Candy Gourlay
Growing up in the Philippines at a time when most books were imported from the West, Candy Gourlay wondered why all the books she ever loved only featured pink-skinned children who lived in snow-covered worlds that didn’t resemble her steamy, tropical home in Manila. As a result, she took many detours on her way to becoming an author. She worked as a journalist, a cartoonist, a fake American voiceover talent and a web designer – before finally becoming an author of children’s books.
Candy's first novel for primary school children, Tall Story, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal, the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Branford Boase Prize. Her second book, Shine, was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Book Prize, and both novels won the Crystal Kite Prize. Other books by Candy include Bone Talk, a historical novel set in the Philippines, and picture books Is It a Mermaid and Mike Falls Up.
Candy is an ardent member of the international "kid-lit" organisation, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is currently serving on the Children’s Writers’ and Illustrators’ Group of the Society of Authors. She lives in London with her family, where she wages war on the snails in her garden.
Candy Gourlay is a former Writer in Residence for BookTrust
Books
Author: Candy Gourlay
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 10-16
Reading age: 10+
Samkad is a boy from a remote Filipino "headhunter" tribe called Bontok in the highlands of the Philippines, back in around 1899 – on the brink of invasion by American invaders. A brilliant, exciting and fascinating adventure story.
Author: Candy Gourlay Illustrator: Carles Ballesteros
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
This quirky, imaginative tale is full of unexpected twists and turns, and is sure to engage young children. Distinctive, full-colour illustrations provide humour and visual interest, while the short chapters are ideal for newly-independent readers.
Author: Candy Gourlay
Publisher: Tamarind
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 11+
A fascinating and mysterious tale of twins and superstition and separation.
Author: Candy Gourlay
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
Engagingly told in alternate chapters by four-foot, thirteen year-old Andi, in the UK, and her eight-foot, sixteen year-old half brother Bernardo, in the Philippines
Author: Candy Gourlay
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 9-11
This story is set in the same world as Candy’s book Bone Talk, which focuses on Samkad’s story in the Philippines set just prior to this one and while it’s not necessary to read Bone Talk before reading Wild Song, it does add an extra dimension to the storytelling and is certainly wonderful partner read.