A children's author from Malmesbury has won a prestigious prize

Author Joanna Collingborn has won The Golden Wizard Book Prize award 2024 for her first two books - Stuck in the Mud and Sledging in the Snow. 

The story is set in the fictional Hillside Farm - which is inspired by Joanna’s family farm in the Malmesbury area and tales from Joanna’s grandmother farming childhood. 

Joanna writes for children aged five to eight. 

The books were illustrated by Anna Platts and published by Gloucestershire-based Crumps Barn Studio late last year. 

The prestigious award is dedicated to recognising brilliance in children’s literature.

Joanna said: “It all seems quite unbelievable really and is very exciting. 

“I have been awarded the Golden Wizard Book Prize for both Stuck in the Mud and Sledging in the Snow, which is incredible so I am now an award winning author!”

She added: “Winning means so much after I waited for such a long time until I was brave enough to contact a publisher – it all seems worth it now.

"I love seeing my books with the golden seal on!”

“Farming is hard work but such a lovely way of life. 

“The real Hillside Farm is an organic dairy farm, so we’re always working closely with nature and animals. 

“As a child, I spent a lot of time on the farm feeding calves, kittens, lambs and lots more. 

“There was always a job to do but it never seemed like work. Writing about fictional children Teddy and Lara and their adventures at Hillside is a way of sharing the joy of rural life with other children.”

Joanna has also received the good news that the books are now in stock at Westonbirt Arboretum, with further books in the series planned for release next year. 

“My love of nature and farming are part of the reason I have been inspired to write. Children who read the books get to have an adventure with Granny and Grampy. 

“They’re all about fostering a love for the outdoors, just like visits to Westonbirt with my own children.

“Stuck in the Mud is about a very rainy day when the quad bike gets stuck in a muddy gateway. 

“Teddy and Grampy have to go and rescue it, then in Sledging in the Snow, Teddy’s younger sister Lara spots the moment when snowflakes start to fall, and a new adventure begins, just like real life on the farm.

“I do think it is important to learn about nature and wildlife from an early age so children grow up respecting the environment and learning how to look after the countryside.” 

Stuck in the Mud and Sledging in the Snow are in Westonbirt and bookshops now. 

For more information see - crumpsbarnstudio.co.uk