When the system is broken in a story I can only root for the people who are bringing it down tbh so this tracks. #KitLitUK
First: if it's "easier" to write relatable villains than relatable 'good guys,' that means something and should be considered as an independent question. *Why* have villains become so popular in recent decades? Because they reflect people's lived experiences within a broken system.
February 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
When the system is broken in a story I can only root for the people who are bringing it down tbh so this tracks. #KitLitUK
The King from my illustrations for “The Princess 👑 and the pea 🟢 #KitLitIllustrator #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks #IllustratedStory #Illustration #KitLitUK
November 24, 2023 at 12:35 PM
The King from my illustrations for “The Princess 👑 and the pea 🟢 #KitLitIllustrator #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks #IllustratedStory #Illustration #KitLitUK
If you see this, qrp some dog art 🐾
From Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snowman" (Hyoronsha publishers, Japan)
#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #kitlitUK #UKkidlit
From Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snowman" (Hyoronsha publishers, Japan)
#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #kitlitUK #UKkidlit
December 17, 2024 at 10:14 AM
If you see this, qrp some dog art 🐾
From Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snowman" (Hyoronsha publishers, Japan)
#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #kitlitUK #UKkidlit
From Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snowman" (Hyoronsha publishers, Japan)
#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #kitlitUK #UKkidlit
This good news does mean I am currently in the deepest throes of editing at the time of year where my brain works the worst. I am accepting deliveries of biscuits. #kitlitUK #kidlit #YAdebut #amediting #booksky #writingcommunity
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 🎉 I'm beyond excited to share that my debut YA horror-fantasy novel THE NESTING ROOM is coming in September 2026! I can't wait for this dark and strange story to be released into the world. The Magpie Queen is coming.
#ukkidlit #kidlituk #YAhorror #YAfantasy #kidlit
#ukkidlit #kidlituk #YAhorror #YAfantasy #kidlit
December 14, 2025 at 11:45 AM
This good news does mean I am currently in the deepest throes of editing at the time of year where my brain works the worst. I am accepting deliveries of biscuits. #kitlitUK #kidlit #YAdebut #amediting #booksky #writingcommunity
There’s still some time to enter my giveaway to nab yourself a free book and bar of choccy!
#KitLitUK #UkKidLit #choccy
#KitLitUK #UkKidLit #choccy
April 10, 2025 at 7:56 AM
This week #IAmReading The Strange Disappearance Of Imogen Good by Kirsty Applebaum, and what a cracker it is! A creepy, gothic tale of magic gone wrong, and being careful what you wish for…
👉 alastairc.com/i-am-reading...
#kirstyapplebaum #KitLitUk @nosycrow.bsky.social #ImogenGood
👉 alastairc.com/i-am-reading...
#kirstyapplebaum #KitLitUk @nosycrow.bsky.social #ImogenGood
The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good by Kirsty Applebaum
I Am Reading: The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good by Kirsty Applebaum
alastairc.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This week #IAmReading The Strange Disappearance Of Imogen Good by Kirsty Applebaum, and what a cracker it is! A creepy, gothic tale of magic gone wrong, and being careful what you wish for…
👉 alastairc.com/i-am-reading...
#kirstyapplebaum #KitLitUk @nosycrow.bsky.social #ImogenGood
👉 alastairc.com/i-am-reading...
#kirstyapplebaum #KitLitUk @nosycrow.bsky.social #ImogenGood
I've not read Mayowa yet so can't compare but thinking of examples I have read, my favourite approach is usually "character is forced to confront injustice and they're at the sharp end of it". Rather than allegory I tend to like metaphor I think - like Buffy's "high school is hell" #KitLitUK
June 23, 2025 at 6:02 AM
I've not read Mayowa yet so can't compare but thinking of examples I have read, my favourite approach is usually "character is forced to confront injustice and they're at the sharp end of it". Rather than allegory I tend to like metaphor I think - like Buffy's "high school is hell" #KitLitUK
This week's #middlegrade is #TheWrongShoes by #TomPercival. With strong, accessible writing, wonderful illustrations and believable characters, Tom absolutely nails the devastating effects of poverty – and the power of hope to transform us. A lovely and important book!
#KitLitUK #SimonAndSchuster
#KitLitUK #SimonAndSchuster
May 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This week's #middlegrade is #TheWrongShoes by #TomPercival. With strong, accessible writing, wonderful illustrations and believable characters, Tom absolutely nails the devastating effects of poverty – and the power of hope to transform us. A lovely and important book!
#KitLitUK #SimonAndSchuster
#KitLitUK #SimonAndSchuster
Need suggestions. Small picked this chapter book up at a book fair & loved it (we are on 3rd reread!) So we're graduating from picture books. But I think he likes it because its set on a train 😄 so suggestions for chapter books that are train heavy or this style for 6 year old? #kitlituk #kidbooksuk
November 22, 2024 at 7:40 PM
Need suggestions. Small picked this chapter book up at a book fair & loved it (we are on 3rd reread!) So we're graduating from picture books. But I think he likes it because its set on a train 😄 so suggestions for chapter books that are train heavy or this style for 6 year old? #kitlituk #kidbooksuk
#nationalillustrationday #kitlit #kitlituk I wrote a couple of words for this blog post about my work :) tinyurl.com/5n7hxbva
Joe Lillington Celebrates Non-Fiction November - Arena Illustration
For me, creating non-fiction work is just another way to learn about something. Even if you are just drawing an object from one viewpoint, you need to understand it from all angles to make the illustr...
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2023 at 9:33 AM
#nationalillustrationday #kitlit #kitlituk I wrote a couple of words for this blog post about my work :) tinyurl.com/5n7hxbva