Newsletter #1 - Cover Reveal & NYT Best Seller!
Cover reveal, NYT best seller, and World Book Day.
Hello and welcome to my first ever newsletter for readers! Hope you enjoy it and thank you for signing up.
I thought I’d quickly introduce myself to start with. I live in Devon, England with my husband and we have six kids. I started writing children’s books in 2007 and have had around 30 published – picture books, chapter books, middle-grade novels and reading scheme books. As well as writing books for children, I have recently branched out into adult writing, screenwriting and producing/directing. I love the creative variety and enjoy spinning multiple plates (having six children has been invaluable training for this!).
Whichever media I’m writing in, whichever age I’m writing for, I find there are similarities in my work. The idea of what it means to be human fascinates me and as an offshoot of this, I often write about connection with others and relationships. As a mum of six, I particularly love writing about sibling relationships. I also enjoy messy, broken characters with complex emotions and fortunately for them, I am drawn to creating stories about hope, healing and overcoming adversity. In fact, I started doing a Psychology degree at university because I intended to become a clinical psychologist, although I changed to an English & Theology degree in my second year. I came to realise it was understanding how and why people ‘are’ that fascinated me, and now my characters are my clients. We walk a lot, talk a lot and sort stuff out.
The other thing I’m fascinated by is the intriguing dynamic of comedy and tragedy in life – the two are rarely far away from each other, and I love exploring this in stories. Ever since I was young, I’ve enjoyed making people laugh so although I often cover deep and emotional aspects of human nature, humour is often just around the corner. I love writing stories which make you both laugh and cry – perhaps even at the same time. This is the reality of life.
ADULTS
I’m over the moon to reveal the cover for my debut adult novel: THE PLAYERS ACT 1 : ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE. Designed by Sarah at Studio Christie , I had great fun being involved in the process. I wanted a cover which emphasized the characters (this is very much a character-led story) but also gives some hints to the plot, the sense of history and the theatrical context. I hope you like it!
I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this multiple point-of-view book. I have known these characters for a long time and taken them for many a ‘walk & talk’ to understand them better. I’ve coaxed them out of their shells, helped them feel safe enough to give up their secrets, walked with them silently in their grief, challenged the lies they believe, facepalmed as they made mistakes, laughed at their antics, held them as they cried, and most of all, loved them through the story. I’m so glad there are another two books to go (and then we’ll see…) because I enjoy their company too much to let them go just yet.
The book is scheduled for release on 29th July 2025, and at present you can pre-order on Amazon for the Kindle version. I plan to also have ebooks for sale through Kobo and other retailers, and to have paperbacks available through Amazon, friendly bookshops, and myself.
Keep your eyes open for the next edition of my newsletter, where I’ll be sending out a sneaky preview of Chapter 1 of THE PLAYERS ACT 1 : ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE.
What am I working on now?
I’m continuing my research for book 2 in the Players trilogy. I’ve already done a lot, but there’s always more to do! I’ve also written some key scenes which will feature in the book because I was so desperate to get them out of my head! And it pacifies my characters a little if I get some of their juicy moments written down. They’re much less demanding once something is committed in writing.
Alongside this, I’m currently writing a script for a feature film, which is under wraps at the moment. Screenwriting is a very long game… publishing is slow, but creating something for screen takes sooooo much longer. It’s all very exciting though and I’m enjoying the process hugely. We’ll see where it all goes.
Currently Reading
Opal by Elvi Rhodes. I first read this book when I was about 12 years old and had just discovered adult historical fiction. I was captivated by this story with an impoverished but determined female lead, set in Yorkshire during the depression. I consumed several of Elvi Rhodes’ books, and Opal was the first of hers that I read, I believe. I was delighted to come across the original version with the cover I remembered in a secondhand bookshop recently. As I begin my own historical fiction journey, writing adult stories, it’s wonderful to revisit a book which inspired me as I first ventured into reading adult stories.
Kids
It’s been a very exciting couple of weeks. Firstly, The House At The Edge of Magic series launched in America with book 1 on March 18th. Then on 3rd April I heard that in only two weeks it had reached number 10 in the New York Times bestsellers list. This is absolutely amazing, and I still can’t believe it. A book is very much a team effort, so my thanks as always must go to Ben Mantle for his amazing cover, Chloe Tartinville for work on cover design, and the team at Margaret K. McElderry (Simon & Schuster) and Walker Books, as well as my agent Julia Churchill.
On that side of the Atlantic, Barnes and Noble (in the US) and Indigo (in Canada) have got special editions of the paperback, with inked edges and a secret little extra story from The House’s world, in this case an extract from The Wizards' Little Book of Calm by Grundlewick the Questionable.
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The next book in the House series, The Tower At The End Of Time is getting similar treatment, and is out in North America on June 17th 2025 - a date for our diaries!
World Book Day
I enjoyed visiting Rackenford Primary School for World Book Day – school visits are always a huge amount of fun. I worked across all the year groups, from Reception to Year 6. With the youngest children, we looked at my Once Upon A Wish (illustrated by Sara Ogilvie) where we learnt the Five Magic Words for life (magic words my Grandad taught me: please, thank you, pardon, excuse me and sorry) and created some imaginative potions and made a wish.
Then with Years 2, 3 & 4, we had some pirate fun with Pirate Blunderbeard (illustrated by Ben Cort) and created a hilarious pirate contraption we could use in modern life. The day ended with The House At The Edge of Magic in Year 5 & 6 where I read an extract, and we looked at a variety of objects to see if we could imaginatively unlock their secret magical properties, just like Nine did when she pickpocketed the house ornament. The children’s imaginations were fantastic!
What am I working on?
I’m currently finishing the copy-edits for book 1 of a new middle-grade series which is still under wraps but will be announced later this year. I’ve seen an early version of the cover by one of my favourite illustrators and it’s amazing – I’m so looking forward to revealing that, when the time is right. Watch this space!
I’m also about to start writing a couple of short stories for the fabulous Aquila magazine which will be coming out in the autumn and winter. There’s also one coming out in the summer – but more on that later! I’ve been writing for the magazine since 2014 and usually produce around three stories a year. I really enjoy working with Aquila, and I always look forward to seeing what the artists come up with to illustrate my stories.
Currently reading
Wendington Jones and The Lost Legacy by Daniel Dockery (publishing 1st May 2025, UCLan publishing). I’m loving the wit, energy and adventure of this historical story which features a determined 15-year-old protagonist, and is set in the early 1920s. It’s great to read accessible and entertaining historical fiction for young people.
GIVEAWAY
I’m giving away ONE, limited edition House At The Edge of Magic water bottle to help you or the young reader in your life to stay hydrated as the warmer weather comes!
Please note this is UK only due to shipping costs!
If you’d like to be in with a chance, please email: competitions@amysparkes.co.uk with BEAKER in the subject line and the winner will be chosen at random from all entries received by
9th April 2025 at 23:59BST
Thank you and good luck!
Thank you for reading the very first edition! Hope you found this interesting. If you ever have any questions for me, do feel free to contact me through my agent via my website or send me a DM via my social media platforms:
Have a lovely day and speak to you soon!