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Truly Johnston

@trulyjwrites

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📚 Author, The Shell Keepers out with @chickenhousebooks. Winner of BCNA 2022. Shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize 2026. Rep'd by @laurenemmagardner.

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The Shell Keepers has been longlisted for the @wainwrightprize ! 🎉

I'm thrilled to be on this list with so many brilliant books - all powerful stories about nature, conservation and environmental writing.

In The Shell Keepers I wanted to centre caring for our environment in a way that highlighted the magic of nature but showed how we are all intrisically connected to the world around us and each other. So recognition through this longlisting means a lot ♥️🌟

Thank you to the judges, the brilliant team @chickenhousebooks and my fabulous agent @litagentlauren. And to @trindles_ for capturing the story so beautifully in the cover. 🐚

And many congratulations to the other listed authors in all categories! The Wainwright Prize plays an important role in championing stories that emphasise our part in caring for the planet - something that is desperately needed right now. Check out the lists and see your reading pile grow 🌳 by @trulyjwrites

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3 months ago

The Shell Keepers has made the shortlist! 😮🎉

Thank you so much to the judges @sita.brahmachari @lanishanicole and @christine_pillainayagam. I can't imagine how hard you've had to work to narrow this list down! I'm incredibly honoured to have made this shortlist. 🙏

When I started writing The Shell Keepers I wanted to write a dual heritage protagonist to provide a story that I couldn't find when I was a kid.

Writing it helped me to connect with and explore my own experiences growing up with two cultures 🇬🇧 🇱🇰 and it is a privilege now to be able to speak to children about what shaped me and the value of what shapes them.

It's incredible to see The Shell Keepers on this list and also to be introduced to all the other fantastic voices and stories that the @jhalakprize prize so brilliantly shines a light on.

Thank you to the fab team @chickenhousebooks books ❤️🐔 and Congratulations to my fellow Children's and YA shortlistees @fidan_writes @forestxiaodraws @manjeet_k_mann @hey.chante and my @belllomaxmoreton agency fellow the brilliant @kenechiudogu 🎉📚

#jhalakprize26
#representationmatters by @trulyjwrites

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6 months ago

🎉🎉 PUBLICATION DAY!! 🎉🎉

Its finally here. THE SHELL KEEPERS is now available to buy online and in shops (buying links in bio!)

Its been a journey to get here and I'm so grateful to the many people who have championed this book and encouraged my writing.

Thanks to @bathnovelaward for recognising this story years ago. And massive thanks to my wonderful agent @laurenemmagardner for believing in this story and guiding me solidly on the way!

@chickenhousebooks, you're all super stars! Special thanks to Rachel Leyshon my editor who had brilliant in depth conversations with me about the world of the Democonch and helped me explore where the story could go. To @onesilversummer for the fab design, and to Jazz, Ruth, Esther for all your work to get this book out.

And to the brilliant @trindles_ for your perfect cover! I can't wait to see this in shops. 🐚✨️

I hope this book brings joy, helps young readers explore the magic there already is in the world around us and know what part they can play in protecting it. And I'm looking forward to the journey of helping THE SHELL KEEPERS to sail.

Thank you for your support! 🙏 ❤️🐚🎉

#childrensbooks
#kidlituk
#summerreads
#diversebooks
#conservation
#shells
#middlegradebooks
#oceanside by @trulyjwrites

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a year ago

Checkout the @booktrust great books guide! 👀📚

100 brilliant book recommendations to help primary schools promote reading for pleasure. 🎉

The booklists are organised into different age groups and genres, so it is easy to explore. I'm honoured that The Shell Keepers is amongst the recommendations! 🙏🐚

You can see this fab resource on the @booktrust website - through linktree in bio. Happy browsing and sharing 🙌🏽

#readmore
#childrensbooks
#booksbooksbooks by @trulyjwrites

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13 days ago

Congratulations to @lui.land on the publication of Wildcat and the Gathering Storm! 🎉

Thank you for the invite to a wonderful book launch last night at @putneywaterstones . It was fab to catch up with many book loving peeps and also enjoy the live recording of the @rocketshipreads podcast. 🎙

I really enjoyed Land of the Last Wildcat and am looking forward to seeing what happens next to Puffin and her Kuri! 🐈💫 by @trulyjwrites

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a month ago

Bits and bobs + First day of school! ☀️

How have we come to this time already? Today my little girl started school, full of excitement and nervous energy. We had kiribath (Sri lankan coconut milk rice) for breakfast and lit a candle for an auspicious start.

That banana leaf was from our garden! And a treat to use it to serve the kiri bath from

I felt so happy for her and a bit bewildered at the change for us all. Here's to a new era in parenting! 🧡

And a few recent pictures from summer days. 😊
- Making sourdough (for the first time in 4 years yippee!)
- Little smooth Shell ghost creatures
- Brighton
- My butterfly
- Cloudshapes
- The garden grows and the chickens peck. by @trulyjwrites

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2 months ago

It was wonderful to be able to celebrate the launch, yesterday, of Evie and Maryam's little Lies by the brilliantly talented @janeenhayat 🎉

Janeen achieved stellar things with her debut novel Evie and Maryam's family Tree, winning Waterstones young readers prize 2026 and being shortlisted for the Branford Boase award (amongst many more!). This sequel looks to be just as fabulous a read.

Great to see so many lovely friends from our 2025 debut authors group! All the best Janeen! 🎉📚🙌🏽 by @trulyjwrites

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2 months ago

Author Truly Johnston @trulyjwrites at Acton library at her amazing musical story session for Summer Reading Challenge - Read to the Beat! taken in Acton Library by @trulyjwrites

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2 months ago

❤️ We are playing catch up on announcing the winners of some of our giveaways but that just adds to the excitement! 🤩 Congratulations to @storiesbytheseaside and @book.gazing.for.beginners for winning our signed copies of The Shell Keepers by the amazing @trulyjwrites! ❤️ We are so excited to send the books to you both so please DM with your summer holidays postal details! 🫶🏽 We can’t wait for you to let us know what you think of this awesome book! 🫶🏾📚🫶🏾 by @trulyjwrites

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3 months ago

Truly Johnston at her amazing musical story event at Acton Library for our Read to the Beat, Summer Reading Challenge event on Saturday. Thank you @trulyjwrites for carrying out two sessions! It was brilliant!
#summerreadingchallenge #readtothebeat #thereadingagency #trulywrites #ealinglibraries #actonlibrary taken in Acton Library by @trulyjwrites

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3 months ago

Thank you to @ealing.libraries for having me for two Read to the Beat sessions on saturday!

I had lots of fun sharing songs and writing lyrics with kids and families. We even had a narwhal and an abatross make a lyrical apearance! 😊 🎶

Thank you to the fabulous Shanthi and all the brilliant librarians at Acton library.♥️

And a particular shoutout to some very special guests who created handmade Democonch for the Shell!

If you'd like to join me for some rhyming and musical fun, I'll be at:

🌟 Catford library this Saturday 25th July 11am

🐚 Penge library, Wednesday 29th July, 2pm at part of the @GLLLiteraryFoundation

#summerreadingchallenge
#readtothebeat
#goallin2026 by @trulyjwrites

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3 months ago

Total treat to see @mamagstories edinburgh preview of THE MAGIC BOOKMARK this evening. 🎭

Full of fun, heart and a little cheekiness, this fab show sings of the power of books and being yourself. We loved it 🤩
My 4yo was giggling and boo-ing along with the rest of us.

Lovely to see @shireenlaljiwrites , @mo_ohara_ and @farr.ahriaz there too!

Catch it if you can!

Petitepantos.com by @trulyjwrites

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3 months ago