Tim Bowler
Encyclopedia
Tim Bowler is the author of twenty books for children, teenagers and young adults
. He has won 15 awards, including the Carnegie Medal
, the pre-eminent UK award for children's literature, for his novel River Boy
.
He has been described by The Sunday Telegraph as ‘the master of the psychological thriller’ and by The Independent
as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’.
in 1953
, and educated at Westcliff High School for Boys
, and at the University of East Anglia
where he studied Swedish and Scandinavian studies.
His first published novel was Midget
(1994), a psychological thriller set in Leigh-on-Sea. This has been followed by several other novels: Dragon's Rock
(1995), a thriller set in Devon; River Boy
(1997), a story about love and bereavement and winner of the Carnegie Medal; Shadows
(1999), a gritty love story; Storm Catchers
(2001), a kidnap thriller; Starseeker
(2002), a mystical exploration of love, loss and music, also made into a play; Apocalypse
(2004), an allegory about the future of mankind; Frozen Fire
(2006), a philosophical thriller about the nature of reality; Bloodchild
(2008), a story about memory, secrets and betrayal and Buried Thunder
(2011), a tense and haunting thriller.
He has also written Blade, an eight-book urban thriller series. Reviewing Blade for The Bookbag, Jill Murphy wrote, "Nobody in children's writing is producing anything like this. It's electrifying." In some countries (e.g. Germany and Korea) the Blade series is being published in four books, each book consisting of two of the UK titles.
Tim Bowler also speaks at conferences, schools, book festivals and makes regular appearances on radio. He lives in a village in Devon and writes in a small stone outhouse.
Young adult literature
Young-adult fiction or young adult literature , also juvenile fiction, is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 14 to 21. The Young Adult Library Services of the American Library Association defines a young adult as "someone between the...
. He has won 15 awards, including the Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
, the pre-eminent UK award for children's literature, for his novel River Boy
River Boy
River Boy is a young adult novel by Tim Bowler, published in 1997. It is the story of a teenage girl facing the prospect of bereavement. River Boy was awarded the 1997 Carnegie Medal, and the 1999 Angus Book Award.-Plot summary:...
.
He has been described by The Sunday Telegraph as ‘the master of the psychological thriller’ and by 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...
as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’.
Biography
Bowler was born in Leigh-on-SeaLeigh-on-Sea
Leigh-on-Sea , sometimes called Leigh, is a civil parish in Essex, England. It is part of Southend-on-Sea for administrative purposes. It became a civil parish in 1996. The council tax was increased to support it. A town council was formed. Leigh is the only parish in Southend...
in 1953
, and educated at Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys is a selective academy grammar school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Westcliff-on-Sea, near Southend-on-Sea, Essex and surrounding areas. In September 2001 the school was awarded "Beacon" status for its breadth of achievements and quality of work...
, and at the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
where he studied Swedish and Scandinavian studies.
His first published novel was Midget
Midget (novel)
Midget is the first novel by British author Tim Bowler, first published in 1994. It is set in Leigh-on-Sea and is a psychic and psychological thriller. The Sunday Telegraph described Midget as ‘a masterly handling of suspense and cold, trickling horror.'.Teenage Midget is abnormally small and can...
(1994), a psychological thriller set in Leigh-on-Sea. This has been followed by several other novels: Dragon's Rock
Dragon's Rock
Dragon's Rock is a novel for young adults by British author Tim Bowler, first published in 1995. The Times Educational Supplement described it as a nightmarish chiller....
(1995), a thriller set in Devon; River Boy
River Boy
River Boy is a young adult novel by Tim Bowler, published in 1997. It is the story of a teenage girl facing the prospect of bereavement. River Boy was awarded the 1997 Carnegie Medal, and the 1999 Angus Book Award.-Plot summary:...
(1997), a story about love and bereavement and winner of the Carnegie Medal; Shadows
Shadows (novel)
Shadows is a novel written by British author Tim Bowler and was first published in 1999. The Young Telegraph described the novel as having 'lots of pace, action and a couple of shocking twists!' It tells the story of Jamie, a 16-year-old living in Ashingford who used to enjoy playing squash...
