NEWSFLASH! New Non-Fiction Book Announcement

Finally, I'm able to tell you about The Beetle Collector's Handbook.

I am writing a non-fiction companion to the Beetle Trilogy. You'll discover all the wonderful facts that Darkus finds in his Beetle Collector's Handbook and read his, and his father's, annotations in this book, which will be reminiscent of the nature books from the early 20th Century, with lyrical writing and romantic (but anatomically correct) illustrations, as well as helpful hints on how you can become a Beetle Girl or Boy.

The book will be published after the Battle of the Beetles, next summer. Read more here.

I appear in a new BBC1 documentary on Entomophagy

Next Monday evening at 7.30pm on BBC1 - and on the iplayer - I'll be part of a documentary about Dr Sarah Beynon (scientific consultant to the Beetle Boy books) and Andy Holcroft's (bug chef extraordinaire) mission to get the UK eating bugs.

My Hay Festival event with Sarah and Andy was filmed for the documentary, and will feature in the film, when we got the audience munching insects, and I'll be chatting about the wonderful work Sarah and Andy do, and why we fear insects.

Personally, I'm very excited to see it! This is the iPlayer link.

Beetle Boy nature trail at Dorothy Clive Gardens, in Shropshire

It is literally my utmost pleasure to tell you about this...

An educational family based ‘Beetle Mania’ trail will be hosted by The Dorothy Clive Garden, inspired by children’s book Beetle Boy written by M.G. Leonard.

The trail, which will wind its way around the garden, is free of charge and will start on Monday 24th July and will be available for families to take part in every day over the summer holidays from 10am to 5:30pm daily. It aims to educate families and other visitors about Beetles, other insects, and wildlife that lives within the twelve acre hillside garden, and is part of the charities ongoing commitment to promoting horticultural education and environmental sustainability.

FIND OUT MORE

Latitude Festival

Last weekend I was at Latitude Festival doing a bunch of beetle filled events.

Sam (my partner in crime) and I arrived nice and early on the Thursday, so that we could get our wristbands, pitch our tent and scope out the festival site.

On Friday I had a blast teaching children how to write their own story about beetles, and talking about my own beetle-y stories. I met some truly wonderful Beetle Girls and Beetle Boys.

On Saturday I performed a reading from Beetle Boy and fed everyone roasted insects. The children were very adventurous and most had a try, but the grown-ups were a bit more scared. It's always the way. That's why so many heroes in stories are children. Children are brave and curious.

After the events I got to hang out with a bevy of beautiful authors and meet up with a few old friends.

It was the first time I had ever been to Latitude, but I LOVED it. I will definitely coming back.

Here are some of my pictures from the weekend.

CBBC Summer Social

This past weekend I brought my beetles to Salford Quays to meet the wonderful children who'd come to have fun at the CBBC Summer Social. We all had a blast. In the morning I did an event in the yurt, where everyone gamely tried eating my edible insects.

In the afternoon I did a big event in the BBC building, and then we all headed, pied-piper like, to the bookshop for beetle handling and book signing. I met so many fantastic readers and I even managed to fit in a cuddle and a catch-up with Blue Peter's Lindsey Russell, who I am a bit in love with.

The Bolton Book Awards 2017

Reading Beetle Boy to the boys and girls of Bolton

I had a wonderful time attending the Bolton Book Awards yesterday, which was won by the marvellous Jessica's Ghost by Andrew Norriss.

The children had made a book trailer for Beetle Boy, which I think is brilliant, and I'm posting here so that you can watch it too.

This is a picture of me watching the video at the Bolton Book Awards.

Beetle Boy wins the Branford Boase Award for outstanding first novel

I am delighted and honoured to be able to announce that Beetle Boy won the Branford Boase Award. This is a prize which is awarded annually for an outstanding first novel to a first-time writer of a book for young people and marks the important contribution of the editor in identifying and nurturing new talent. It is recognised as one of the most important awards in children’s books thanks to its impressive record in identifying authors with special talent at the start of their careers.

I am so proud to share this award with Barry Cunningham and Rachel Leyshon, my Chicken House editors. I also want to acknowledge the important role my scientific advisor, Dr Sarah Beynon plays in proof reading my books for scientific accuracy.

This is actually the first award I have won in my entire life and I will treasure it forever.

'M.G. Leonard is a classic storyteller, in the tradition of Roald Dahl or Dodie Smith, but an original voice. We predict that once again the Branford Boase Award judges have recognized an author who will be thrilling young readers for decades to come.'
Julia Eccleshare, chair of judges

Read articles about the award
The Bookseller
Foyles

Watch M.G. & Her Beetles On Springwatch Unsprung

Yesterday a dream of mine came true. I got to sit on hay bales with Chris Packham and talk about beetles! How good is that? Me, my beetles and my books were all featured on Springwatch Unsprung (June 14th). If you want to see how our chat went you can watch it on the iPlayer.

