Steve Voake
Encyclopedia
Steve Voake is a successful English children's author from Midsomer Norton
, Somerset
, whose books have sold all over the world.
In 2003 he was head teacher of a primary school in Kilmersdon
, Somerset
, when the BBC
reported that he was being hailed as the next J. K. Rowling
. A bidding war had broken out amongst publishers and film makers for the rights to his first novel, The Dreamwalker's Child
. The deal he accepted with Faber and Faber
enabled him to give up his teaching job to be a full-time writer.
Since then he has published eight books. A further four have been commissioned, including a new series with a U.S. publisher. The novelist and critic Amanda Craig
has regularly praised his work. The Times
often includes his books in its recommended lists of top children's books. The School Library Association
has included one of his novels in its list of recommended books for boys.
He also contributed to the Higher Ground Project
, a book featuring leading children's authors that was published to raise awareness of the Boxing Day Tsunami.
, then qualified as a teacher at the University of Exeter
.
Primary School, near Midsomer Norton
, Somerset
. In his spare time he was writing his first children's book, The Dreamwalker's Child
. In October 2003, while still working as a primary school head teacher, the BBC
reported that he was "being hailed as the next JK Rowling" after the book gained interest from Hollywood and was "the subject of a furious bidding war between three UK publishers" and had "seen interest from book firms in Italy, Japan, Germany and the US".
In addition, film companies Dreamworks
, Warner Brothers, Fox Broadcasting Company
and Miramax all asked to see the book
The BBC, The Times
and The Independent
then reported in 2003 that he agreed a £91,000 deal with Faber and Faber
for the UK rights to his book,. In 2005, the book was published in the UK as well as Italy, Germany, Greece and Japan,.
In 2007 he collaborated with his cousin Charlotte Voake, the Nestle Smarties Book Prize-winning author of Pizza Kittens
and Ginger (book)
, to write Insect Detective.
He is currently also Senior Lecturer in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University
.
has published many favourable articles featuring Steve Voake or his books and frequently including them in their holiday specials of recommended books at Christmas or the summer holidays,
,. Their critic, the novelist Amanda Craig
in particular has recommended them, <.
The Guardian
reported on Steve Voake's inclusion on the School Library Association
List. The Observer
favourably reviewed The Dreamwalker's Child". The Daily Telegraph has also reviewed his work, as has The Independent
. The Times Educational Supplement
covered Steve Voake's contribution to the Higher Ground Project
, a book published to raise awareness of the Boxing Day Tsunami.
, the Bath Chronicle
and the Worcester News
.
, United States
), the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
, and in Fantasy Magazine in Italy.
featured an interview with Steve Voake in its Newsround
programme.
BBC Somerset Sound has interviewed him on the radio. The BBC has regularly reported on Steve Voake in its news pages on it website,,.
, Frome
, Bath, Somerset, Edinburgh
, Aberdeen
and Guildford
.
Midsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, north-east of Wells, north-west of Frome, and south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, whose books have sold all over the world.
In 2003 he was head teacher of a primary school in Kilmersdon
Kilmersdon
Kilmersdon is a small village located in the north of Somerset between the towns of Radstock and Frome. The settlement is recorded in William I's Domesday book and dates back at least 1,000 years; though the core of the village dates from the mid nineteenth century.-History:The name Kilmersdon...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, when the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reported that he was being hailed as the next J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE , better known as J. K. Rowling, is the British author of the Harry Potter fantasy series...
. A bidding war had broken out amongst publishers and film makers for the rights to his first novel, The Dreamwalker's Child
The Dreamwalker's Child
The Dreamwalker's Child is a children's fantasy novel by Steve Voake. It was his debut novel and was published in 2005 by Faber Children's Books. It was shortlisted for the Stockton Children's Book of the Year. It is 320 pages long.-Plot summary:...
. The deal he accepted with Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
enabled him to give up his teaching job to be a full-time writer.
Since then he has published eight books. A further four have been commissioned, including a new series with a U.S. publisher. The novelist and critic Amanda Craig
Amanda Craig
Amanda Craig is a British novelist. Craig studied at Bedales School and Cambridge and works as a journalist. She is married with two children and lives in London....
has regularly praised his work. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
often includes his books in its recommended lists of top children's books. The School Library Association
School Library Association
The School Library Association is an independent organization in the United Kingdom which promotes libraries and literacy in schools. The SLA was founded in 1937 and is based at Wanborough, Wiltshire, near Swindon...
has included one of his novels in its list of recommended books for boys.
He also contributed to the Higher Ground Project
Higher Ground Project
The Higher Ground Project was a worldwide campaign to celebrate the lives of children who survived the tsunami resulting from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake....
, a book featuring leading children's authors that was published to raise awareness of the Boxing Day Tsunami.
Early life
Steve Voake grew up in Midsomer Norton. After leaving school he sold ice-creams in the south of France for a while. He obtained a BA (Hons) in Philosophy at the University of LiverpoolUniversity of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, then qualified as a teacher at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
.
Career
He spent eight years as head teacher of KilmersdonKilmersdon
Kilmersdon is a small village located in the north of Somerset between the towns of Radstock and Frome. The settlement is recorded in William I's Domesday book and dates back at least 1,000 years; though the core of the village dates from the mid nineteenth century.-History:The name Kilmersdon...
Primary School, near Midsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, north-east of Wells, north-west of Frome, and south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. In his spare time he was writing his first children's book, The Dreamwalker's Child
The Dreamwalker's Child
The Dreamwalker's Child is a children's fantasy novel by Steve Voake. It was his debut novel and was published in 2005 by Faber Children's Books. It was shortlisted for the Stockton Children's Book of the Year. It is 320 pages long.-Plot summary:...
