I am thrilled to announce that my short story book Phantasmagorical Phobias is the solo medalist winner in the 2017 New Apple Book Awards for Short Story Fiction!

I loved writing this book. A lot of the stories were inspired by a large hardback book filled with fairy tales and short stories when I was a kid. Even today it is with fond memories that I remember this book; alas it was destroyed in a house fire a few years ago. But this book, one in a series if I recall correctly, will always hold a special place in my heart.

And that is exactly what a book should do for a young reader. Capture their imagination and fascination for years to come. That is the magic of books. If you find the right one, the words, images and emotions, never truly leave you, even as an adult.

The Orgress Who Was Scared of Humans is the one story in Phantasmagorical Phobias that I wrote with these memories lingering in my imagination as I created the characters and the scenario.

To be honest I am not much of a fan of short stories, so this book was also something a little out of my comfort zone. I usually like to write longer stories which is a challenge for me when I do write children’s books. But I love creating characters and new places for my books, I just need to remember when writing a picture book that I do not go overboard with the word count!

Anyway to get back to the award. I would like to that New Apple for the honor bestowed on me with this award. It was a surprise and a thrill to have won. The book is one that I am incredibly proud of and I hope that young readers enjoy the stories I have created for them.

Best wishes,

Michelle