Magical Missives

Here at 'The Best-Kept Secret', we've found ourselves in the midst of handling over two hundred 'letter from the author' requests from schools before the start of the new term. A task not dissimilar to deciphering the pages of a spellbook penned by a witch moonlighting as a GP while simultaneously endeavouring to tame a formidable dragon. This is further complicated by the unpredictability of Adobe magic causing digital disruptions... Despite these challenges, we are still offering magical missives to inspire children and help promote reading for pleasure. If you would like a free personalised letter for the children in your class or the children at your school, please get in touch with us!

Get in touch!

Personalised author letter for schools

Virtual Author Visits

Conjuring up class creativity via crystal ball!

As World Book Day 2023 drew ever nearer it became abundantly clear that Sophie could not split herself into quarters to visit schools in Burnley, Staffordshire, Sheffield and Ribble Valley. So she conjured up plans for bespoke 'virtual author' visits, recorded from her witches hovel, enabling her to spend World Book Day with children from schools far and wide - with the aid of a crystal ball. These were such a resounding success that 'Virtual Author Visits are now available all year round alongside in-person visits - as authors are not just for World Book Day and witches are not just for Halloween!

'The video was fabulous and so motivating for the children. It was a magical day!' 'I will be using this again- it is the best I’ve done for WBD and this is my 28th year of teaching!'

'It was an amazing day!' 'They absolutely loved your book and were over the moon you’d dedicated it to them. When I shared your message they were over the moon.You certainly inspired them and the e-book brought the story to life with the beautiful illustrations.' 'The children loved the video which really hooked them in, we then listened to the audiobook and some of them read it out using props such as microphones.' Sophie was very touched to receive these beautifully written, thoughtful and heartfelt thank you letters from pupils in Year 6 at St Saviours Academy after their personalised virtual author visit and Q&A session.

For further information please visit https://www.stonehillpress.co.uk/teachers

WHSmith - World Book Day

HUGE thanks to all the lovely thoughtful and accommodating staff at WHSmith for hosting The Best Kept Secret book-signing today! Sophie is very touched by the beautiful flowers and the card secretly signed by the staff and all the children who enjoyed the event - her hovel has never been so colourful!

Many thanks also to all the children and their parents who dropped in especially to see Sophie; who were so kind as to tell her their favourite part in the book; those who had already read it and those who were convinced to purchase a copy; those who braved the yucky dip; who secretly signed the thank you card; who held 'Our Kid' so gently, and also to all those shoppers - who, when faced with a witch when they walked through the doors, didn't about-turn and run out at high speed!

Poster modelled by the very lovely Lois