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Katya Balen studied English at university. Since then she's worked in lots of special schools and is now co-director of Mainspring Arts, which runs creative workshops for neurodivergent people. When she's not writing books or planning projects, she likes to scroll through dog-rescue websites, bake and attempt to keep all her house plants alive. She lives in London with her partner and her ridiculously lazy dog, Raffi. Sydney Smith is a children's book illustrator. He lives in Canada with his wife and two sons. His picture books have won numerous awards, including the CILIP Kate Greenway Medal, which was awarded to Town Is By The Sea in 2018. THE LIGHT IN EVERYTHING is his first book with Bloomsbury.
This is Balen's best book yet: ambitious, funny, spirited, moving, heartfelt and bold all at once. She's a force to be reckoned with * Ross Montgomery * This story literally took me by storm. A brave heart-dive into the deep emotions of Tom and Zofia, it's beautifully told with care and tenderness * Jasbinder Bilan * I loved this book. The deftness with which Katya creates such passionate, funny, broken, brave characters. What an achievement. Katya Balen can break your heart and make you snort with laughter in the same sentence * Natasha Farrant * Katya Balen is rapidly becoming one of my favourite writers. This is a beautiful book that will capture you from the first page. An incredible book by an incredible writer. I loved it * Lisa Thompson * A bold, bright story of blended families, and how two remarkable children cope when their lives change dramatically. Katya Balen's writing fizzes with her trademark originality and voice. This is another stunningly good read from one of my favourite authors * Emma Carroll * I loved this book! * Hilary McKay * A sensitive story about stitching a new family together from frayed pieces. So vividly-imagined you can taste the salt in the air * Aisha Bushby * Katya Balen's October, October is a very special new addition to the shelf and deserves classic status * Times Children's Book of the Week * Quite simply one of the most beautiful books I've ever read * Kiran Millwood Hargrave on OCTOBER, OCTOBER * October, October is fierce with a wild love. It draws you in to its heart, shakes you with a fury, wraps you in a spell of storytelling. In lyrical prose, Katya Balen gives us a modern day heroine filled with courage. I loved every page * Jackie Morris * Wise and bright - I loved it. * Hilary McKay on OCTOBER, OCTOBER * It's EXQUISITE. Read it. Wild yourself. Open your heart to it. Written with the pen of a poet and the soul of Mother Earth. Glorious. It's like nothing else I've ever read. Liz Hyder on OCTOBER, OCTOBER * Liz Hyder on OCTOBER, OCTOBER * The most wonderful, original treasure of a story * Emma Carroll on OCTOBER, OCTOBER * I've also just been introduced to the first two stunning children's books by Katya Balen, both published by Bloomsbury: The Space We're In and October, October. If you have a middle-grader, or know one, or are one ... treat yourself -- Daniel Hahn * Books of the Year, The Spectator * One of the most beautiful children's books I've ever read * Natasha Farrant on OCTOBER, OCTOBER * A tear-jerker about family that shows us things that are important and true, and promotes compassion -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times, Children's Book of the Week * This sensitive, heartbreaking story boasts a wonderful narrative voice and secret codes that add another layer of intrigue * Guardian on THE SPACE WE'RE IN * Now and then, and only now and then, a book changes us. The Space We're In does that. It's ferocious and it's visionary * Kevin Crossley-Holland *