(1999), a gritty love story; Storm Catchers
Storm Catchers
Storm Catchers by Tim Bowler is a book is filled with mystery, drama, and adventure, based on a kidnap in the middle of a storm. It was first published in 2001....
(2001), a kidnap thriller; Starseeker
Starseeker
Starseeker is a young adult novel written by British author Tim Bowler. It was originally published in 2002 in the UK. The Mail on Sunday describes Starseeker as 'an intensely moving and powerful story.'. It is a rich novel, written with lyricism, drama and power...
(2002), a mystical exploration of love, loss and music, also made into a play; Apocalypse
Apocalypse (novel)
Apocalypse is a young adult novel written by British author Tim Bowler. It was originally released in 2004 in the UK. The book deals with teenage Kit trying to find his parents after a storm blows them onto an island in which the local community is hostile and a mysterious man who resembles him in...
(2004), an allegory about the future of mankind; Frozen Fire
Frozen Fire (novel)
Frozen Fire is a philosophical thriller about the nature of reality by Tim Bowler. The novel was first published in 2006. It introduces a strange boy who wants to escape his unhappy life through death, and a fifteen-year-old girl who only wants her brother back...
(2006), a philosophical thriller about the nature of reality; Bloodchild
Bloodchild (novel)
Bloodchild is a young adult novel written by British author Tim Bowler. It was originally published in 2008 in the UK. Bloodchild opens with a startling scene of visionary sensation. A boy lies dying in a deserted country lane. As he slips away, he sees almost abstract blocks of colour, as vivid...
(2008), a story about memory, secrets and betrayal and Buried Thunder
Buried Thunder (novel)
Buried Thunder is a young adult novel written by British author Tim Bowler. It was first published in 2011 in the UK. It is a psychological thriller whose central character is a fourteen-year-old girl called Maya who has just moved to the countryside with her parents and brother...
(2011), a tense and haunting thriller.
He has also written Blade, an eight-book urban thriller series. Reviewing Blade for The Bookbag, Jill Murphy wrote, "Nobody in children's writing is producing anything like this. It's electrifying." In some countries (e.g. Germany and Korea) the Blade series is being published in four books, each book consisting of two of the UK titles.
Tim Bowler also speaks at conferences, schools, book festivals and makes regular appearances on radio. He lives in a village in Devon and writes in a small stone outhouse.
Awards and nominations
- 1995 Midget won the Boekenwelp Award (Belgium)
- 1995 Midget won the New York Library Book of the Teen Age (USA)
- 1997 River Boy won the Carnegie MedalCarnegie MedalThe Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
- 1999 River Boy won the Angus Book AwardAngus Book AwardThe Angus Book Award is a literary award for UK authors of teenage fiction. It is awarded by Angus Council in Scotland. The award is decided by the votes of the secondary schools in Angus. The pupils host the awards every year. The ceremony is hosted by a different school each year...
- 2000 Shadows won the Angus Book AwardAngus Book AwardThe Angus Book Award is a literary award for UK authors of teenage fiction. It is awarded by Angus Council in Scotland. The award is decided by the votes of the secondary schools in Angus. The pupils host the awards every year. The ceremony is hosted by a different school each year...
- 2000 Shadows won the Lancashire Children's Book of the YearLancashire Children's Book of the YearThe Lancashire Children's Book of the Year is an award given to works of children's literature, voted for by a panel of young judges. It was established in 1986 with the first award presented the following year...
- 2002 Storm Catchers won the South Lanarkshire Book Award
- 2002 Storm Catchers won the Stockton Libraries Award
- 2002 Storm Catchers won the Stockport Schools' Book Award
- 2007 Frozen Fire won the Hull Book Award
- 2007 Frozen Fire won the Highland Book Award
- 2007 Frozen Fire won the Redbridge Book Award
- 2007 Frozen Fire won the Stockport Schools Book Award
- 2008 Frozen Fire won the South Lanarkshire Children’s Book Award
- 2009 Frozen Fire won the Southern Schools Book Award