2020 has been tough for everyone and alongside editing one book and writing another, the main thing that kept me sane this year was being able to lose myself in a good story. To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever bought more books and the stack on my bedside table grew so tall it eventually migrated to the floor. I developed a new evening ritual, heading to bed an hour earlier than normal so I could sink into my current read and forget the real world and the news for a while. I also surprised myself by choosing from a wider range of genres than ever before (I’m normally a bit blinkered and head straight for historical fiction) and I’ve discovered a new love of fantasy, contemporary and short stories too. In the hope it might inspire someone else to pick up a fabulous book this Christmas here is my top ten from 2020 (in no particular order!) The Book of Hopes – edited by Katherine Rundell Contributions from over 100 children’s authors and illustrators to comfort, hope and inspire. The Silent Stars Go By – Sally Nichols Gorgeous YA historical fiction set in 1919. Margot has a devastating secret to reveal to her fiancé who has returned from the war after being missing in action. October, October – Katya Balen One of my most lyrical reads of the year. October lives in the woods with her dad but when her mum comes back everything changes. The Wildway Home – Sophie Kirtly A totally captivating read! Charlie runs away from his family’s problems to the forest and discovers an ancient world. The Midnight Guardians – Ross Montgomery Set in WW2 this is a perfect blend of historical fiction and fantasy. Featuring a talking badger called Mr Noakes who may well capture your heart! The Good Thieves – Katherine Rundell A rollicking adventure set on the streets of New York as Vita and her friends sets out to steal back something very precious belonging to her grandfather. Orphans of the Tide – Struan Murray I held my breath for most of this fantasy about Ellie who discovers a boy in a whale. Fast paced and witty and I can’t wait for the sequel. The Pear Affair – Judith Eagle I adored The Secret Starling and this was the perfect follow up. This is about Nell Magnificent’s hunt in Paris for her beloved Pear (and features some of the most awful literary parents you are ever likely to meet). The Ghost of Gosswater – Lucy Strange Beautifully atmospheric gothic historical fiction. When Agnes is sent away from Gosswater Hall to live with the father she never knew she embarks on a hunt for her true identity. Made me long for a visit to the Lakes. Lark – Anthony McGowan The heartrending conclusion to the quartet Brock, Pike and Rook this concludes Nicky and Kenny’s story perfectly (but I did shed quite a few tears too). So that concludes my list. However you are celebrating Christmas this year I wish you lots of fun, laughter, great reads and all good things for 2021! Ann-Marie x

Yesterday the lovely Scott Evans (aka @MrEPrimary on Twitter) revealed the cover for my next book, The House of One Hundred Clocks which is being published on 6th February 2020. The glorious cover was designed by Katharine Millichope at Usborne and illustrated by artist Saara Soderlund. A huge thanks to Scott for spreading the word about this book far and wide which I loved writing and can't wait to share with readers! It tells the story of 12 year old Helena who goes with her parrot and clock winder father to stay in Cambridge at the home of one of the richest men in the country and his vast collection of clocks. But there is one rule in the house of one hundred clocks, and that is that the clocks must not stop! If they do Helena and her father will lose all of their worldly possessions - and there is one item that Helena must not lose at any cost, her precious amazonian parrot who mimics the voice of her sadly departed mother. Secrets and adventures follow as Helena is drawn into the strange goings-on in the house but can she work out its secrets before time runs out? If you would like to read the first chapter of the book it is available below!

On the 15th April 2019 the book cover for The Garden of Lost Secrets was revealed by teacher Ashley Booth on Twitter. The response was brilliant and I'm SO happy, as it really is the cover of my dreams, designed by Katharine Millichope at Usborne and illustrated by Amy Grimes. Over the past months, I've been amazed at the amount of care and attention that's gone into the cover design. I can still remember the first meeting with my editor, way back in summer 2018, when she mentioned the idea of Clara, the protagonist, being set within a key hole (picking up on one of the major plot points in the book!). I absolutely loved this idea and the design team went away to work it up. I've seen various mock ups as the cover progressed and it's felt like a really collaborative process, with my views being sought at every stage. An early version of the cover had ivy twisting around the edges, and while this looked lovely, we talked about the possibility of softening this and using mandarins and blossom, picking up on another theme in the book, and I think this has worked so well. So, the editing is finished, the cover is looking lovely and the book has gone to print. It won't be long now until I'll be able to hold the final version in my hands - and see it in the shops - and I can't imagine what that will feel like. Perhaps I'll cry, jump up and down, squeak, shout and make a general idiot of myself? But whatever happens, as I hold it I think I'll mostly be feeling thankful that Usborne selected this little book, which I wrote at my kitchen table over a long cold winter, and decided that it was worthy of being read by others. And when it is read that will result in a whole other set of feelings, perhaps best saved for another day!

I feel odd when I finish writing a book - exhausted and empty. I send it to my agent and it’s like waving goodbye to favourite relatives about to embark on a long voyage. I feel sad and desperate to write, but I don’t have another idea. So I binge watch Netflix, spend hours browsing and buying books in Waterstones and having early nights with the books piled around me like a fortress. I tell my husband, ‘This is the end. I will never have another good book idea again.’ He gives me a wry smile. ‘We’ll see,’ he says. ‘No, this time I mean it ,’ I insist. I take long walks and swims. I worry about the lack of thoughts in my head. Then one day it happens. Always by accident and when I’m not looking for it. A place. An object. A news story. It sparks something, like a match being struck. Characters spring into my head. I open the notes app on my phone and type book idea. The idea grows and takes hold. I work on a plot. Write about what each character likes to wear and eat, even how they sleep. I spend ages researching obscure things. One day over lunch, I say to my husband, ‘I’ve had an idea.’ He smiles wryly (again). ‘I never doubted you wouldn’t.’ And then a few months later we are on a family mini-break to the Essex coast, fleshing out the idea, getting to know the setting and I can't imagine a time the idea wasn't in my head. And I remind myself that there will be another time in the future when I'm certain I'm out of ideas, just as there will be another time in the future when I have another idea (and hopefully another family mini-break).

Last week something very exciting happened - proof copies of the The Garden of Lost Secrets arrived! Actually holding a book I've written in my hands for the first time was as exciting (and emotional) as I thought it would be. Usborne have done an amazing job on the proof cover design, using orange foil on the text and mandarins (which feature quite heavily in the book!) and it's just so sparkly and lovely I could not be happier. The other highlight this past month was getting a mention in the Seasonal Highlights section of the Spring Bookseller Children's Buyers Guide - something I never even dreamed of! Aside from all this excitement I'm busy writing another project and planning an event for schools. I'm also off to London for a marketing and publicity meeting with Usborne in the next couple of weeks and I can't wait to hear about their plans for publication and beyond!