Anna James (writer)

This article is about the English writer. For the American pseudonymous romantic novelist, see Madeline Harper.

Anna James is an English writer of children's books.[1]

Early life and education

James grew up in Ponteland, Northumberland, and attended Ponteland Middle School and Ponteland High School.[2]

Career

James was a school librarian for five years before becoming book news and media editor at The Bookseller. There she launched their YouTube presence and established a prize for young adult literature, and during this period was shortlisted for the 2015 Kim Scott Walwyn Prize,[3] which "celebrates exceptional women in publishing".[4] has also been literary editor for ELLE UK.[5]

Writing

James published the "Pages & Co." series of six books, featuring a bookshop of that name, between 2018 and 2023, and in 2024 began her Chronicles of Whetherwhy.[6][7][8][9]

Her Alice with a Why, a "reimagining" of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Matthew Land, was shortlisted for the 2025 Waterstones Book of the Year.[10][6]

Her first novel for adults, Good Fortunes, is to be published by HQ, an imprint of Harper Collins.[5]

Selected publications

Pages & Co. series

  1. Tilly and the Bookwanderers (2019, Harper Collins: ISBN 9780008229870)
  2. The Last Bookwanderer (2024, Harper Collins: ISBN 9780008410926

Whetherwhy Chronicles series

Standalone children's titles

  • Alice with a Why (2025, Harper Collins: ISBN 978-0008611477)

Books for adults

  • Good Fortunes (Forthcoming, as of December 2025)[5]

References

  1. ^ Lodge, Sally (19 September 2019). "Q & A with Anna James". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  2. ^ Smith, Ian (16 September 2022). "Alnwick Garden and other Northumberland landmarks help inspire new children's book by Anna James". Northumberland Gazette. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  3. ^ "2015 Prize". Kim Scott Walwyn Prize. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  4. ^ "About". Kim Scott Walwyn Prize. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Bailey, Cassidy (10 October 2025). "HQ pre-empts Anna James' 'glorious' adult debut". The Bookseller. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Anna James". www.waterstones.com. Waterstones. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Why adults should totally read Pages & Co by Anna James". United By Pop. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  8. ^ "The class book review: Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers". www.tes.com. Tes Magazine. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  9. ^ Gieskes, Lisa (4 October 2019). "Pages & Co.: The Bookwanderers". School Library Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  10. ^ Spanoudi, Melina (30 October 2025). "RF Kuang, Suzanne Collins and Arundhati Roy shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year". The Bookseller. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
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