LEAP YEAR OPEN COOP!
Do you wish you had a professional editor on board to help you develop your children’s novel or idea? Well, this opportunity might just be for you!
We’re delighted to announce a 24-hour open submissions period here at Chicken House, for finished or unfinished debut novels for children aged 7 up to (and including) YA, for the chance to gain mentorship from a member of our editorial team.
Writers selected during past Open Coops include Alison Weatherby (The Secrets Act) and Sabine Adeyinka (Jummy at the River School), both of whom went on to sign publishing contracts with Chicken House!
What we are offering
Our editorial team (consisting of Rachel Leyshon, Barry Cunningham and Shalu Vallepur) will pick their favourite submissions to receive feedback and mentoring. We’d love to help you develop your idea or draft into a fully-fledged children’s novel with expert editorial input.
How to submit
In order to submit, please create a single Word document including the following material and email it to opencoop@chickenhousebooks.com between 12:01am and 11:59pm (UK time) on 29 February 2024.
A cover letter of no more than a page, single spaced, including a short pitch for your story, a little about yourself, and how far along you are with writing the novel.
A synopsis of not more than a page, single spaced, describing the story you’re writing from beginning to end (no cliff-hangers!). If you haven’t decided on the full synopsis yet, that’s OK – you can detail as much of the story as you have planned.
Either the first 1,500 words or the first three chapters of your novel (whichever is longest).
Please ensure the title of your email follows this format: OPEN COOP: [Your name] [Your title]
Entry is FREE!
Please note that due to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to respond to entrants individually either to confirm receipt or if you have been unsuccessful. We will only be in touch if we are interested in moving forward with your submission.
What to submit
Although we encourage submissions of children’s and YA novels of all themes and subjects, here are a few ‘wish list’ items from two of our editors …
Rachel would love to see something from underrepresented groups, new perspectives, and animal stories for any age.
Shalu is interested in fantasy stories, Middle Grade or YA, that offer a fresh perspective. Own voice stories centred around culture and identity (especially food!) are always encouraged!
We can’t wait to hear about what you’re working on!
FAQs
Will I receive a confirmation email once I’ve submitted?
No – unfortunately we don’t have the ability to confirm receipt of your entry.
Can I send more than one novel/pitch?
No – Open Coop is limited to one submission per person.
Will you let me know if I’m not successful?
We will be in touch with those we’d like to take forward within 3 months of entry. Sadly if you haven’t heard from us by then, you have been unsuccessful on this occasion – but please try again next time!
Do I have to have written the full manuscript already?
No – if you have then that’s great, but at this point we’re just looking for a great idea and a sample of your writing.
What’s the difference between the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition and Open Coop – and can I enter Open Coop if I’ve already submitted to the Competition?
The Times/Chicken House Competition (which is currently open for unagented submissions) is for a full manuscript, there is an entry fee and the prize is a publishing contract. Open Coop is a much more casual affair, and not a competition – it’s for manuscripts at all stages of development, it’s free, and we’ll be looking at submission samples and offering mentorship rather than a formal prize. It’s fine for you to submit to Open Coop as well as the Times/Chicken House – even if it’s with the same book – particularly as they are assessed by two different teams of readers.
I’m under 18 – am I able to submit?
Unfortunately not – for legal reasons you must be over 18.
I don’t live in the UK. Am I eligible to submit?
Yes. We welcome all entries.
Can I submit my short story/poetry/graphic novel/picture book/non-fiction work?
No. Chicken House publishes children’s/YA fiction for ages 7+.
I have a literary agent? Can I submit?
No. Agented authors are not eligible to enter – after all, we accept ordinary submissions via all established literary agencies.
I have previously had published a short story/poem/picture book/non-fiction/academic title. Can I still enter?
Yes, you are eligible as long as you haven’t had a full-length children’s novel commercially published, anywhere in the world.
The Chicken House Christmas Gift Guide 2020
It’s book-inning to look a lot like Christmas here at the Chicken House …
Awful puns aside, we’re starting to let our feathers get all a-flutter for Christmas! We’ve been having a think about the books that we’d love for new readers to be opening on the big day, and our Christmas Gift Guide might well have the inspiration you need for those all-important pressie purchases.
