Jenny Sullivan

I love writing: I've been doing it since I was eight years old, and am still at it. I began as a free-lance feature writer for the "Western Mail" and later, while raising my three daughters in Raglan, I worked as a "stringer" for several local newspapers.

I had my first children's book accepted about the time that my girls left home for University and was simultaneously given an opportunity to read for an MA in the Teaching and Practice of Creative Writing at Cardiff University, which eventually led to a PhD in the same subject.

I've had published thirty or so books for children, including the thirteen-book "Magic Apostrophe" series that begins with "Gwydion and the Flying Wand" and ends with ""What Part of No" and "Tree of Light". Except they actually weren't the end: I've since written a third trilogy, "The Jellyfish, the Dragon and the Witch", "Taking the Dragon Home" and "Silent Dragon". These three were great fun to write, because they feature all five of my grandchildren. Two of my books have won the Welsh Books Council's Tir na n-Og Awards - "Tirion's Secret Journal" in 2006 and "Full Moon" in 2012 and I've been short-listed and highly commended another eight times. My newest books are "The Great Granny Hunt", a sequel to "The Great Cake Bake" and "Macsen and the Pirate's Ghost". Some of my books have been translated into Welsh, and some short stories; a series of plays and a book ("Gwydion and the Flying Wand") have all been broadcast by the BBC. My poetry can be found in many anthologies for adults and children and in my book of "sporty stuff" "C'mon Cymru". My children's short stories appear in many anthologies and there are also picture books for younger children.

The first three books in the "Magic Apostrophe" series, and the first three Gwydion prequels have been published as updated omnibus e-books. The first, "Gwydion's Beginnings" contains "Gwydion and the Flying Wand", "Magic Maldwyn" and "Betsan the Brave". The second includes "The Magic Apostrophe", "Island of Summer" and "Dragonson".

I've also written two adult historical novels about Owain Glyndwr's War of Independence, "Silver Fox -It Begins" and "Silver Fox - The Paths Diverge", as well as numerous adult short stories published in various anthologies, and broadcast on both BBC Wales and in translation on Breton radio.

I'm also an enthusiastic creative writing tutor - I visit Wales two or three times a year to help children - and teachers at twilight sessions and INSET days - discover the joys of creative writing. I've also co-tutored a week-long course at Ty Newydd, the Welsh National writing centre in North Wales and have links to an amazing Welsh reading charity "World of Words Wales" - through which I've made several video sessions with Welsh children during the pandemic.

Most of my children's books have been published by Gomer/Pont - but sadly this company is no longer publishing - my books are now being handled by Y Lolfa and, of course, Amazon!

If you are a school, library or other organisation interested in having me visit, information about my visits, including potential funding, can be found on my website: https://jennysullivan.live.

If you'd like to recommend my books, reviews are very welcome on Amazon and the GoodReads website!