I had the pleasure of talking to Dan Simpson for the Writer’s Routine podcast about my writing routine, and how it has evolved over the past decade.
I’ve been a fan of the Writer’s Routine podcast for a while. I’m incredibly nosy about how other writers create their books. I’ve learned a lot from other writers.
You can listen whereever you get your podcasts.
I am utterly overjoyed that Feather, which is based on a true crime, museum heist, has been shortlisted for the CrimeFest award. Twitch won this award back in 2022 and Spark was shortlisted the following year.
I’ve got all my fingers crossed that Feather might win this year as the wonderful CrimeFest have sadly announced that this will be the final year of the prize and the festival. I have enjoyed being a part of it and am pleased to be a part of the final festival celebrating crime fiction for all ages.
To my utter delight, this week The Bookseller, the publishing trade magazine, did a review of the bestselling Children’s books in the first quarter of 2025 and I learned that Hunt for the Golden Scarab is the twelfth bestselling book of the year so far. That’s incredible, especially as it wasn’t available in shops until February.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has purchased, read, reviewed, or recommended my book. It really takes an enormous effort from a team of people to launch a book in such a way that people get to hear of it, especially as i”m not off the tele, and it’s super important when it’s the first story in a new series.
If you enjoyed book one, then the wait for book too is not long, The Legend of Viking Thunder will be sailing into bookshops in September and I’ve just finished writing the third book in the series which will be available from February 2026.
World Book Week 2025 has been quite dramatic for me. I broke my ankle, walking my dog, four days before the busiest week in a children’s author’s calendar! I’ve had to do my school visits on crutches and deliver events sat on chairs, which is not my usual style.
However, I have been greatly cheered by all the children who have dressed as characters from my books. I do love to see these pictures. Below is a gallery of all the costumes I’ve seen this year. I think they are all absolutely wonderful. I’m truly blown away.
Thank you to all who have sent them over social media or email. If your child would like to be added to this gallery, you can email a picture to info@mgleonard.com
Behold the stunning cover and title of book two in the Time Keys series. The Legend of Viking Thunder is publishing on the 11th of September 2025 with cover and internal illustration by Manuel Sumberac. Be one of the first to read Sim and Jeopardy’s adventure back to Viking times by pre-ordering now!
I received some lovely chart news today. Hunt for the Golden Scarab is the forty-first bestselling book in the U.K. and number five in the children’s charts. Huge thanks goes to all the booksellers championing this book and the readers devouring it. I’m beyond grateful and utterly delighted that the Time Keys series has launched to such a warm welcome.
It is with HUGE joy that I can share the news that the wonderful Waterstones bookshop has selected Hunt for the Golden Scarab as their Children’s Book of the Month! I am enormously grateful to everyone who is championing my newest Time Keys series, especially those wonderful booksellers who are suggesting my stories to young readers.
Let the HUNT begin! Grab a special sprayed edges signed edition today!
At the end of January 2025 my brand new time travelling adventure series, TIME KEYS, is launched. I cannot wait for you to read it.
To celebrate the wondrous independent bookshops up and down the country, my publishers are printing a limited run of books will gorgeous sprayed notation edges.
To be sure to get one for you bookshelf, you’ll have to pre-order from your local bookshop.
If you would like a super extra special DEDICATED one, then you can pre-order from my local bookshop, Book Nook Hove. I will be popping into the shop in the week before publication to sign and dedicate all your books.
So if you know a young reader who enjoys non-stop adventures, why not pre-order NOW!
I am so thrilled that the brilliant bookshop Blackwells has chosen The Ice Children as it’s November children’s book of the month.
I am hoping that many children will be delighted to find my fairy tale about a magical winter wonderland in their stockings this Christmas. After all, Father Christmas loves winter.
Pick up a copy from your local Blackwells or order online.
The Hunt for the Golden Scarab pack shot
It is with deep gratitude and enourmous delight, that I can finally reveal artist Manuel Sumberac’s incredible cover for my new book, HUNT FOR THE GOLDEN SCARAB, the first in the TIME KEYS series.
I can also share some of Manuel’s dramatic internal artwork, which perfectly illustrates the story. There are around forty of these spectacular illustrations through-out the book. My publishers, Macmillan Children’s Books, have done an amazing job. I’m beyond excited for readers to dive in.
You can pre-order a special SIGNED first edition of this book from Waterstones NOW.
Over the summer, I had the absolute pleasure of walking beside the river Thames with David Oakes talking about beetles and birds and the power and importance of nature in stories for Trees A Crowd Podcast.
Your day will be infinitely more delightful if you join us. Get it where ever you source your podcasts or listen below.
I am unbearably excited to finally be able to tell you about a top secret writing project that I’ve been working on for the past two years.
Ever since I first learned of string theory, the concept of time travel and music has been linked in my imagination. That was the first seed of an idea that has grown into my newest project.
Next year, I’m launching an epic new adventure series of books called TIME KEYS. The first book will be published in January 2025 and is titled HUNT FOR THE GOLDEN SCARAB.
This is the most ambitious series I’ve ever written and will be illustrated throughout by the incredible Manuel Sumberac. I really hope you’re going to love it.
For all the juicy details please read the official press release below.
Page one of press release
page two of press release
As part of the neev literature festival 2024 in India, I’m taking part in the young readers Reading Challenge. They are reading The Ice Children and I did an online event with them asking me questions about my modern fairy story.
I really enjoyed this event. The readers had some truly great questions to ask me. If you’d like me to read you a short passage from The Ice Children and are interested in my answers, you can watch the thirty minute event here.
I had a wonderful time at the brilliant Hay Festival.
I was on the schools programme this year and had the absolute pleasure of talking to nearly 2000 children about birds and books.
I also had the honour of chairing Antony Horowitz’s event, which was so brilliant because everyone in my home loves the Alex Rider books. He’s a bit of hero to us.
My favourite part of the festival was meeting lots of wonderful young readers who really knew their birds, and plenty more who were excited to discover the wonderful world of birds.
I want to thank all the brilliant people who work so hard to make Hay Festival such a celebration of books. It truly is a great festival and I’m proud to have taken part in it.
