Books By Janelle McCurdy - Author

Janelle is an author and fully-fledged gamer. Having started writing and querying at only sixteen years-old, she joined JULA in her early twenties.

After graduating from Royal Holloway University with a Criminology and Sociology degree, Janelle moved back home to London, and began writing middle grade fantasy.

In her free time, you can find her holed up in her room, gaming and watching anime (some of her favourites being Inuyasha, Dragon Ball Z and Death Note), or attending numerous comic cons and gaming events.

Janelle says 'The Umbra Tales trilogy was born from my love of gaming, anime and fantasy books. Growing up, I hardly saw any fantasy books with Black girls and boys front and centre. Mia and the Lightcasters is a nod to all the anime, manga, fantasy books and games I loved both now and as a child. It's a book about finding your inner strength, friendships and hope. I want kids to know that they are enough, they're resilient and stronger than they think. I want them to get lost in this world and let their imaginations run wild. I can't wait to share this story.'

Her FAB Prize winning story was acquired by Faber in a major auction.

Check her out on Instagram @janellemccurdyy

Photograph © Dujonna Gift-Simms