I’ve Written A Children’s Book Retelling Greek Myths!

I’ve written a children’s book retelling Greek Myths for Scholastic UK! 

Hi friends!

Big news!

I’ve poured my heart and soul into writing my debut children’s book for 9-12 year olds, Greek Myths, Folktales & Legends for the biggest children’s publishers worldwide no less: Scholastic, and their UK arm Scholastic UK, over the past year, so much so, it has felt like cramming a Classics degree into one year, such was the scale of research and the commitment to writing each of the 20 myths, into cinematic stories children will hopefully love.

Greek myths are seminal works, hugely influencing storytelling inspiring Shakespeare, Hollywood and beyond.

Whilst the book is for children, and specifically reflects the UK curriculum, I also wrote it with parents in mind, bringing drama, high stakes, tragedy and light relief to these much-loved legendary tales (unearthing many lesser known folktales in the process too). I’ve retold the myths with more of a feminist and egalitarian perspective, reflecting my own values and modernising them to feel empowering, whilst making them relatable and inspirational to this next generation of young readers. I couldn’t be more excited to share my ‘new baby’ with the world in September.

For those intrigued on how this opportunity came about, 7 years after I wrote my debut non-fiction book Mumboss… Scholastic UK approached my (excellent and hugely supportive) literary agent Jo Bell, of Bell Lomax Moreton, enquiring if she represented any writers who were originally Greek to write a Greek Myths book as part of their Classic series. Other books in the series span Irish, Welsh, Norse, East Asian African and Carribean folktales, myths and legends, all written by authors of the ethnicity connected to the subject matter.

I was asked to submit a 3000 words draft reimagining the story of Medusa which they liked as I was then commissioned to write the book! What an honour it’s been too and for the publisher who has brought so many beloved books to the world from the Tom Gates, Horrible Histories and Science series, His Dark Materials and The Hunger Gameds amongst many others!

It’s been such a thrilling and stimulating year of writing for me, it’s helped me rediscover my voice after the birth of my third child and given me creative purpose every day.

I hope with all of my heart thata you enjoy it as much as I have writing it.

Please preorder from HERE!

More info:

This book compromises of 20 classic Greek myths retold in an accessible and engaging way, as part of the Scholastic Classics collection which introduces new generations to timeless stories, repackaged especially for younger readers.
* Familiar favourite as well as less well-known stories.
* Range from The Midas Touch and The Fall of Icarus to the tragic story of Persephone and brave female warriors in The Tale of Atalanta. (based on the content you’re doing, you can talk about other stories in the collection too)
* Great for kids who are learning about Greek mythology at school, but also fun and engaging for those who aren’t familiar with the myths.
* Each story has a little introduction which tells you a fun fact about something to do with the myth.
* Each story has a “moral of the myth” which tells the reader a bit about where the story may have came from, helping to give informative, child-friendly historical context.)

A little about me for anyone new here:

Cover is beautifully illustrated by Paula Zorite.

You can check out some extracts below!

Don’t forget to pre-order so the book will reach you first on Sept 10th, with a publication date of the 11th!

Link here: https://linktr.ee/greek_myths