Lauren St John (born December 1966) is an author born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. She is best known for her children's novels including The White Giraffe and Dead Man's Cove which won her a Blue Peter Book Award in 2011.
Lauren St John | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1966 Gatooma, Rhodesia (now Kadoma, Zimbabwe) |
| Occupation | Author |
| Notable work | The White Giraffe |
| Notable awards | 2011 Blue Peter Book Award |
Life and career
editLauren St John was born in December 1966 in Gatooma, Rhodesia (now Kadoma, Zimbabwe).[1] When she was eleven, St John and her family moved to a nature reserve called Rainbow End's farm in Gadzema. It was later the focus of her memoir, Rainbow's End[2] and many of her children's books are influenced by the nature reserve in which she grew up.[3]
After studying journalism in Harare St John moved to London where she was the golf correspondent for The Sunday Times for almost a decade.[4]
In 2011, St John won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award for her book Dead Man's Cove, about an eleven year old girl called Laura Marlin who becomes a detective. It is the first in a series of books.[5] Dead Man's Cove was also shortlisted for a Galaxy National Book Award for Children's Book of the Year.[2] The book was optioned by Centurion Television in 2016.[6]
As well as writing, St John has also done work with the wildlife charity, Born Free Foundation. She became involved after contacting the Foundation while she was running a school conservation project called Animals Are Not Rubbish in 2009.[3]
Children's fiction
editEarly Readers series
- Shumba's Big Adventure (2013) ISBN 1444008021
- Anthony Ant Saves the Day (2015) ISBN 1444008048
- A Friend for Christmas (2016) ISBN 1444008064
- Mercy and the Hippo (2017) ISBN 1444008099
Animal Healer series
- The White Giraffe (2006) ISBN 0803732112
- Dolphin Song (2007) ISBN 1842555332
- The Last Leopard (2008) ISBN 1842556673
- The Elephant's Tale (2009) ISBN 1842556193
- Operation Rhino (2015) ISBN 144401272X
Laura Marlin mysteries
- Dead Man's Cove (2010) ISBN 1444000209
- Kidnap in the Caribbean (2011) ISBN 1444000217
- Kentucky Thriller (2012) ISBN 1444000225
- Rendezvous in Russia (2013) ISBN 9781444009446
- The Midnight Picnic (2014) ISBN 9781444012286
- The Secret of Supernatural Creek (2017) ISBN 1510102647
Wolfe and Lamb Mysteries
- Kat Wolfe Investigates (2018) ISBN 9780374309589
- Kat Wolfe Takes the Case (2019) ISBN 9780374309619
- Kat Wolfe on Thin Ice (2021) ISBN 9780374309640
Stand-alone novels
- The Snow Angel (2017) ISBN 9781786695895
- Wave Riders (2022) ISBN 9780374309671
Young adult fiction
editThe One Dollar Horse series
- The One Dollar Horse (2012) ISBN 1444002694
- Race the Wind (2013) ISBN 1444002708
- Firestorm (2014) ISBN 1444002716
Stand-alone books
- The Glory (2015) ISBN 9781444012750
Adult fiction and non-fiction
editFiction
- The Obituary Writer (2013) ISBN 1409127184
Non-fiction
- Rainbow's End: A Memoir of Childhood, War and an African Farm (2007) ISBN 0743286790
- Hardcore Troubador: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle (2002) ISBN 0007161255
References
edit- ^ "Lauren St John". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ a b "About Lauren". laurenstjohn.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ a b ≠"How We Met: Virginia McKenna & Lauren St John". The Independent. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ "Lauren St.John books and biography". www.waterstones.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Mystery tale wins Blue Peter book prize". BBC News. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ "Lauren St John moves to MCB in four-book deal". The Bookseller. Retrieved 13 September 2017.