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Award-Winning Author of Gripping Mysteries for Young Adult Readers
Penny Joelson is passionate about crafting stories that thrill, inspire, engage, and also give a voice to diverse characters, fostering empathy and understanding through her work.
Penny is based in Hertfordshire, just north of London with easy access to Hertfordshire and North London Schools. She is also willing to travel further afield and has spoken at schools in Yorkshire, Cardiff and Jersey and at the Jersey Festival of Words, The Edinburgh International Literary Festival and KidsLitFest Cologne.
Inspiring Teenagers and Adults through School Visits, Courses and Workshops
Penny Joelson
Award-Winning Author
Penny has won 13 awards for her novels, including the national FCBG Children’s Book Award (older readers).
City Lit
Adult Education Tutor
Penny teaches a range of courses for adults at City Lit including Editing Your Children’s Novel and Writing for Children Workshop.
Faber Academy
Creative Writing Tutor
Penny teaches ‘Writing YA’ online for Faber Academy and also ‘Getting Started: Beginners’ Fiction’.
School Visits
Educational Speaker
Penny gives talks and runs workshops in schools and libraries for secondary school students.
Introducing Penny’s books
I Have No Secrets
Farshore (Harper Collins)
Jemma has severe cerebral palsy and cannot move or communicate. So when Brad tells her he murdered someone, she can do nothing. And he is dating her carer…
Girl In the Window
Farshore (Harper Collins)
Kasia watches the world go by from her bedroom She’s too unwell with M.E. to leave the house. She witnesses an abduction – but nobody is missing.
Things the Eye Can’t See
Farshore (Harper Collins)
Libby loves going out with her guide dog, Samson, and taking photos. But when a boy is in danger, it seems she is the only person who can help.
One Dead One Missing and Things that Did Not Happen
Pearson
These two short mysteries are part of the Radid Plus educational series for 13-16 year olds with a reading age of 10-12.
I
“A writer to watch” Guardian
“Joelson’s writing is just so sharp and she is a fantastic storyteller. It’s very rare to find a YA book that is just so equally strong in terms of plot, characters and the writing.”
Delightful Book Reviews
“Penny Joelson gave a fantastic presentation to 295 Year 7, 8 and 9 students. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and they gave some great feedback. She also did a workshop with 35 students and this was also a huge success. I would not hesitate to recommend her to other schools..”
Elaine
Chalfonts Community College
“Your care, feedback and amazingly in depth and rich course materials have given me such a solid confidence on how to write and how to proceed with the unfolding of my story. These last 12 weeks have been so inspiring!”