BAKEWELL: Author Caryl Hart shortlisted for top award

NDET 13-2-13 MC 3
Caryl Hart children's book author — NDET 13-2-13 MC 3 Caryl Hart children's book author

She is in the running for a national award voted for by the critics who matter most - the young readers for whom she writes.

Caryl, who lives near Bakewell, is up against three authors in her category (books for younger children), including Louise Yates, winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010, in the climax of this year’s Red House Children’s Book Award.

Like Caryl, celebrity comedian and best-selling author David Walliams is also in the running for the overall award, after his book was shortlisted for the books for younger readers section.

Caryl said: “It’s a massive endorsement. It is nice to get recognition from people you admire.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked but really excited when I heard that I was shortlisted.”

Her picture book Welcome to Alien School is up against nine contenders aiming to be admitted to the winners’ hall of fame populated by J.K. Rowling, Michael Morpurgo and Anthony Horowitz.

The winner will be revealed at London’s Southbank Centre this weekend.

For more on this story, see this week’s Derbyshire Times, published on February 21, 2013.