Nicky Singer
English author (1956–2023)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicky Singer (22 July 1956 – 17 June 2023) was an English novelist, playwright and librettist known best for her young adult books that often tackled controversial or sensitive subjects.
- novelist
- playwright
- librettist
Nicky Singer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 July 1956 |
| Died | 17 June 2023 (aged 66) |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | Bristol University |
| Period | 1993–2020 |
| Subject |
|
| Notable awards | Blue Peter Book Award 2002 |
| Spouse |
James King-Smith (m. 1983) |
| Children |
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| Website | |
| nickysinger | |
Early life and education
Singer grew up in the village of Chalfont St Peter, England.[1] She showed an interest in writing from a young age, winning a chocolate bar for a story she wrote aged 6.[2]
Her father died suddenly when she was 14, which she cites as a "trigger event" in her life, teaching her not to take life for granted.[2] At 16 her godfather encouraged her to write a cantata adaptation of Jonah and the fish which went on to be her first published work.[3] Her mother died when Singer was 17, leaving her in loco parentis for her younger sisters.[3]
She attended Queen Anne's School and went on to study English at the University of Bristol, graduating in 1978.[4]
Death
Nicky died on 17 June 2023 in Brighton following a stroke; she was 66.[1]
Published writings
- To Still the Child (1992)[5]
- To Have and to Hold (1993)[6]
- What She Wanted (1997)[7]
- My Mother's Daughter (1998)[8]
- Little Book of the Millennium (1999)[9]
- Feather Boy (2002)[10]
- The Innocent’s Story (2003)[11]
- Doll (2003)[12]
- Gem X (2008)[13]
- Knight Crew (2009),[14] transformed into an opera of the same name in 2010.
- Under Shifting Glass (2011)[15]
- The Flask (2012)[16]
- Island (2015),[17] originally commissioned as a play for The National Theatre
- The Survival Game (2018)[18]
- The Wind in the Willows (2020), illustrated by Anna Shuttlewood.[19]
Awards and honours
- The Innocent's Story – Nominated for the Carnegie Medal in 2006
- The Flask – Nominated for the Carnegie Medal & UKLA shortlist for age 7–11 and Student Shadowing Vote Winner[20]
- Feather Boy – Blue Peter Book of the Year Award (2002) in the categories of "Book I Couldn't Put Down" and "Book of the Year",[21] British Academy Children's Awards best children's drama (2004)[22]