Cover reveal for THE MONSTROUS CHILD

The Monstrous Child, Francesca’s new novel will be published in May 2016 and we can now reveal the cover!

This will be Francesca’s first novel for 12+ readers and is a darkly funny look at life through the eyes of Hel, an ordinary teenager – and goddess of the underworld. It’s set in the same world as The Sleeping Army and The Lost Gods.

Advance praise for The Monstrous Child:

‘Francesca Simon has taken the myth about Hel, Queen of the Norse Underworld and turned it into a wholly original, hideously funny, curiously affecting black comedy about dysfunctional families… This is an extraordinary book, grim and cruel in places but with a wit and sophistication to its heroine which makes you root for her.’ Amanda Craig

Fabulous Francesca Facts

"Families are great sources of comedy because they are about people trapped together. Only the parents chose to be there and the rest of you are stuck with these people that you might not necessarily like"

"Nobody feels emotions like children and with Henry, the war is constant and total. Anyone who has lived in a family has these shared experiences - the car journey from hell, nits or vomiting"

"I’ve never met a child who doesn’t love hearing stories. It’s a good way of introducing them to books and it’s a great way of getting them to understand stories that they might not be able to read themselves"

"We all love stories, it all helps making sense of the world"

"Horrid Henry speaks to the impish, rebellious child in all of us"

"My first book was called Papa Forgot and was published in 1993"

"I’ve written over fifty books"

"My birthday is 23rd February"

"I’m a bit scared of the dark"

"My hobbies are reading, cooking and going to the theatre"

"My favourite author is Anthony Trollope"

"My most disliked food is beetroot"

"My favourite colour is aquamarine"

"My favourite food is scallops"