APPRENTICESHIPS 2006

All the 2006 Apprentices are still busily writing, four have published short fiction and three have attracted agency interest.

Congratulations in particular to Andrew Theophilou, Irene Barrall and Rozalinda Buyong. Andrew, who was recently invited to read from his novel Inside Out at University of Vigo in Spain, has already published an extract in Seven Days (Legend Press 2007). In addition to The Pursuit of the Magpie, Irene is also is writing a short novel titled Reunited which is due for publication by Thomson (US) in Autumn 2008. An extract from Rozalinda’s new novel was published by Transmission magazine in Spring 2007.

We are very proud to have worked with all five apprentices and to watch such strong and distinct voices emerge. We wish them every success and continue to follow their progress.

The Pursuit of the Magpie. Irene Barrell
Funny, exciting and original, this children’s fantasy is set in a world in which children hold down important jobs alongside talking animals. It’s the story of art-theft with a difference: picture-dipping. Objects are going missing from inside paintings in the National Gallery. Only another picture-dipper can discover the identity of the thief. Sounds like a job for ten-year-old Plum and her best friend, a wallaby called Spud.

Cicada Rhythms. Rozalinda Buyong
For thirteen-year-old Jasmine, her Grandmother’s village in Malaysia is an enchanting new world full of wonder and surprise - until she discovers the real and devastating reason that her mother has brought her London-born family ‘home’.

Give That Girl A Spotlight. Alison Gangel
Set in the tenements of Glasgow and a monolithic children’s home in the highlands of Scotland, this is a powerful and uplifting autobiographical novel full of light touches and wry humour. Against all odds, Ailsa survives a traumatic childhood, by finding solace and redemption in music.

The Size of It. Mandy Sutter
Self-sacrificing Margaret gets a wake up call when she turns forty, and places a Lonely Hearts ad. But how can she recognise love when she doesn't yet know how to love herself? The Size of It is a funny and bitter-sweet tale of passions stifled and appetites unleashed.

Inside Out. Andrew Theophilou
When Hambis, a Greek-Cypriot from North London, falls in love with a Turkish man, he realises just how little he actually knows about his own history. Travelling back to Cyprus in search of his roots, he discovers a family secret preserved by decades of partition. Inside Out is a comic rite-of-passage novel about a young man coming to terms with his sexuality, his identity and his boisterous rabble of relatives.