My fellow guest on the programme was the lovely Stephanie Coles. She is an utterly wonderful human being.

Me and Stephanie Coles on Springwatch Unsprung

As well as the main show, I also got to appear on Brett Westward's red button programme in the afternoon, when Hector, my rainbow stag beetle, decided to show off and fly about the studio. You can watch that programme here.

The whole experience was a dream come true, but my favourite bit was Chris Packham's enthusiastic endorsement of the beetle books. I've watched him on TV since I was a teenager and he's a wildlife hero. Here are his hands clutching my book and meeting my beetles.

M.G. Leonard is going to be on Springwatch Unsprung!

I'm very excited to be able to announce that my beetles and I will be appearing on Springwatch Unsprung on 14 June. Please do tune in, send in questions online and be a part of the show.

Hay Festival 2017

On the Starlight Stage at the Hay Festival 2017

I love the Hay Festival. This year we put together a very special event with Dr Sarah Beynon and her Bug Farm beetles and insect chef Andy Holcroft. Together the three of us put on a bugtastic show to a sold out audience including Germaine Greer! The BBC were there, filming for a documentary on entomophagy, and every member of the audience got to try a cricket cookie and other delicious bugs. Truly a day to remember.

M. G. Leonard Introduces Beetle Queen

I was asked, by my Russian publishers, to make a video from my writing desk about Beetle Queen, and then I realised that I hadn't made any kind of video for English readers about what kind of an adventure Beetle Queen is, so I made this for you. See if you can spot my beetle, Motty!

Beetle Boy is shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2017

I am delighted to be able to share the news that Beetle Boy has been shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2017, along with Cogheart, Riverkeep, We are Giants, Little Bits of Sky, The Bubble Boy and The Girl of Ink and Stars. Find out more.

Beetle Queen Book Launch at The Bug Farm

Dr Sarah Beynon and M. G. Leonard at The Bug Farm in Pembrokeshire.

On Thursday 13th of April I travelled down to Pembrokeshire, with Sam, for the Welsh launch of Beetle Queen at Dr Beynon's Bug Farm. In case you didn't know, Dr Sarah Beynon is the entomologist who acts as scientific consultant to my Beetle Trilogy and she makes sure that all of my descriptions of beetles are correct. We delivered an event together at her wonderful farm. I read some of the new book to a gang of Welsh beetle boys and girls, signed some books and even a bag! This helped me work up an appetite, so I popped into The Grub Kitchen to sample the insect appetisers and the delicious bug burger. Once I'd eaten my fill, I visited the insect zoo to see my old friends in their tanks. Finally, I raided the Bug Farm's wonderful shop for a bag full of new beetle t-shirts. I can never have enough. It was a truly glorious day and the sun shone for us. I'm always sad to say goodbye to the Bug Farm because it's such a beautiful place. Sarah has become a good friend and all the people who work at the bug farm are awesome, but I know I'll be back soon to visit.

Beetle Queen has had a right royal launch in both London at the Royal National Theatre and Pembrokeshire at the majestic Bug Farm, now she's all yours!

Beetle Queen Book Launch at the National Theatre

Photo: Allan Hong

On the 6th of April Beetle Queen was officially launched at the National Theatre in the Art of Make Believe exhibition. It was a wonderful night full of authors, publishing peeps and old friends and family. We celebrated the birth of my second book late into the night, and I did a good bit of speechificating and thanking of all the wonderful people who help my books find readers.

Here are some pictures from the evening, and you can see by the massive smile on my face that I'm excited about readers getting to read Beetle Queen. It's a book I am very proud of.

Rob Biddulph and M. G. Leonard

Photo: Allan Hong

Thi and Adele from Riot Communications with M. G. Leonard

Photo: Allan Hong
Puppetier Toby Olie, Lisa Burger - executive director of the National Theatre and Alice King Farlow - director of education at the National Theatre.

Max Barclay, Head Coleoptrist at NHM with M. G. Leonard

Sam Sparling, Ryan Nelson, Claire and Adam Rakich

Photo: Allan Hong

M. G. Leonard and Rachel Hickman from Chicken House

Photo: Allan Hong

Photo: Allan Hong

Photo: Allan Hong

Alwyn Hamilton, Melinda Salisbury and M. G. Leonard

M. G. Leonard with Thomas Whitehead and Francesca Hayward of The Royal Ballet.

Alywn Hamilton, M. G. Leonard and Melinda Salisbury

Ryoichi Hirano, principle dancer with The Royal Ballet, M. G. Leonard and Sam Sparling.

Irena Brignull and Kiran Millward Hargrave