St Mary’s Creative Writing Alumna Secures Book Deal

Graduate of Creative and Professional Writing at St Mary’s University Twickenham, Birdie Milano, will have two LBGT-themed Young Adult novels published by Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB). The news came following an auction, this month for the world rights to her debut work.

 St Mary’s Senior Lecturer, Dr Russell Schechter commented, “Birdie was a brilliant student in Creative & Professional Writing, and I always knew that she would be published one day. We are all thrilled by her stunning success in selling the book to a great publisher. I can't wait to read it!"

Her publisher, Venetia Gosling, commented in the announcement to The Bookseller that Birdie Milano is, “pro-body positivity and anti-bullying, and believes in kindness above all things” adding that she is a “really exciting new talent in children’s fiction”.

Birdie taught drama to children and holds a BA in Creative and Professional Writing from St Mary’s University, Twickenham, as well as a Masters degree in writing for young people from Bath Spa University.

The first of the books, Boy Meets Hamster, will be published in May 2018. The story will follow 14-year-old Dylan, who falls for Jayden-Lee during a holiday at “Starcross Sands, Cornwall’s crummiest caravan park”. The only thing standing in Dylan’s way is the park’s hamster mascot Nibbles. 

Along with its successful undergraduate programme, St Mary’s Creative Writing department offers an MA First Novel, nurturing aspiring writers who want to complete drafts of their first novels.

Lecturers and students at St Mary’s have been published by: Bloomsbury; Canongate; St Martin’s Press; and Picador.