S G Fessel has been writing non-fiction for many years but ‘Switchling’ is her first novel. It recently won 'Best New Fiction' in the Pacific Book Awards 2024 and was placed first in the International Firebird Book Awards (Children's Pet/Animal category). Inspiration struck when lying in bed one night, halfway between sleep and wakefulness. She heard a noise from outside and an image sprang to mind of figures in flowing robes carrying staffs. They were dragging an object across a windowsill from the downstairs flat out into the street. From there she started to wonder who these mysterious people might be and what they were stealing. They became the Honourable Society of Beam Reapers and the story developed around them. She is also working on some picture books for younger readers. S G Fessel is originally from London but now live in San Francisco with her family and two ingenious cats. Favorite authors include Natalie Babbitt, Jonathan Stroud, Joan Aiken, Philip Pullman, Quentin Blake, Annie Barrows, Lauren Child and Lewis Carroll. Through fiction, she would like to help readers enjoy using their imaginations and to gain new understanding of the world.
