take a look at my blog.
Book Reviews
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. There are also a few on Goodreads (see below). 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!
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!