We might be a little biased, but after all, what better gift is there than a good book?!
Take a look at all our recommendations in our dedicated Bookshop.org list here.
Merry Christmas!
Top Tips for NaNoWriMo 2020
Writing for NaNoWriMo can feel like a real mission – but here’s the help you need to see the month through.
Somehow, we’re halfway through National Novel Writing Month! Whether you’ve strictly kept to word-count-tracking, or just using the time as an opportunity to get into the habit of writing daily, we’ve dug through the archives and found words of writing wisdom to share with you.
And don’t forget – if you have a completed manuscript that you love, the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition is now open for submissions!
For now, let’s hear from those that really know what they’re talking about: our authors!
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
‘Call yourself a writer. No philosophically bellyaching around whether you ‘count’ as a writer yet. If the label is useful to you, use it.
‘Don’t stop reading. Every writer is different, but in my opinion stopping reading something for fear you'll ‘copy’ it suggests you don’t have an idea or voice strong enough yet. Reading is the only way to see what’s out there, and what you could do better. Plus, reading is a lifeline – it keeps you learning, keeps you humble.’
Veronica Cossanteli
‘Don’t get bogged down trying to make your first draft stylistically perfect. If you’re anything like me, you’ll end up jettisoning half of it. The longer you’ve spent polishing chapters 1 and 2, the more annoying it is when you realise your story actually begins at chapter 3!
‘My greatest sin ... DO NOT ALLOW RANDOM CHARACTERS TO WANDER INTO YOUR BOOK. Sadly, this includes those with four legs. As above, if they’re not a necessary link in the plot, send them packing. If you don’t axe them, your editor will – and the longer you have lived with them, the more it will hurt. Console yourself with the thought that it doesn’t have to be goodbye forever: their turn may come.’
Lucy Stange
‘Find a story that you need to tell and give it time to settle and develop in your mind. I find a lot of 'writing' needs to take place in my head before I can start actually writing.
‘I never listen to the radio, podcasts or watch TV etc. before I start writing - I find it drowns out the narrative voice in my head with other people's voices.’
Barry Cunningham
Okay, okay, Barry isn’t an author, but he is the Publisher and Managing Director of Chicken House. If there’s someone that’s truly able to recognise good writing, it’s Barry. Here, he shares some of his top tips for writing something brilliant. Enjoy!
Submit to the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition here.
Follow us on Twitter for all the latest news from the coop, and sign up for our newsletter here.
Summer reading 2020
(Home) School is out for the summer!
While teachers and school librarians up and down the country have a (much deserved) rest, it doesn’t mean the reading has to stop!
Reading for pleasure is so great for childhood development. From the short-term benefits of imagination building and improved creativity to longer-term benefits like enhanced adult empathy and a better social skills*, reading outside of term time is a great way of fostering creative minds.
We know there are so many distractions once school’s out for the summer – even after months of homeschooling! – but perhaps, if we can encourage them to pick up the right book, this might be the summer you create a reader for life!
Below, you’ll find some of our favourite summer reads – even if we might not be able to go away on holiday this year, perhaps a book can take you there ...
Enjoy your summer, and happy reading!
Milton the Megastar
Can you believe it? Milton is now an eight-legged superstar! But instead of enjoying his fame, he’s feeling a bit stressed out. So when Dad and Greta plan a trip to Hawaii, Zoe knows she has to take Milton along too – everyone needs a bit of a break.
However, with a live volcano, an endangered spider species, an unscrupulous entrepreneur and Milton’s ego to contend with, this is hardly a holiday …
Milton the Megastar is a brilliantly funny adventure story, featuring illustrations from Alex G Griffiths and Lisa Reed and ideal for readers aged 8 and up.
Find out more and get your copy here!
The Mask of Aribella
Imagine waking up one morning and realising that you can shoot flames from your fingertips when you’re angry! Well, that’s exactly what happens to Aribella on the eve of her birthday. Running frightened, she’s rescued by an elusive magical group that are sworn to defend Venice – but can they defeat the evil rising from the Island of the Dead?
Set in the beautiful Italian city of Venice, The Mask of Aribella is ideal for readers aged 9 and up – especially if they enjoy magic, mystery and adventure!
Find out more and get your copy here!
Asha & the Spirit Bird
Not many of us have been as lucky as to see the Himalayas first-hand, but that’s precisely where Asha & the Spirit Bird will take you! Asha and her friend Jeevan embark on a journey across the Himalayan mountains to try and find Asha’s father and save their home.
Following the path of a majestic bird that Asha believes to be the spirit of her grandmother, the pair’s adventure is rich in visual language, taking your imaginationon a real journey(even if your body is still very much at home).
Find out more and get your copy here!
Spylark
When it stops raining (and even when it doesn’t), there are few places as beautiful as the Lake District. For Tom – who has struggled to walk since an accident – flying his drone, Spylark, over the place he grew up gives him a little freedom. But the beauty of the lakes isn’t the only thing that Tom spots through Spylark. He stumbles upon a terrorist plot, and he has to find a way to stop it … before it’s too late.
Find out more and get your copy here!
*For more info on storytelling in childhood, the BBC has some fantastic resources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/why-is-storytelling-important-to-children/zvqcnrd
Empathy Day 2020
It’s Empathy Day – a day that is perhaps needed now more than ever. Today, we’re focusing on how we can use books as a tool for imagining and sharing someone else’s feelings.
We asked the book experts (our authors!) to share what empathy means to them, and why it’s important to them as authors. Over to you, Chickens!
Maz Evans
To me, empathy means walking at least a mile in someone else's shoes. Although you should probably give their shoes back once you're done…
James Nicol
To me, empathy means sharing and connecting with someone else through feelings and emotions. It's about being sensitive and aware of other people and situations. I think it is often undervalued and dismissed, but if everyone was more empathetic I think the world would be a much better place.
As an author, empathy is really important because it is our most important job to take our readers into the lives of people who are different from us – they might be witches, or dragons, or just someone who lives in a different town or country. We have to help the readers feel a connection to the characters we create so they know what that person's life is like – it’s as simple (and as complex!) as that. And not just the main characters but all those supporting characters, and even the antagonist! Forming that empathetic link with an antagonist makes them feel more real and less like a pantomime baddie!
The whole act of writing is one of empathy for me, and reading helps us to be more empathetic as it can really show us someone else's emotions there on the page, helping us to understand and recognise them in the real world too.
Jasbinder Bilan
To me, empathy means stepping into someone else’s skin and seeing the world as if you were them. In Asha and the Spirit Bird you can become Asha, living in the foothills of the Himalaya, and feel her pain when her papa’s letters stop and she doesn’t know what’s happened to him.
You can experience how having a best friend like Jeevan can help you overcome anything, whether it’s tigers or hunger – and you can imagine how having a spirit bird could get you through some tough things in life. Empathy shines a light on our humanity and connects us all together.
Lucy Strange
As an author, empathy is really important because it's what makes stories so meaningful and valuable. When we read a book, we step into the character's shoes, feeling their joys and fears and triumphs as if they are our own.
In my book, Our Castle by the Sea, I wanted to bring Petra's frightening wartime experience to life for my readers – for them to imagine what it would have been like living on the coast of England during the Second World War, and to understand what happened to the thousands of 'enemy aliens' who were living in the UK at the time.
Reading such stories with empathy can help us all to understand dangerous feelings such as hatred and prejudice, and to see through the propaganda of politics and the press. If we all exercise empathy a little more, the world will become a better, kinder place.
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
To me, empathy means imagining your way into another person's life, into their body, their experiences, with the purpose of gaining understanding and becoming a better person.
As an author, empathy is really important because it's the only way the world can become kinder. I write to show the world as it is, and could be, and empathy is the most important tool in my kit.
For more Empathy Day 2020 resources, be sure to take a look at the official Twitter feed here. You can also download an Empathy Day activity pack here!
What do the writers read at Christmas?
We all have our Christmas traditions, whether it’s baking mince pies on Christmas Eve, or seeing how many times we can watch Hugh Grant dance through 10 Downing Street in Love Actually. It’s a season of familiarity, and for many of us, that also extends beyond food and TV to books!
With the big day itself just around the corner, we asked a handful of lovely Chicken House authors (and the unintimidatable Barry Cunningham) to take share with us their favourite festive read. Enjoy! (more…)
Wondering what to do post-NaNoWriMo?
Finished that novel? Congratulations! Our wonderful Editorial Director Rachel Leyshon is here to help with the next steps ... (more…)
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Tea Times
We're big tea fans at the Coop, and we'll never say no to a sliver (read: wedge) of Victoria Sponge. Plus, after the Curses, Castles and Deaths of our last three top fives, we reckon it's high time for a bit of light relief. Well, light-ISH ...
1. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
'We're all mad here!' exclaims the Hatter. And indeed, this Tea Time Of All Tea Times - which lasts, literally, for ever - is characterised by unanswerable riddles and nonsensical poetry. And, naturally, tea. Turns out Time has punished the Hatter by evoking an everlasting six o'clock. Alice reckons it's the stupidest party she's ever been too, but I rather fancy an eternity of cake ...
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Literary Crushes
Setting aside the possibly unhealthy habit of fancying people in books rather than in real life (how can anyone ever measure up to Will Parry's determination to drift about in atoms until he finds Lyra again?) we are of course spoilt for choice in literary worlds. Here's a mix of suitable boys and very bad boys who only exist in our fevered imaginations - but we love them all.
1. THE FIRST CRUSH: Gilbert Blythe from Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables
Although there's close competition from Laurie in Little Women (how could Jo dump him), the moment Gilbert pulled Anne Shirley's braid and called her 'carrots' is hard to beat. Handsome, persistent (for years), intelligent and romantic ('I don't want your friendship, Anne...'), Gilbert doesn't have ANY faults.
2. THE ALL-AMERICAN CRUSH: Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
Those infamous, expensive parties are all for Daisy and the promise of the green light at the end of the dock. Fabulously wealthy, he's just a dreamer at heart and gets it all wrong trying to impress one (undeserving!) girl. The serious 'lifetime achievement' vote in this category should go to Atticus Finch for inspiring moral courage that has endured for more than half a century.
3. THE DISTURBING CRUSH: Edward Cullen from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight
The noughties cannot be mentioned without him, or are we all thinking of R-Pattz? Disturbing because his Byronic looks, the sparkling marble skin, the superhuman abilities, disguise the fact that he's a terrifying predator. But as his fans would say, it's not his fault he's a telepathic vampire ...
4. THE CLASSIC CRUSH: Marius Pontmercy from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables
Tempting though it is to choose swashbuckling d'Artagnan or vengeful Edmond Dantes, the animal Heathcliff or the repressed Mr Darcy ('In vain have I struggled!'), it's the idealistic revolutionary Marius that wins our vote. Susan Fletcher's Eponine might have said she was only 'a little' in love but who was she kidding, really?
5. THE FIGHT-TO-THE-DEATH CRUSH: Luca Falcone from Catherine Doyle's Vendetta
Who would you trust when you're fighting for your life? In The Hunger Games there's Gale and Peta - difficult choice. In Catherine Doyle's Vendetta you get five hot mafia brothers - nightmare decision! But ultimately, are you on Team Nic or Team Luca? And before you ask, no - you can't have more than one ...
Who have we missed? Let us know by tweeting us at @chickenhsebooks!
TOP 5 FRIDAY (ish): Awesome Archers
I know it's not actually Friday, but we were so excited about the announcement of this year's Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition winner that there just wasn't any room to fit in a top 5 last week!
1. Robin Hood
Not strictly in a children's book, but Disney's classic animated film put him firmly on the metaphorical bow-wielding map. He's the original archer - the inspiration behind countless others, and is cool even as an anthropomorphic fox. Not bad going.
2. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games trilogy
The girl on fire herself! Katniss is the YA heroine of the 21st century (Hermione excluded), and it's her power with a bow that makes her so awesome. She's the one out there providing for her family, shooting down deers and pheasants - just using her archery skills and her penchant for breaking rules. And let's not forget [SPOILER ALERT] ending the Hunger Games and initiating a revolution. Awesome.
3. Legolas from The Lord of the Rings trilogy
It's well-known that Legolas is a master archer and I'd like to say that it's his archery skills that earn him a place on this list ... but really it's the hair. Anyone that manages to have hair that long and glossy and not get it tangled in their arrows deserves a mention.
4. Susan Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia series
Susan has a bit of an unfair advantage by having a bow that never misses - but she's not one for slacking off, practicing as much as she can to make sure she's the best. And she becomes Queen of Narnia at the age of 12.
5. Merry Owen from Longbow Girl
Ah, I won't reveal too much here. Merry is a heroine for the past and present and very much deserves a place on the list - but you'll have to wait until September to find out why!
Are there any we've missed? Let us know by tweeting us at @chickenhsebooks!
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Horse stories
We couldn't include a top five cat list without considering our top five horses! Here's Rachel Hickman on the horse friends that have stood the test of time.
1. For determined girls who love ponies, Patricia Leitch's For Love of a Horse is unforgettable. Jinny lives in the Scottish highlands with Shantih the chestnut Arab, who she saves from an accident and who - as she thrillingly learns in the sequel - is A Devil to Ride!
2. We couldn't fail to mention K. M. Peyton's sweepingly romantic modern classic, Flambards. Meet Sweetbriar, the strawberry roan who teaches Christina to ride. In the process, the horse brings her close in different ways to the three boys who become the men in her life.
3. The 1941 novel We Couldn't Leave Dinah by Mary Treadgold was already a classic by the time I discovered it. It's the story of a girl who won't leave her pony, Dinah, when the Nazis invade her fictional Channel island.
4. For contemporary readers is Lauren St John's The One Dollar Horse. City girl Casey Blue rescues a half-starved horse and makes her dream come true of riding at Badminton Horse Trials. Thrilling, moving and filled with the sort of equine detail that real riding girls love.
5. Riders by Jilly Cooper. Coming way up the age-group with bags of content, huge teen appeal and epicly plotted naughtiness, nothing beats Jilly's sense of fun or her love of animals and the countryside. Follow the restless romance and domestic disasters of Fen, Tory, Jake and the appallingly behaved Rupert Campbell Black as well as their devoted horses including the Bull, Sailor, Africa and the magnificent avenging Macaulay.
Rachel Hickman is the Deputy MD of Chicken House Publishing Ltd. Her debut novel for young teens about love, loss and horses comes out next spring. One Silver Summer will be published by Scholastic Inc.
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Cats
Cats are the kings of the literary jungle. As Mark Twain put it, ‘If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.’ Also, as the epitome of cuteness and playfulness, two things we love at Chicken House, cats in children’s fiction seemed the perfect topic for this week’s top 5. Publishing Manager Laura picks the best of the bunch …
5. Mog from Meg & Mog
As one of the first literary cats of my childhood, Mog deserves a mention. Mog is certainly not your average cat: he’s easy-going (he puts up with a lot of Meg’s antics), he’s stripy (so alternative for a witch’s cat) and super adventurous (how many other cats do you know that have gone to space AND met a yeti?).
4. Fiddlesticks from Calling on Dragons
Not only did this book convince me that cats can really talk to their owners – you just have to listen to them … oh, and take a magic potion … – but it also firmed up my opinion that cats are the best animals of all. Disdainful yet adorable, proud but playful, Morwen’s cats cover the whole spectrum of cat characteristics. Although it’s almost impossible to choose between Jasmine, Murgatroyd, Fiddlesticks, Miss Eliza Tudor, Scorn, Trouble, Jasper Darlington Higgins IV, Chaos and Aunt Ophelia, Fiddlesticks wins it by a whisker.
3. Kirjava from His Dark Materials trilogy
Ok, so not technically a cat, but if it looks like a large multi-coloured feline, it’s a cat in my book. As Will’s dæmon, she is literally a part of Will’s soul – and Will’s one of my favourite literary heroes ever. And named by a witch? You can’t get cooler than that.
2. Crookshanks from the Harry Potter series
A cat firmly in the much-maligned category. Gorgeous, despite being a little funny-looking (how can a huge, fluffy ginger cat not be gorgeous?!). Super-intelligent, he’s clued up about Pettigrew from the start. So loyal to Sirius that he literally sits over his heart to prevent his murder. Plus the added bonus of his tendencies to play adorably with Butterbeer corks or chase gnomes. Enough said.
1. Buttercup from The Hunger Games trilogy
Buttercup’s got a bad rep, but he’s effectively the feline version of Katniss: unfriendly, stand-offish, an amazing hunter, the ultimate survivor and protector of Prim. So if you love Katniss, you’ve gotta love Buttercup …
Any more favourite felines to add to the list? Let us know by tweeting us at @chickenhsebooks!
TOP 5 FRIDAY: Magical Libraries
We're BIG fans of libraries here in the Coop - so much so, that our Junior Editor Kesia has picked out her fictional favourites!
1. HOGWARTS LIBRARY
Ah, the vast, towering shelves! The gothic gloom! The bad-tempered librarian with a terrifying glare! All classic features of the magical library. But most enticing of all is the spine-tingling temptation of the Restricted Section ... ooooo ...
2. THE LIBRARY IN MATILDA
It's at once an ordinary library, and utterly extraordinary - it's the humdrum accessibility of Matilda's local that makes it magical. It's a library you or I or any bookworm could visit: we, too, could stuff our brains full of knowledge and learn telekinesis. (Well, maybe not that last bit ...)
3. THE LIBRARY IN DOCTOR WHO
Because this library is the size of a planet - A PLANET - and contains copies of every book ever written. EVER.
4. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY IN BUFFY
As well as being Vampire Slayer HQ, its uniquely attractive features include charming-bumbling librarian Giles and a fabulous collection of hefty tomes on the paranormal. And you can still use it to revise for your finals. Awesome and useful.
5. BELLE'S LIBRARY IN THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
What bookworm princess hasn't dreamed of these soaring, romantic, impossible-in-real-life gold-gilded bookshelves?! This is a library with the style of a ballroom - a roaring fire, a spinning globe, a glassy tiled floor fit for recreational sock-sliding (in between all the reading, of course). Bliss.
Do you agree? Let us know what you think by tweeting us at @chickenhsebooks!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
A very happy 2015 to all! We're already really excited about what the year holds, not least because January is already off to a flying start. This month sees the release of both Catherine Doyle's dark YA romance VENDETTA and Dan Smith's thrilling action adventure BIG GAME, soon to be a major movie.
VENDETTA tells the story of Sophie, who is thrown into an unknown world of danger, love and revenge when the Priestly brothers move into town. Gritty, romantic and totally compelling, VENDETTA is set in present-day Chicago against the murky morality of the criminal underworld ...
For Sophie, it's a long dull summer in the Chicago suburbs until five mysterious brothers move into her neighbourhood. A chance encounter with one of them leaves her breathless. But all is not what it seems.
As the secrets of Nic's Sicilian heritage emerge and Sophie falls deeper into his world, her own family skeletons come to life. Caught up in a twisted game of revenge between two warring dynasties, the choice between love and family suddenly comes at a deadly price.
For slightly younger readers, BIG GAME is the perfect new year read. A thrilling survival story set in the Finnish wilderness, page will become screen in May - keep an eye out for the blockbuster movie starring Samuel L. Jackson!
13-year-old Oskari is sent into the cold wilderness on an ancient test of manhood. He must survive armed only with a bow and arrow. But instead, he stumbles upon an escape pod from a burning airliner: Air Force One. Terrorists have shot down the President of the United States.
The boy hunter and the world's most powerful man are suddenly the hunted, and so begins an extraordinary survival race against a powerful and deadly enemy ...
You can find both of these amazing new releases in stores now - what are you waiting for?
Follow Catherine Doyle on Twitter: @doyle_cat
Follow Dan Smith on Twitter: @dansmithauthor
Follow Chicken House on Twitter: @chickenhsebooks
