Masterful, a wonderfully original fantasy adventure that feels like a timeless classic. A brilliant new voice in the world of children's fiction.' - Anthony McGowan, winner of the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal for Lark Minou lives in a very different version of India which is ruled by the General and where worship of the goddess, The Dark Lady is forbidden. She is use to her life with Dima, her adopted grandmother until one day everything changes. Dima is murdered but Minou has little time to grieve when she joins the rebel group the Green Orchids who are trying to overthrow the General but then finds herself in the walls of the General’s Palace. Minou’s life is about to change forever. Zephyr has scooped two standalone middle-grade titles by debut children’s author Gita Ralleigh. A pre-empt was made for world all-languages rights to The Destiny of Minou Moonshine and a second book, from Catherine Pellegrino at Marjacq.

With forbidden goddesses, a lost queen and a mechanical elephant, this is a gently unfolding, rich narrative full of fantasy and wonder, which champions the power of girls and women to manage their own destinies." High adventure and a lavish, sensory world of mystery, magic and mechanical marvels. With an indomitable hero in Minou Moonshine, this is an inspiring, delightful read - young readers are in for a ripping ride.' - Finbar Hawkins, author of Witch Could you say a bit more about the creative writing teaching that you do with science undergraduates? Masterful, a wonderfully original fantasy adventure that feels like a timeless classic. A brilliant new voice in the world of children's fiction." When a terrible tragedy occurs, Minou is swept up in a thrilling adventure involving airships, mechanical elephants and ferocious crocodiles.Following on from her two poetry books, CLCC lecturer Gita Ralleigh has written her first children's novel, The Destiny of Minou Moonshine. The story of a Queendom set in an alternate colonial India, blending Frances Hardinge with Kipling'sKim. A debut rich in fantasy, friendship and faith, and an original adventure that sparkles with storytelling magic. About the Book and a goddess, the Dark Lady, who guides Minou to her destiny. I cannot wait for young readers to meet her." When fierce orphan girl Minou Moonshine's life is unexpectedly shattered, she joins the ragtag band of rebels, the Green Orchids, who are plotting to overthrow the General. Armed with a secret and a map, Minou sets off with her friends and a mechanical elephant, through the lush jungles of Indica, in search of the Dark Lady, a diamond and her destiny. About This Edition ISBN: I’d published short fiction in Wasafiri and Bellevue Literary Review, and was first invited as a guest lecturer.

As a child, I loved fantasy adventures" says Gita. "At the time, I never expected to find a small brown girl within those stories. I was determined that my fantasy adventure would be about a girl like me who discovers both her inheritance and her very own magic."An awesome alt-India middle grade book, with adventure and emotional twists, tied together with friendships and the family we find, and an incredible heroine in Minou, who fights for freedom and Queendom!' - Roopa Farooki, author of A Double Detectives Medical Mystery: The Cure for a Crime Armed with a secret and a map, Minou sets off with her friends and a mechanical elephant, through the lush jungles of Indica, in search of the Dark Lady, a diamond and her destiny. I find I am far more disciplined when working in prose – setting a word count goal helps – and, of course, you have an idea or outline of the plot. Working in poetry is more mysterious to me: I often start with an idea or image but need time to play with it before it crystallises into words.