In Her Element

Jamila Gavin is a writer of Anglo-Indian heritage who emigrated to Britain as a child. She’s been publishing children’s books for all ages since 1979, often inspired by the changing face of multicultural Britain, and driven by a desire to see children of all backgrounds reflected in the stories they read. Jamila’s books include the Grandpa Chatterji series, The Surya trilogy and Blackberry Blue. Her historical novel Coram Boy, set in 18th century England, won the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year, is in development with BBC TV, was adapted by the National Theatre and had a run on Broadway. Jamila lives in Gloucestershire. Jacinta Read is a Eurasian illustrator and writer whose work is influenced by her love of dance and old musicals. As a neurodivergent child who struggled to read, it was illustration that opened up the wonderful world of literature to her; she hopes her pictures will do the same for others. Jacinta lives in Oxford with her husband, two children, and Louie the red Jack Russell. She’s an illustration mentee on Pop Up’s Pathways into Children’s Publishing programme (2019- 2021). In Her Element is Jacinta’s first published children’s book. Jacinta lives in Oxfordshire.