HANNAH
DURKAN
CHILDREN'S AUTHOR
ABOUT HANNAH
Hannah Durkan spent her childhood in Warwickshire reading, snail collecting, car-picnicking, story writing, overthinking and covering her parent’s carpet in paint. She moved to Yorkshire for university in 2004 and never left. After studying medicine and gaining a PGCE from the University of Leeds, Hannah now lives in Leeds with her husband and two young children, who have finally given her a legitimate excuse for her enormous collection of children’s books. When she’s not working in a local primary school, she can be found drinking coffee, writing stories, drawing sky whales and making dens. Hannah is a passionate believer in the power of writing to support mental health. Hannah’s debut novel was longlisted for both The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition and The Bath Children’s Novel Award in 2019, before winning the Hachette Children’s Novel Award in 2020.
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Represented by Chloe Seagar @ Madeline Milburn Literacy, Film and TV Agency
The thrilling sequel to ZEINA STARBORN AND THE SKY WHALE,
perfect for 9+ fans of BRIGHTSTORM and ORPHANS OF THE TIDE.
After months of being on the run, Zeina is thrilled when the Smog Rats are invited by ice bears to an infamous festival featuring horned sky whales.
But, from an ice palace with crumbling ice structures to the strange behaviour of the new Emerald King, something doesn't seem quite right . . .
Zeina and Jackson find themselves going up against both new enemies and familiar foes in order to halt the invention of an advanced, cruel technology.
*Winner of the Northern Writer's Award 2020*
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When Zeina Starborn's dream of exploring the skies becomes a reality, she finds herself in a daring adventure beyond her wildest imagination. Meet explorers, inventors, and mighty sky whales in this richly inventive fantasy, perfect for 9+ fans of BRIGHTSTORM and ORPHANS OF THE TIDE.
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School Events
Hannah, a qualified teacher, offers a range of events for schools including workshops and assemblies. Her events are most suitable for KS2.
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Hannah also offers a free 20 minute virtual author Q and A session for any class that has read a Zeina Starborn book.
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See Hannah's School Events Leaflet for more details.