NEWS

Witch nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022! 

November 08, 2021

Witch by Finbar Hawkins and published by Zephyr (an imprint of Head of Zeus) has been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022. See the rest of the nominees here.

The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to a children’s book author whose writing creates an outstanding reading experience.

The longlist will be announced in February, shortlist in March 2022 and the winner on Thursday 16 June 2022.

London bookshop tour

October 21, 2021

Tour of London bookshops to celebrate the paperback launch of ‘Witch’.

Shops on the tour:
Alligator’s Mouth, Richmond – Kew Bookshop, Kew – Tales on Moon Lane, Herne Hill – Children’s bookshop, Muswell Hill – West End Lane Bookshop, West Hampstead –
Waterstones Piccadilly – Waterstones Gower Street.

South-West bookshop tour

October 14, 2021

To celebrate the paperback launch of ‘Witch’, Finbar is embarking on a whistle-stop signing tour of bookshops in the South-West.

Bookshops on the tour:
Toppings Bath, Waterstones Bath, Winstones Frome, Winstones Sherborne, The Rocketship Bookshop, Waterstones Salisbury, The Corsham Bookshop, Mr Bs Reading Emporium.

He will also be signing a very special copy and leaving it in one of the bookshops below. If you find it, buy the book and follow the instructions inside to get your print!

The Magnificent Seven!
Witch shortlisted for Branford Boase award 2021  

April 29, 2021

Witch by Finbar Hawkins and edited by Fiona Kennedy (Zephyr, Head of Zeus) has made it to the prestigious Branford Boase award shortlist for 2021. Congratulations to all those shortlisted. See the full shortlist here and also meet the judges. The winner will be announced on July 15, 2021.

Judge for the Searchlight Awards

I am thrilled to have been asked to judge the ‘Best Children’s Bedtime Story’ Entries are invited for bedtime stories, up to 500 words, suitable to read aloud to a young child. Submit your story from 10th May 2021 to 16th August 2021 and get the full info on the Searchlight website.

Witch longlisted for Branford Boase award 2021  

January 28, 2021

It was announced that Witch by Finbar Hawkins and edited by Fiona Kennedy (Zephyr, Head of Zeus) has been longlisted for the prestigious Branford Boase award for 2021. Uniquely, the Branford Boase Award also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent. See the full longlist here.

Zephyr Pre-Empts Debut From Aardman’s Hawkins  

Head of Zeus imprint Zephyr has pre-empted the debut novel from Aardman Animations creative director Finbar Hawkins in a two-book deal.

Publisher Fiona Kennedy acquired world rights from Catherine Pellegrino at Marjacq. Debut Witch will be published simultaneously in hardback, e-book and audiobook in October 2020, with a second untitled novel to follow.

The synopsis explains: “Witch is a powerful story of revenge and self-discovery. Set in the turbulent times of the seventeenth century, where witches are pawns in a war to oust the king and establish a new order, Evey witnesses the murder of her mother by a gang of witch-hunters. Her fury burning bright and strong, she vows to hunt down the killers and avenge her mother’s death.”

Kennedy added: “Witch is one of those rare stories that makes you gasp – utterly breathtaking – and written with remarkable skill and compassion. It’s full of beauty and cruelty and I honestly couldn’t put it down, and can’t stop thinking about it. Finbar and his novel, Witch, are going to win hearts and minds. I’m certain of that. We are all completely thrilled to welcome him and to be able to publish him at Zephyr.”

Hawkins added: “Fiona and her team have so warmly embraced my book, and I can’t wait to introduce Evey to the world with publication by Zephyr – the perfect home for Witch. I’m over the full moon.”

Pellegrino commented: “I was completely blown away when I first read Witch and discovered Finbar’s lyrical and urgent prose, the beautiful and violent world he draws us into and met his protagonist Evey, a young woman who rages against injustice and whose side you never want to leave. I am thrilled by Fiona’s passion for Witch and delighted that Finbar is joining such a creative and dynamic team at Zephyr.”