Lu Hersey

Lu Hersey worked as an advertising copywriter until she escaped to become a librarian and study for an MA in writing for young people at Bath Spa University. She shares her house with a surfeit of young adults who won't leave home and keep calling her "Mum" - although, surprisingly, she finds their dialogue, strangely disturbing habits and erratic sleeping patterns a constant source of inspiration. She currently lives in Glastonbury, UK

Deep Water won the 2012 MsLexia Children's Novel Writing Award, picking up some amazing accolades in the process and has since been short-listed for the 22nd annual Wirral Paperback of the Year Award.

Deep Water is Lu's first novel and was published by Usborne in Summer 2015 and a new edition is available, out now with Tangent Books.

Broken Ground, her second novel, is published with Beaten Track, and will be available from 21 June 2022.

Praise for DEEP WATER:

“Outstanding… I raced through it”

Malorie Blackman

‘Hersey’s debut shimmers with Celtic fairy tales, marine marvels, creepy Cornish fishing villages and a fabulous granny.’

- New Statesman

‘Excellent.’

- The Independent

‘Inspired by Cornish sea-lore ... vibrant and filled with eccentric characters.’

- Irish Examiner

‘A stunning debut novel that is guaranteed to bewitch, bother and bewilder... Deep Water blends a gentle but compelling modern day romance with an enigmatic storyline that uses the legends of Britain’s pre-history as its thrilling backdrop.’

- Lancashire Evening Post

‘Wonderfully atmospheric and magic oozes from the pages. Perfect summer holiday reading.’

- Lovereading4kids

‘Outstanding and lyrical writing’

- Julia Green

‘A fast-paced and compelling novel for 10-15 year olds packed with mystery and magic.’

- Western Morning News

‘Such an accomplished, tightly-shaped book, with a depth of information’

- Julia Eccleshare

'Filled with local folklore and a genuine sense of magic, this is right up there with Susan Cooper's Greenwitch and Alan Garner's early novels'

- Amanda Craig

‘It has a lovely, mythical quality while still contemporary and right for the audience’

-Elen Caldecott

‘Taking myth, folklore, witchcraft and ancient beliefs as inspiration, it weaves a contemporary tale about a group of teenagers caught up in a legacy of family secrets... the writing is assured and original.’

- Never Imitate

Praise for BROKEN GROUND

'I gobbled up Broken Ground in two great gulps. I absolutely loved it. It combines current political questions, vivid teenage characters and otherworldly resonance in a superbly gripping plot. Moving lightly from crop circles to community tensions, from fracking to first love, this is another exciting and highly relevant novel from the author of Deep Water. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE'

- Liz Flanagan (author of EDEN SUMMER and DRAGON DAUGHTER)

'I just loved Broken Ground ... reminded me of favourites by Susan Cooper and Alan Garner ... It has such a great atmosphere - lush at times, and then threatening. Beautiful details of the natural world and the crop circles and, when we actually go to Otherworld, it really does feel strangely vivid and pre-industrial. I bought into this world completely, and loved the characters - and I loved how it takes the genre of folk horror and brings it beautifully up to date with a political and satirical edge.'

- Paul Magrs, author of the LOST ON MARS trilogy

'Broken Ground did that magical thing of drawing me into its world - now I’m sorry that I got to the end. It’s a great story - likeable and interesting characters, lots of magic and mystery woven into and around a modern horror, with a strong evocation of place and a compelling narrative driving the story forward.'

Sara Crowe, author of BONE JACK

http://www.the-bia.com/lu-hersey.html