Hilary Mckay - Children's Author

Hilary McKay won the Guardian Children's Award with her first novel, The Exiles. Her subsequent work has achieved similar recognition - The Exiles at Home won the Smarties Prize and Saffy's Angel won the Whitbread. A graduate of Botany and Zoology from St Andrews University, Hilary now writes full-time. She lives in Derbyshire with her husband and two children.

You can read her character Rose Casson's blog by clicking here - and Rose's tweets on the right hand side of this page.

Q & A with Hilary Mckay

What is your earliest childhood memory?
Watching steam trains with my grandfather. He died before I was two years
old, so that is a very early memory.

If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
Well, who could turn down the gift of flight? Or travel without luggage? Or a
life spent following the sun? Without doubt, I would be a swallow. I realise this
means a lifetime of eating flies, but I think it would be worth it.

What is your dream holiday destination?
I would start at the Sangre de Cristo mountains in New Mexico and travel South
through Central America, along the coast to Peru, then down through Chile
across to the Falklands and on to Antarctica, which I would circumnavigate.
Then I would travel North to New Zealand where I would spend a long time
warming up and then across to Australia. I would spend quite a long time in
Sydney and go up into the Blue Mountains (I might go sapphire hunting there)
and then to the Great Barrier Reef (of course).
That would be far enough for me.

What is your morning routine?
Alas, I do not have a morning routine.

If you could have one special talent, what would it be?
Singing, undoubtedly. That would make me the happiest. But I have a friend
whose talent is languages and I envy that one very much.

Likes: Millions of things! Books, cats, honey, letters from readers (hint, hint), real music, apples, swimming in cold water, chocolate coated ginger biscuits, trees.

Dislikes: Putting things away, litter, loud TV, hot rooms, being told what to think.

3 words that best descibe me: Untidy, happy, hopeful!

A Secret that not many people know: I am a VERY slow reader!

---

Featured Books, with extracts by Hilary Mckay

Wishing for tomorrow The Sequel to the Little Princess
Hilary Mckay
A new chapter to the story of Sara Crewe has been cleverly crafted by Hilary McKay who picks up the threads at Miss Minchin’s after Sara has left and, in particular, the loneliness of Sara’s friend Ermengarde who is teased mercilessly by her...
Featured in: 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/04/2010
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Permanent Rose
Hilary Mckay
Hilary McKay has a brilliant ear for family dialogue as well as a shrewd understanding of the passions of adolescence and a wickedly sure touch about the complex ins and outs of sibling relationships. Permanent Rose is one of the...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Caddy Ever After
Hilary Mckay
Written in a light and witty style the ongoing sagas of the Casson family remain a must for that nearly teenage market and this one sees Caddy falling in love and getting married but not to the person everyone thinks.  McKay’s...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Forever Rose
Hilary Mckay
This is the 5th and final instalment about the Casson family which began with Saffy’s Angel. Forever Rose is both funny and touching.  The author has a deft lightness of touch that teenagers all over will enjoy.  Told over...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Wishing for Tomorrow
Hilary Mckay
A new chapter to the story of Sara Crew has been cleverly crafted by Hilary McKay who picks up the threads at Miss Minchin’s after Sara has left and, in particular, the loneliness of Sara’s friend Ermengarde who is teased...
Featured in: 9+ readers | eBooks
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Indigo's Stars
Hilary Mckay
Funny and compelling with a thought-provoking ending that leaves the reader eager for more and of course there is more.  This one stars Indigo, the only boy in the Casson family.  Definitely a book to curl up with and enjoy...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Saffy's Angel
Hilary Mckay
Our March 2012 Guest Editor Sally Nicholls: "I've never written a fan letter to an author, but I came closest after finishing Saffy's Angel. I read it while I was first trying to be a writer myself, and I decided...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Dog Friday
Hilary Mckay
Winner of numerous prestigious book awards Hilary Mckay’s two humorous titles Amber Cat and Dog Friday will provide 7+ year olds with a really good fun read.  In Dog Friday, things are not going well for Robin; new neighbours...
Featured in: 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Amber Cat
Hilary Mckay
Winner of numerous prestigious book awards Hilary Mckay’s two humorous titles Amber Cat and Dog Friday will provide 7+ year olds with a really good fun read.  In Amber Cat Robin, Dan and Sun Dance are off school with...
Featured in: 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/09/2009
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Amazing!
Hilary Mckay
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+. A hugely entertaining story of boys’ friendships that will have you laughing out loud throughout most of it. Peter is sure that he is the most boring boy in his class just because he...
Featured in: 11+ readers | 9+ readers | Dyslexia-friendly | Reluctant Readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 22/05/2008
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Forever Rose
Hilary Mckay
This is the 5th and final instalment about the Casson family which began with Saffy’s Angel. Forever Rose is both funny and touching.  The author has a deft lightness of touch that teenagers all over will enjoy.  Told over...
Featured in: 11+ readers | eBooks
Format: Hardback - Released: 20/09/2007
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Charlie and the Cat flap
Hilary Mckay
Best friends Charlie and Henry are busy planning the best sleep-over ever. They agree they’ll be no itching powder or super soakers. Instead, they’ll look for ghosts and have a midnight feast - but things don’t go according to plan....
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/04/2007
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy

Caddy Ever After
Hilary Mckay
Written in a light and witty style the ongoing sagas of the Casson family remain a must for that nearly teenage market and this one sees Caddy falling in love and getting married but not to the person everyone thinks. ...
Featured in: 9+ readers | eBooks
Format: Hardback - Released: 21/09/2006
Info   Extract   Wishlist   Compare Price   Buy