Hello all!

Today I can FINALLY share some news about my next two books! I am so excited about both of these and hugely proud of them too!

First up, in April 2026, a sequel to THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS will publish! (the below isn't the final cover - that is still in development and will be revealed another time)

Ever since THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS published in 2018, lots of readers – young and old – have asked if I’d ever write a sequel, and I've always said no (until now!). I felt I left Marinka in a fairly good place at the end of THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS and I was happy to leave her there and have readers imagine her future. But, Marinka kept appearing in my other books – both THE CASTLE OF TANGLED MAGIC and THE THIEF WHO SANG STORMS feature her briefly, at very different ages. She has been a character that I found difficult to leave behind.

So, when my editor Rebecca Hill finally asked if I’d ever write a sequel, I sat down for a good long think. And I decided there was a story I wanted to explore. While I liked to think that I’d left Marinka in a fairly good place, was that really true?

Following the events of THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS that changed Marinka’s life completely, she would have a great deal to process and come to terms with. I was interested especially in any feelings of guilt and regret she might experience following her own actions, and how these might entwine with her grief. I also thought a great deal about the house – how it had given so much of itself to help Marinka fulfil her dream and be safe and happy, and what that might mean for it.

These thoughts turned into THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS RUNS AWAY, which picks up Marinka’s story just a few months after the end of the first book. Once I started, the book flowed wonderfully and was an absolute dream to write. It was so brilliant to spend time with Marinka and her found family and friends again and deepen and develop their characters and story. I also loved diving back into Yaga lore and expanding this out – in particular I worked with the idea of The Gate and how Gates come to be – and I took inspiration from a Russian story about the Water of Life for Marinka’s and Benjamin's adventure, and this painting by Victor Vasnetsov, Knight at the Crossroads, 1882.

I’ll stop there before I give too much away – but I can’t wait for readers to return to this world and run with the house on a new adventure!

The artwork for THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS RUNS AWAY is being created by the same design and illustration team that worked on THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS; Katharine Millichope designing, Melissa Castrillón illustrating the cover, and Elisa Paganelli illustrating the interior of the book. The editorial team is the same too; Rebecca Hill, Becky Walker and Sarah Stewart at Usborne have worked their magic making the story shine as bright as can be.

I know a year feels a long way away, but the book is already up for pre-order in the UK in all the usual places, with signed (and personalised!) copies available to pre-order from my local indie Sam Read Bookseller (they post too!). The book will publish in the US with Scholastic, but I'm not sure exactly when yet - more news on this soon! Here’s the official blurb:

Then, in September 2026, A YEAR OF FAIRY TALES will publish, a gorgeous gift hardback for readers aged 8+ and their families, with full colour illustrations by Elisa Paganelli which are truly exquisite! I've wanted to write a beautiful collection of classic fairy tales for today's readers for as long as I can remember, so this is a proper dream come true moment!

There will be twelve stories – one for each month of the year – including creative retellings of well-known and lesser-known European tales, and original stories inspired by fairy tale motifs. All the stories centre child characters on fairy tale adventures and there are no marriages as happily-ever-afters!

The package Usborne are working on for this collection is absolutely stunning and I think it’s going to be a real book to treasure (think ribbon bookmark - yes, RIBBON BOOKMARK!).

Here's a sneaky peek at the opening for February's story, JACK AND THE CLOUD GIANTS, which is a retelling of the English fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk, that includes elements of the Hungarian and Romanian versions, Three Brothers Steal Back the Sun, Moon and Stars (ATU 328A for the folktale enthusiasts - the ATU index is a catalogue of folktale types).

I wish I could share some of Elisa's incredible art for this... but all in good time! There are no pre-order links for this one yet, but of course I'll let you know when there are.

Finally, MORE news! I have another middle-grade novel publishing with Usborne in 2027. And… in my last newsletter I mentioned that I had something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT out on submission, and I am THRILLED to say that has found an AMAZING home too! I’ll reveal more about that another time though...

Sending you all warmest wishes until then, Sophie 😊

P.S. Let me know what you think of all this news! Send me a reply and I'll pick one at random to receive a lovely treat! x