Sophie Kirtley – författare

'So good I read it twice' - Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War'This thrilling time-slip adventure oozes magic and heart' - Bookseller EDITOR'S CHOICEWhen Charlie’s longed-for brother is born with a serious heart condition, Charlie’s world is turned upside down. Upset and afraid, Charlie flees the hospital and makes for the ancient forest on the edge of town. There Charlie finds a boy floating face-down in the stream, injured, but alive. But when Charlie sets off back to the hospital to fetch help, it seems the forest has changed. It’s become a place as strange and wild as the boy dressed in deerskins. For Charlie has unwittingly fled into the Stone Age, with no way to help the boy or return to the present day. Or is there?What follows is a wild, big-hearted adventure as Charlie and the Stone Age boy set out together to find what they have lost – their courage, their hope, their family and their way home.Fans of Piers Torday and Stig of the Dump will love this wild, wise and heartfelt debut adventure.

'Dazzling storytelling' - Hilary McKayBorn with a serious heart condition, Dara has been waiting for his Big Operation forever, and this summer it’s finally going to happen. The moment his heart is fixed he’ll row out to the island in the bay all by himself just like he’s always dreamed. But when his op is postponed, Dara snaps. When will he get to live his real life? Maybe the adventures he dreams of are just silly fantasies. And then he finds a girl hiding in the boat shed. She wears animal skins. She has a real live pet wolf. She is, simply, impossible. Could Mothgirl really be from the Stone Age? And what is she seeking on Lathrin Island? As Dara and Mothgirl set out on a wild, windswept sea journey Dara begins to realise that when you stop worrying about what’s impossible, you can do anything.A brave, life-affirming middle-grade timeslip adventure about finding your family and finding yourself, from the author of The Wild Way Home.

Sometimes, secrets don’t stay buried forever. Sometimes, they need to be set free…Twelve-year-old Edie and her younger brother Pip are spending half term at Fortune Farm, high in the Irish mountains, with their grandmother Lolly. They haven’t visited Fortune Farm for YEARS and Edie has been dreading it for MONTHS. They spent all their holidays there when Dad was alive. And Edie doesn't like thinking about Dad – even the happy memories haunt her too much.When Edie uncovers a clue that could lead her to long-lost Viking treasure, it's just the adventure she needs to take her mind off Dad. But the adventure soon takes an unnerving and dangerous turn, and Edie discovers that Fortune Farm has more secrets, mysteries and ghosts than she had ever dared to dream.A spine-tingling adventure about the power of memories and the restless spirits that whisper on the wind…An emotional and spine-tingling adventure perfect for fans of The House with Chicken Legs, A Girl Called Owl and A Pocketful of Stars.***‘Ghostly and atmospheric and would have you glued to the pages until its satisfying end,' Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

‘Swanfall manages to capture the kind of magic of a great winter walk. As Soon as you’re finished, you’ll want to pull on your wellies and stomp outside in search of the wild places, where all you can hear are honking geese, winter waders and the sound of wind in the reeds. Hot chocolates all round.’ The Times on Swanfall‘A beautiful story to teach children why nature must be defended … at the heart of the story is something more universal: a child’s transformative bond with the natural world ... It’s that elusive magic that she captures so cleverly…’ The Telegraph on Swanfall‘An utterly absorbing 8+ fantasy.’ The Guardian on SwanfallA thrilling new adventure story inspired by Irish folklore from Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home. Perfect for fans of Sophie Anderson's The House with Chicken Legs, Amy Wilson's A Girl Called Owl and Aisha Bushby's A Pocketful of Stars.Pip lives with Mum in their isolated cottage on the wetlands. Pip struggles to feel like he fits in at school. But at home, amongst nature, he truly feels he can be himself.Just like every winter, Pip is waiting for the swanfall – when the flock of majestic Arctic swans return from Siberia on their annual migration. He knows every swan by their unique markings, and he loves to help Mum record the flock as they soar, shining through the sky, to their home. But this December, Pip’s favourite three swans haven’t appeared. Instead, Pip notices strange footprints in the snow, whispers on the wind and the sense that someone is watching him.Something mysterious is afoot, and the adventure to discover the truth leads Pip to follow clues to an ancient curse that he had always believed was simply a fairytale …**********************************************************************************‘A chilling winter's tale, glittering the magic of friendship, song and arctic swans.’ Sarah Ann Juckes, author of The Night Animals‘Swanfall is perfect for anyone aged 8+ who likes books about nature, friendship, magic – or who just likes great stories!’ Kirsty Applebaum, author of The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good on Swanfall‘A beautiful, thrilling, timeless tale - I loved it.’ Lucy Strange, author of The Secret of Nightingale Wood on Swanfall‘A beautiful, atmospheric story packed full of adventure and wonder.’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear on Swanfall‘Sophie Kirtley’s beautifully written new novel is an adventure-filled tale of friendship and belonging, all wrapped up in a centuries-old mystery. This magical, wintry read is perfect for curling up with on a chilly day. I adored it!’ Olivia Wakeford, author of My Dog on Swanfall‘…the wonder of the natural world, Irish folklore, and anxieties around friendship are all wrapped up in an adventure infused with Kirtley’s signature spooky atmosphere.’ The Irish Examiner on Swanfall‘This is a book that will excite young nature lovers and those who enjoy a strong character-driven story.’ The Big Issue on Swanfall*Swanfall was The Times Children's Book of the Week the week of 15/12/2025

"Unique stories that will thrill readers of all ages [...] alongside stunning black-and-white illustrations from Pam Smy." - Books for KeepsWith a foreword from 'First Lady of the Paranormal' Yvette FieldingThe unusual creak of a floorboard, a flash of light in the dark, the eerie breeze from a closed window … We’ve all heard tales of phantoms and spooks haunting old buildings – but how many can be traced back to real people, real places and real history?From a maze that has the power to eat you alive to a haunted painting with a terrifying secret, and ravens with a taste for revenge, these spine-tingling stories of ghosts, ghouls and unexplained events bring history to life in the eeriest way imaginable!Created in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, this stunning and spooky collection features eleven gripping stories from bestselling, award-winning and rising-star authors including Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Alexia Casale, Joseph Coelho OBE, Larry Hayes, Jim Helmore, Catherine Johnson, Sophie Kirtley, E.L. Norry, Jasmine Richards, Imogen Russell Williams and Sam Sedgman.With atmospheric illustrations by award-winning illustrator Pam Smy, a foreword from the ‘First Lady of the Paranormal’ Yvette Fielding (Ghost Hunters, Blue Peter) and an afterword by Hampton Court Palace’s Chief Historian, Tracy Borman OBE, this unique collection is sure to keep readers of all ages up long past their bedtimes ...