Tea at Fortnum's with Kate de Goldi

Before Kate De Goldi left London to fly back to her home in New Zealand, she joined Dinah Hall, Sunday Telegraph book reviewer and blogger, Jo from Foyles Children's Department CXR and Jess from Primrose Books in North London for tea at Fortnum's in Piccadilly. Also enjoying the delicious cakes and ice-creams (they do these little mini-cones with different flavours as a 'starter') were myself, Templar commissioning editor for fiction Helen Boyle and Lesley Preston from Bounce!

Kate kept us entertained with her stories of her travels around Britain - she started off in Edinburgh and worked her way slowly south - falling in love with each new city and region as she went. Her indefatigable travelling companion was Reena - an extraordinary walking talking powerhouse of knowledge and wisdom. They made a great pair - I won't forget them whistling in harmony in the mornings at our Edinburgh flat.

Dinah Hall has also written up a short blog - http://ladybookbird.tumblr.com - which sums up Kate perfectly!

Click here for an extract

The 10pm Question
Kate de Goldi

Twelve-year-old Frankie Parsons has a head full of questions. Only Ma takes him seriously, but unfortunately she is the cause of the most worrying question of all, the one Frankie can never bring himself to ask. Then a new girl arrives at school with questions of her own: questions that make Frankie’s carefully controlled world begin to unravel.

"De Goldi is the brightest star in Templar’s new and exciting fiction list. This is an effusive novel packed with garrulous dialogue and layers of characters, that really capture the themes of family complexity and mental health. Definitely one to watch in young adult fiction this autumn."

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