I am delighted that my first solo fiction project will be published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

The Clockwork Conspiracy is the first novel in a new series for middle grade readers about aspiring inventor Isaac Turner, who lives with his dad, the chief horologist in charge of Big Ben. When Isaac’s father vanishes from the belfry on the night the clocks go back, leaving behind only a smashed pocket watch and a cryptic message, Isaac determines to find him. Hunting a trail of clues through London’s landmarks, Isaac uncovers a sinister plot in the gears of government and must race against time to save his father – and time itself.

I have worked on this book for a long time alongside Adventures on Trains, ever since the idea first struck me on a tour of Big Ben with my dad. I put in everything that 10-year-old me would have devoured: a locked-room mystery, rooftop chases, codes to crack and clues to solve, all set in a fascinating real place that’s crammed with weird and exciting facts about the amazing world around us.

Bloomsbury have shown tremendous faith in this new series and I couldn’t be happier to be joining their starried ranks of brilliant authors. It will be a major new release for them in Spring 2024 - which I know is a long way away! But I am very excited to begin sharing more about this story with you over the months to come.

The news of Bloomsbury’s acquisition was first reported in The Bookseller, and you can read the full story here.