Friday 10 April 2020

I have a new book out!

It is called MAGICAT.  It is Dyslexia-Friendly.  Reading Age 8.

When Magicat is knocked off his witch's broom by a stray firework, he has no way of getting home to Magic Land.  Luckily, he's found by friends Jessie and Ali, who look after him while he waits for Wenna Witch to come and rescue him.  But while they wait, what could be the harm in doing just a little bit of magic?


Thursday 13 April 2017

Drawing of a guinea pig character...

...created by a Year 1 pupil at Sydenham High School, which I visited earlier this year. Thank you for sending it to me.  It's fab!

Monday 27 March 2017

Lulu the Peruvian Guinea Pig


I did some e-safety workshops recently and the children made up some great stories on a cyber-bullying theme which featured Lulu, from Furry Towers.  

Tuesday 22 March 2016

I opened a children's library in a telephone box!

Magical place to share children's books created in a Brockley phone box

By Mandy Little in Local People, South London Press


Children’s author Amanda Swift officially opened the children’s library on the corner of Wickham Road and Lewisham Way to mark World Book Day last week.
The facility in one of the famous “K6” design red boxes is to be open all hours for people to donate or borrow books on the same basis as the established adult library, dubbed London’s smallest, in nearby Loampit Way. It is set to have publications suitable for youngsters aged 0 to 16.
Residents including Mel Mason and Carrie Sutton are leading the project for the telephone box which is one of three in the area, including the adult library, acquired for community use by the Brockley Society from British Telecom
Ms Sutton, a reading support volunteer at Myatt Garden School in Rokeby Road told The Mercury: “Its now like a magical little box – it is at a really beautiful spot right under a cherry tree. Marc Bultitude another parent has put up shelves which are painted rainbow colours and it was his idea to have a grassy floor installed. Its such an inspiring little place and its amazing how many books you can get in it.
I used to walk past it and think it is well positioned for a children’s library as it is close to primary schools Myatt Gardens, Ashmead, Lucas Vale and St Stephens.
Families can end up with a lot of children’s books after they grow out of them and so although you keep some loved ones it is good to be able to pass them on in a way that benefits the community.
There was some worries when the adult library was set up it would be vandalised but there has been no trouble at all so far.”
Amanda Swift from Deptford who co authors the Guinea Pigs Online series of books with Jennifer Gray said: “It is a wonderful new local resource. I live near the adult telephone box on Lewisham Way and it is well used so I hope this box will be just as popular. Books open the door to may other worlds and this telephone box’s door opens to a world of many books.”

Monday 16 November 2015

Guest Blog about BIG BONES

I've just written a guest blog about Crystal Palace, where BIG BONES is set.  It's on the Aventure Walks Books website.  You can read it here:

http://adventurewalksbooks.co.uk/blogs/adventure-journal/articles?cache=false&preview_key=a0875dbedba5ce49709daa202964e421

Adventure Walk Books are full of lovely, interesting, fun walks for families...




Monday 12 October 2015

Pick of The Year!

Good news!  Viking Victory is one of the Red House Children's Book Awards Picks of the Year.  The Red House Award is the only national book award voted for entirely by children so thanks to everyone who voted for us.



http://www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk/pickoftheyear/bycategory



Saturday 13 June 2015

How to Speak Moo

I've been working on picture book ideas with writer-illustrator Deborah Fajerman who draws all sorts of creatures, including skateboarding cows...


Her website is www.deborahfajerman.uk