Countdown to Christmas: Brenda Gardner, Managing Director, Piccadilly Press

Brenda Gardner, publisher and MD started Piccadilly Press 28 years ago. Brenda’s experience in publishing was through editorial and she worked for Penguins, W H Allen, and Evans before setting up Piccadilly. Piccadilly won the Independent Publisher’s Award in 2009 after being shortlisted three times and publish across a wide range from picture books to young adult.

Brenda Gardner, Piccadilly Press

Brenda's wish list:

1. We’d love an interesting and fresh novel for young adults. 

A love story that could be a crossover book perhaps.

2. A sharp witty picture book text would be

 an ideal present from Father Christmas

Illustrated by SCBWI's very own Mike Brownlow

3. Illustrations with animals and small children that touch the heart.

Written by SCBWI's very own  Juliet Clare Bell 

4. A knock them dead funny series for 7-12 would be a great present.

You don't get much funnier than Dinopants

5. Authors and illustrators who have studied our website and know the sorts of books we publish and even read some of them, before sending in material, would win our hearts.

Book I wished we published: Diary of A Wimpy Kid.
Not only because it is a bestseller but I did spot it some years ago and was just days too late as Puffin had snapped it up. I thought it was a great concept – fresh and appealing and at the same time very reassuring and funny.

Piccadilly Press submission guidelines.

Countdown to Christmas: Megan Larkin of Orchard Books

Megan Larkin is publishing director of Orchard Books, part of Hachette Children's Books. Orchard Books offers a sparkling range of very special titles that sell all over the world. Picture book characters from Daisy the Duck to Charlie & Lola, authors such as Michael Lawrence and Giles Andreae, illustrators from Jane Ray to Angela Barrett and best-selling fiction series such as Rainbow Magic and Tiara Club, make for a rich treasure-trove of talent.

Megan's Christmas Wish:

I love books that make you laugh, and books that make you cry. If a book can make me laugh AND cry then I’m in heaven. A few years ago, Orchard published a glorious book called Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli, a wonderfully moving story about a lovable, quirky character who will stay in my heart for ever. I would love to find another Stargirl in my Christmas stocking.

Stargirl!

Slushpile note: Megan and Orchard Books are also publishing one Teri Terry, part of the Slushpile team! Slated will be out in May 2012, as reported here.

Countdown to Christmas: Librarian Ferelith Hordon

Ferelith is the Children's Librarian for Balham Library in the London Borough of Wandsworth. She has been Chair of CILIP Youth Libraries Group which administers the Carnegie and Greenaway Awards. 'I have been a Children’s Librarian now for more years than I care to count – and have never regretted this choice,' she says. 'My passion is reading and I firmly believe that there is at least one magical book for everyone. The challenge is to find it. I am committed to the value of great books and storytelling, the power of words and pictures and the difference they can make.'

Ferelith Hordon

Sharing what you read is one of the greatest pleasures, and sharing within the family the icing. Reading aloud is one of the best ways to share - and what better time than when the nights are long and a bit cold. My wish is that everyone should be able to experience this sharing and should have the chance to listen to a great story read by a real person - someone they can touch. These stories are tried and tested - and can be enjoyed by all ages....granddads, dads, grannies and mums - and all the young. So curl up, cuddle up, turn lights down low....now begin..



The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith

Varjak Paw by S.F. Said

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie