Children’s publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts

Certainly a valuable resource. Thank you Lou T.

Lou Treleaven

* UPDATED JUNE 2021 *

You can’t get published without an agent, and you can’t get an agent without being published – or so the adage goes. Thankfully, there are still a few children’s book publishers who are happy to wade through the ‘slush pile’, that teetering tower of manuscripts we imagine fill up a corner of the office, each one representing an agent-less writer who is hoping against hope that they might be plucked from obscurity. So in the spirit of writerly comradeship here is my current list of writer-friendly children’s fiction publishers in the UK who still accept unsolicited manuscripts.  Check their website guidelines and submit away, but please do correct me if I’ve made any errors or incorrect assumptions. NB   Where there is a link, I have endeavoured to take you, the linkee, to the submissions guidelines page of the publisher’s website; where that is not possible…

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Ramekin — O at the Edges

I have enjoyed Robert’s poetry for many years, time I shared some with you too.

Ramekin I speak when you speak, say nothing to your everything. The world is a ramekin filled with bits of ourselves. It is a recipe for error, a list of adorations and illusion. You take my hand and say when I’m gone there will be others. The ingredients include vinegar and salt, but no […]

Ramekin — O at the Edges

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20 years already?

I can’t believe it’s been 27 years now!

Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

Peter Cowan Writers Centre, ECU Joondalup Campus, Western Australia

As an original, contributing committee member in those early years, I will happily join the High Tea celebrations at Peter Cowan Writers Centre, the only community writing centre based on a University Campus in Australia (and maybe anywhere), tomorrow.  

In the beginning, I represented Theatre and Writing on the City of Wanneroo (later Joondalup) Cultural Advisory Committee, when the opportunity to place Peter Cowan’s House on the Edith Cowan University Campus was first mooted.

At the time, I was studying for my BA in Creative Writing at ECU, Mt Lawley campus and, although an enthusiastic member of the Fellowship of Australian Writers in WA, worried many times if my old bomb of a car would make it all the way down to Cottesloe for meetings.

A fellow student, Trudy Graham, as part of her Community Writing unit, started Northern Writers which in 1998, became…

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Arts in Schools

Think it’s time to share this again.

Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

Twenty years ago the practice of arts in schools was very much dependent on, if a teacher was interested and prepared to go outside the curriculum box to practice their art.  Children who wanted to be involved in drama in the Northern Suburbs only had school opportunities which were very few and far between. 

I know, my daughter was one of them.  She regularly came with me to a local adult theatre group but because they didn’t have roles for 12 year olds, she enjoyed helping backstage. She just wanted to be involved and soak up the atmosphere of performance.

So in 1992, I set up our own group for 12 – 25 years olds to produce and perform something for the public, which 80 enthusiastic members of Northern Youth Theatre did very well, every three months until 1996. 

I am proud to say my daughter Jessica was accepted…

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Jewel Box

Jewel Box


Teardrop Aquamarine done with 16-year-old Bridesmaid duties, 
drips elegantly from her chain next to a single Sapphire pendant.

Set of three Star Diamante broaches bought in Carnaby Street 
in the 60’s, snuggle up to two plastic cherries on a pin.

Stuck in my head Tiger’s Eye images of outfits - beaded 
Citrine, Peridot, Ruby rounds, worn at family gatherings.

Mum’s Pearl necklace gleams ready for new memories with 
silken thread re-strung by love, awaiting the next wedding.

Recently reunited African Amethyst beads together again, once
broken by small hands grabbing hold, climbing onto Nanna’s lap.

Wedding rings don’t feature - they stay on the finger, adored. 
For cocktails, Blue Topaz, Tourmaline, Garnet show decade style.

My glittering ballerina charm winks from her crowded bracelet, 
twirls in golden sunset, takes a final bow among the treasures.


Frances Macaulay Forde © 2021



#POEM:JewelBox  #GoldenMemories  #GettingOlder  #60'sStyle

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Five Questions with bestselling author Rachael Johns – Interview by Dr Anita Heiss

I met Racheal at the Dowerin Festival when she was touting ‘Jilted’. She was engaging and natural so I though, if she writes the way she talks… I loved the book, saw it immediately as a screenplay and still hope one day, someone will take the chance and put it on film. She is amazingly prolific and smiles through all the hard work. Go Rachael!

Five Questions with bestselling author Rachael Johns

June 21, 2021Books, Writing and PublishingAuthor, Fiction, novel, Publishing, Rachael Johns, Romance, writingDr Anita Heiss

My next amazing author-guest is the prolific Rachael Johns who has published 28 books across formats with a number of publishers. She is the bestselling, ABIA-winning author of The Patterson Girls and a number of other romance and women’s fiction books, including her recent bestseller, How to Mend a Broken Heart.

READ THE BLOG.

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