. In October 2003, while still working as a primary school head teacher, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reported that he was "being hailed as the next JK Rowling" after the book gained interest from Hollywood and was "the subject of a furious bidding war between three UK publishers" and had "seen interest from book firms in Italy, Japan, Germany and the US".
In addition, film companies Dreamworks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
, Warner Brothers, Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
and Miramax all asked to see the book
The BBC, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
and The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
then reported in 2003 that he agreed a £91,000 deal with Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
for the UK rights to his book,. In 2005, the book was published in the UK as well as Italy, Germany, Greece and Japan,.
In 2007 he collaborated with his cousin Charlotte Voake, the Nestle Smarties Book Prize-winning author of Pizza Kittens
Pizza Kittens
Pizza Kittens is a children's picture book by Charlotte Voake, published in 2002. It won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Silver Award....
and Ginger (book)
Ginger (book)
Ginger is a children's picture book by Charlotte Voake. In 1997 it won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award. It is about a pampered house cat who resents the sudden appearance of a kitten in her life. The book is followed by Ginger Finds a Home, a prequel, and Ginger and the Mystery Visitor,...
, to write Insect Detective.
He is currently also Senior Lecturer in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University
Bath Spa University
Bath Spa University is a university based in, and around, Bath, England. The institution was previously known as Bath College of Higher Education, and later Bath Spa University College...
.
Novels
- The Dreamwalker's Child (2005)
- The Web of Fire (2006)
- The Starlight Conspiracy (2007)
- Daisy Dawson (2007)
- Daisy Dawson and the Secret Pool (2008)
- Daisy Dawson and the Big Freeze (2009)
- Insect Detective (2009)
- Blood Hunters (2009)
- Fightback (2010)
- Hooey Higgins and the Shark (to be published 2010)
- Hooey Higgins and the Tremendous Trousers (to be published 2010)
- Hooey Higgins and the Big Boat Race (to be published 2011)
Award nominations
- The Dreamwalker's ChildThe Dreamwalker's ChildThe Dreamwalker's Child is a children's fantasy novel by Steve Voake. It was his debut novel and was published in 2005 by Faber Children's Books. It was shortlisted for the Stockton Children's Book of the Year. It is 320 pages long.-Plot summary:...
- shortlisted for Stockton Children's Book of the Year Award and Concorde Book Award - The Starlight Conspiracy - shortlisted for Concorde Book Award
- Blood Hunters - selected for National 'Booked Up' Scheme 2009, Shortlisted for Manchester Book Award, Shortlisted for Leeds Book Award, shortlisted for Cheshire Schools Book Award
- The School Library AssociationSchool Library AssociationThe School Library Association is an independent organization in the United Kingdom which promotes libraries and literacy in schools. The SLA was founded in 1937 and is based at Wanborough, Wiltshire, near Swindon...
included The Web of Fire in its list of "Top books for boys".
UK national newspapers
The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
has published many favourable articles featuring Steve Voake or his books and frequently including them in their holiday specials of recommended books at Christmas or the summer holidays,
,. Their critic, the novelist Amanda Craig
Amanda Craig
Amanda Craig is a British novelist. Craig studied at Bedales School and Cambridge and works as a journalist. She is married with two children and lives in London....
in particular has recommended them, <.
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported on Steve Voake's inclusion on the School Library Association
School Library Association
The School Library Association is an independent organization in the United Kingdom which promotes libraries and literacy in schools. The SLA was founded in 1937 and is based at Wanborough, Wiltshire, near Swindon...
List. The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
favourably reviewed The Dreamwalker's Child". The Daily Telegraph has also reviewed his work, as has The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
. The Times Educational Supplement
Times Educational Supplement
The Times Educational Supplement is a weekly UK publication aimed primarily at school teachers in the UK. It was first published in 1910 as a pull-out supplement in The Times newspaper. Such was its popularity that in 1914, the supplement became a separate publication selling for 1 penny.The TES...
covered Steve Voake's contribution to the Higher Ground Project
Higher Ground Project
The Higher Ground Project was a worldwide campaign to celebrate the lives of children who survived the tsunami resulting from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake....
, a book published to raise awareness of the Boxing Day Tsunami.
UK local newspapers
Many local newspapers have covered his work, including the Somerset Guardian StandardSomerset Guardian Standard
The Somerset Guardian and Standard are two weekly local newspapers, published in Somerset, England.The Somerset Standard & Guardian Series consists of the Frome & Somerset Standard, the Somerset Guardian and since July 2004 the Warminster & Westbury Standard....
, the Bath Chronicle
Bath Chronicle
The Bath Chronicle is a weekly newspaper, first published under various titles before 1760 in Bath, England. Prior to September 2007, it was published daily.-Name changes:...
and the Worcester News
Worcester News
The Worcester News is a tabloid newspaper based in Worcester, UK. The Worcester newspaper, which was re-branded from the Worcester Evening News in July 2005, is the largest selling daily local newspaper in Worcester. The Worcester News is published Monday to Saturday...
.
Foreign periodicals
Abroad, there has been considerable newspaper coverage, including The Herald Journal , (UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, and in Fantasy Magazine in Italy.
Television and radio
CBBCCBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
featured an interview with Steve Voake in its Newsround
Newsround
Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children...
programme.
BBC Somerset Sound has interviewed him on the radio. The BBC has regularly reported on Steve Voake in its news pages on it website,,.
Literary festivals
He is now a regular on the book festival circuit and has been invited to speak at literary festivals including CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, Frome
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
, Bath, Somerset, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
.