Anna James (writer)


Anna James is an English writer of children's books.

Early life and education

James grew up in Ponteland, Northumberland, and attended Ponteland Middle School and Ponteland High School.

Career

James was a school librarian for five years before becoming book news and media editor at The Bookseller. There she launched their YouTube presence and established a prize for young adult literature, and during this period was shortlisted for the 2015 Kim Scott Walwyn Prize, which "celebrates exceptional women in publishing". has also been literary editor for ELLE UK.

Writing

James published the "Pages & Co." series of six books, featuring a bookshop of that name, between 2018 and 2023, and in 2024 began her Chronicles of Whetherwhy.
Her Alice with a Why, a "reimagining" of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Matthew Land, was shortlisted for the 2025 Waterstones Book of the Year.
Her first novel for adults, Good Fortunes, is to be published by HQ, an imprint of Harper Collins.

Selected publications

Pages & Co. series

  1. Tilly and the Bookwanderers
  2. The Last Bookwanderer (2024, Harper Collins:

Standalone children's titles

  • ''Alice with a Why''

Books for adults

  • ''Good Fortunes''