Scroll through our alphabetical list of people who create and market Burst's books - from authors and illustrators to editors and designers. Are you a children's author and/or illustrator? Click here to find out more about our submission guidelines.
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Karen BultiauwKaren grew up in Belgium, and ever since she learned how to read she's been a massive bookworm. At the tender age of thirteen she tried to convince her French teacher to read a beloved Virginia Andrews book. Reader, the teacher bought the book, and Karen's love of incessantly chatting about books was born.
After a few years of teaching and retraining in musical theatre, Karen’s love of books resurfaced resulting in first a book blog and then a YouTube channel where she raves about the latest books. All this led to managing an independent bookshop and being a publicist at a traditional publishing house, followed by freelancing for publishers and authors across the UK. Burst are delighted to have Karen on board as our ninja book publicist. Likes: All things YA and Disney (please don’t ask me to pick a favourite Disney movie, that would be torture!)
Dislikes: Spiders, horror/thrillers Pets: None, but I'm totally a dog person Favourite childhood book: Journey of the Shadow Bairns by Margaret J. Anderson |
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Hannah CollinsHannah’s origin story began on a dark and stormy afternoon in England when she discovered a box of old Batman comics at her local charity shop, sparking a life-long love of art and writing. After graduating from Lancaster University with a BA in Fine Art and Creative Writing, she began her career as a freelance illustrator and writer in the South Wales Valleys. As an illustrator she produces comic books, children’s book illustrations and greetings card designs, and as an avid blogger, Hannah is the co-founder of feminist blog collective Fanny Pack, as well as a regular contributor to entertainment sites like BuzzFeed and itcher about pop culture and gender.
Daughter - an illustrated cyber ghost story for 8-12 year olds - will be Hannah's first children’s novel, which will be launched in Autumn 2018. She was recently awarded a Literature Wales bursary to complete it. Likes: Japanese pop culture, RuPaul, really good documentaries, and rummaging through charity shops.
Dislikes: Avocados and really big squid Pets: Three cats that aren’t actually mine (the best kind of pets, right?) Favourite childhood book: Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, The Exploits of Moomin Papa by Tove Jansson, or any Tintin comic book by Hergé |
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Lisa FarquharLisa is a specialist speech and language therapist, working with The South Wales Cleft Team at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, and throughout the Gwent area. After looking for a book to help babies practise the early sounds required for speech, but failing to find any that she could recommend to parents, Lisa had the idea to create her own book to encourage babbling. Lisa lives in Cardiff with her husband and two sons.
Bopp's Busy Day is the first in a series to support and encourage early speech development and will be published by Burst in 2018. Likes: Running, netball and spending time with family and friends
Dislikes: Heights and chocolate limes Pets: None at the moment Favourite childhood book: Books by Roald Dahl and The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton |
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Nikki GiantNikki is the founder of Full Circle Education, a non-profit organisation based in Wales, UK that connects children and young people to their potential through a range of educational and extra-curricular programmes to raise aspirations, attainment and school attendance. The work of Full Circle specifically seeks to empower girls and young women.
Nikki is the author of three educational books, and has recently launched the first Manifesto for Girls’ Rights in Wales, calling for better support and more recognition of the challenges still facing girls and young women across the country. Hello Me, Nikki's first YA novel, will be published by Burst in early 2018. Likes: Eating cake, being in the sunshine, and working with young people
Dislikes: Mean people, bullying, and fishy fish Pets: I used to have a goldfish called Goldy and a tabby cat called... Tabby. Not the most original of names! Favourite childhood book: The Bagthorpes by Helen Cresswell |
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Simone GreenwoodSimone is the founder and MD at Burst. As well as overseeing editing and book design, her main role is to act as publishing fairy godmother, making creative dreams come true for other authors and co-creating with children through workshops and publishing projects.
Simone has been writing stories, poems and songs since a young child, but publishing is a brand new venture; until recently she was a primary school teacher! She was born in Hampshire, grew up in Cumbria, and now lives in the beautiful Sirhowy Valley in South Wales. Likes: Bookshops, meeting up with friends and exploring new places
Dislikes: Spiders and housework Pets: Maggie, a black pug Favourite childhood book: Books with beautiful illustrations, like the Brambley Hedge and Flower Fairy series, plus Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery and The Land of Green Ginger by Noel Langley - and countless others! |
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C.G. HicklingAuthor C.G. Hickling lives in the wild hills of Wales, where he knits clothing out of giants' beards, volunteers at the local dragon sanctuary, and tutors at the Wizard Academy. When he's not busy doing all of that, he writes books and hangs out with his family and their senseless dog. His favourite colour is green, favourite sweets are peardrops, and his superpower is cooking!
Toby Gentle and the Winter Assassin, C.G. Hickling's debut fantasy novel for 9+, was published in 2016. The second book in the series, Toby Gentle and the Blood of the Elf King, will be launching in 2018. Likes: Walking his dog, imagining, and superhero movies
Dislikes: Reality TV and chewing gum Pets: Tillie, a black sproodle Favourite childhood book: The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien, Chocky by John Wyndam and the 2000 AD comic books |
Twitter: @IRobertS_author
#TheUHM |
Ian RobertsA daydreamer since childhood, the elusive Ian Roberts has been escaping into implausible adventure for as long as he can remember. He is a fan of old-school sci-fi from the likes of Conan Doyle and Jules Verne, and his brand of quirky fiction will be sure to delight lovers of fantasy adventure and engaging, grown-up fairy-tales.
The Unnatural History Museum - Taken Things is Ian Roberts' debut novel, and the first book in a new series for young adults. It will be published in Spring 2018. Likes: Italian food, long journeys and gritty US dramas
Dislikes: Getting a cracking idea with no pen or paper to hand Pets: A shoal of tropical fish named after Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson characters Favourite childhood book: Hard to pin down one, but the children’s TV series The Moondial, by Helen Cresswell, author of The Secret World of Polly Flint, left a lasting impression! |
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Pat RoperPat grew up near the coast in South Wales. After graduating from Cardiff University, she taught English, History and Drama at various comprehensive schools in England. When her two children were born, she retrained as a primary school teacher and particularly enjoyed writing plays and dramas for the children to perform. On returning to Wales, she continued to teach and began reviewing plays and shows on the National Theatre of Wales Community website. After reviewing a literary festival, she was fired up to complete a children's book she had started years previously. The Lost Moon was born out of the excitement that her young pupils always displayed when learning about space.
Planet Adventures - The Lost Moon by Pat Roper and illustrated by Huw Aaron is a thrilling space adventure for 6 - 9 year olds. It will be published in Autumn 2017. Likes: Nature and the Great Outdoors, and music festivals
Dislikes: Traffic and confined spaces Pets: Many in the past, none at the moment Favourite childhood book: Grimm's Fairy Tales and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell |
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Emily StanburyEmily first discovered she loved illustrating children's books when she was completing her degree in illustration at Falmouth University. Her first book for Burst is Bopp's Busy Day and we hope she will be illustrating many more with us!
Emily says, "I have been drawing pictures for as long as I can remember, usually with a cat by my side. This is probably why the majority of my work features animals. In my spare time you can usually find me scribbling away in my studio or out painting in the Cornish countryside where I live." Likes: Running and reading books with a historical narrative, especially those set in World War I or World War II
Dislikes: Peanut butter and not being able to spend enough time with her cat Pets: Thomas, a black and white cat Favourite childhood book: Anything by Beatrix Potter or Judith Kerr |