Fran Benson
Fran’s favourite childhood books are The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Watership Down, and she grew up writing stories full of animals and magic. She is partially deaf and lives in the South Downs with her family and dog, surrounded by deer, badgers, foxes, and even snakes – but sadly no cloudraptors (although she has adopted a rescued wolf). Fran graduated from the MA with distinction and Luna has already been longlisted for SCBWI UV24 and Searchlight Best Novel Opening 2023. A previous novel was longlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award. A former journalist, Fran also writes for the SCBWI online magazine.
Luna and the Sky Gods
Upper MG Fantasy adventure
When 12-year-old Luna’s beloved dog, Seven, becomes ill, she knows the wardens of the Golden Isles will take him away forever. But escape isn’t easy because the wardens protect Luna and the other orphans from the prowling wolves and monstrous cloudraptors that circle the island. Luna needs help, but being deaf, the only person she trusts is her brother, Wink. When things go terribly wrong, she must learn to work with the other children — and even the animals they’ve been brought up to fear — in order to secure a life of freedom, not just for Seven but for everyone.
You can contact Fran via email and follow her on Threads, X (Twitter) and Instagram.