Francesca Armour-Chelu
Francesca Armour-Chelu grew up by the Suffolk Coast. She studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths and went on to work in museum education and public libraries.
Her experience of living on water meadows in an abandoned Edwardian railway carriage inspired her novel,Fenn Halfin and the Fearzero, which was short-listed for the Mslexia Children’s Novel Competition and in the Children's category at the 2016 East Anglian Book Awards, and longlisted for the Little Rebels Award. Her novelLemon Ink Over Flamewas short-listed for the Tibor Jones Pageturner Prize 2013 and her short storyThe Starving Ghostwon the Mslexia Short Story Competition 2013.
Awards
· Shortlisted for the Children's Award at the 2016 East Anglian Book Awards
· Longlisted for the 2017 Branford Boase Award
· Longlisted for the New Angle Prize 2017
Select Praise for Francesca Armour-Chelu
‘The beauty and cleverness of the writing pulls the reader through a tale that is unforgettable and filled with magic. A story of hope and dreams; this is just wonderful.’ Fallen Star Stories
‘A great adventure with a heartfelt message.’South Wales Evening Post
‘Rich in description.’Books for Keeps
Books Agent
Books
Praise forThe Butterfly Circus
‘The beauty and cleverness of the writing pulls the reader through a tale that is unforgettable and filled with magic. A story of hope and dreams; this is just wonderful.’ Fallen Star Stories
Praise forFenn Halfin and the Fearzero
‘Debut author Francesca Armour-Chelu has created a desperate flooded dystopian world in this fast-paced story of one boy's survival. When Fenn's parents are killed by the vicious Terra Ferma who are determined to wipe out all Seaborns, Fenn survives thanks to Halflin who does everything he can to keep Fenn safe. But Fenn is a child with a special destiny and Chilstone, the heartless leader of Terra Firma, is determined to get him. Can Fenn stay one step ahead of his pursuers?’Pick of the Month, Lovereading4kids
‘The first in a chilling adventure series about a sinking world that subtly addresses themes of migration and global warming. [...] A great adventure with a heartfelt message.’South Wales Evening Post
‘I LOVED this book and am desperate to read the second instalment [...] Issues of the environment, discrimination, refugees and migration make this book pertinent to the current world order. The prose style is rich and engaging and worthy of study in any upper key stage literacy lesson.’The School Librarian
‘Wearing its grim environmental warning lightly, the world Armour-Chelu has created is rich, evocative and utterly absorbing – we are thrust into Fenn’s world from the very first paragraph, and don’t look back.[…] A story that is perfect for adaptation to the big screen, make sure you read the book first!’Children's Books Ireland
‘Exciting and simply brilliant!’Fallen Star Stories
‘The first in a chilling adventure series about a sinking world - apt for readers aged nine and over who like Percy Jackson and Artemis Fowl.’Surrey Advertiser
‘Rich in description.’Books for Keeps