Second place for Torn Apart!

Swapna HaddowScrapbook

I’m so thrilled that Torn Apart got the Highly Commended nod of honour at the Historical Association Young Quills Awards 2022. The shortlist was incredible, packed full of authors who are my writing heroes, so it’s wonderful to see this book that is so important to me get acknowledged in this way. Thank you to the judges for taking the …

A double shortlisting!

Swapna HaddowScrapbook, The Bad Panda Club

I am thrilled to bits to see that Torn Apart has been shortlisted for the incredible Historical Association’s Young Quills Award! This means the world to me as the partition of India rarely features in young historical fiction so I’m so thankful to see Torn Apart feature on this incredible platform. You can have a look at the full shortlist …

Happy World Book Day!

Swapna HaddowScrapbook

Happy World Book Day to you all! However you are spending the day, whether it is in costume, reading books, writing stories or listening to a tale – I hope you have the most brilliant day. Thank you to everyone who has shared their brilliant costumes with me. It’s incredibly special to seeing your books being enjoyed so please do …

See you in 2022!

Swapna HaddowScrapbook

It’s been a bumper crop this year! I’m so thankful to be supported by the best publishing teams but also by the BEST readers. That’s you! A huge THANK YOU to all the brilliant booksellers, bloggers, librarians, school staff, fellow authors and illustrators and AWESOME readers, like you, who continue to support my books – big Christmas hugs to you …

Happy Diwali!

Swapna HaddowScrapbook

It’s Diwali! Thank you so much to everyone who joined Scholastic School Live and took part in the ‘All About Diwali’ event. I had such a great time sharing Diwali stories and activities with you and I know my dog, Archie, did too! Please do get in touch and share your Diwali makes and bakes with me. I’d love to …

Talking about Series Fiction

Swapna HaddowScrapbook

Today, Maisie Chan, Tọlá Okogwu and I were invited to talk about our experience writing Series Fiction. Jasmine Richards hosted the panel and it was so great to share our mutual love for writing for younger readers and find out what got us writing for the age group. Tọlá shared her feelings of the pressure to be ‘perfect’ as a …

All About Diwali arrives!

Swapna HaddowScrapbook

Happy Publication Day to All About Diwali by me and Aditi Kakade Beaufrand! This book is stunning! Illustrated throughtout by the immensely talented Aditi, the book is packed full of facts, recipes and activities to get you in the mood for Diwali later this year.

It’s a double publication day!

Swapna HaddowBallet Class in Session, Scrapbook

Today, not one but TWO of my books are out in the world! First up is my debut historical middle-grade fiction, Torn Apart: The Partition of India, 1947, where two boys are forced into an impossible situation against the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947. Next up is the fifth book is the gorgeous Ballet Bunnies series, illustrated …

#ProperBook with WonderFest and CBI

Swapna HaddowScrapbook, The Bad Panda Club

Today, Sheena and I spoke with Patricia Forde about the making of Bad Panda as part of the #ProperBook panel – ‘Is It Me You’re Looking For? How to Write a Cracking Children’s Book and Attract a Publisher or Agent: How a Book is Created from Start to Finish’ with Children’s Books Ireland and WonderFest Ireland. We spoke about my …