Marie Basting

*Picture credit: Sandi Hodkinson Photography*

@riewriting  marie_basting_author
www.mariebasting.com

"Kate's enthusiasm convinced me straight away she was the right agent."

When Marie Basting was fifteen she was told by a careers advisor that girls like her don’t become writers. For a long time she believed this but then something magical happened and she realised that girls like her can do anything they want.

Her debut children’s novel, Princess BMX, was published to critical acclaim in 2019. Her second, a laugh-out-loud MG fantasy novel inspired by Roman mythology, My Family and Other Romans, won a Books for Topics Award in 2023 and was voted Primary School Book Club Read for January 2024.

When she’s not writing Marie likes nothing more than encouraging others to follow their dreams. Her school and festival events have inspired thousands of children to smash stereotypes and defy expectations. A former Associate Lecturer at Manchester Met University, Marie has taught creative writing from foundation through to MFA level and has extensive experience of schools outreach for organisations including the Portico Library, Writing on the Wall and Manchester Writing School.

Marie lives in Manchester with her husband, son and a giant, hairy woo-dog called Polly. She is never knowingly under-shoed.

marie’s books

Auntie Medusa and Me, Chicken House, 2024; My Family and Other Romans, Chicken House, 2023; Princess BMX, Chicken House, 2019.

REVIEWERS

“Daft and delicious.”

The Guardian

“Hilarious!”

BookTrust

“Brimming with humour, action, mystery, danger.”

Lancashire Evening Post

Latest Book

THE WRITER WHO MOST INSPIRED MARIE

There isn’t one single writer I could choose but Neil Gaiman is a big influence and it was the character Mr Gum that inspired me to write funny middle grade - so thank you Andy Stanton.

HOW MARIE BECAME KATE’S CLIENT

I was introduced to Kate by editor Tilda Johnson. I’d already been offered a book deal by Chicken House but wanted to take a longer-term view of things. I told Tilda I was hoping to find an agent who shared my sense of humour and was straightforward and down to earth - Kate fitted the bill perfectly.

MARIE ABOUT KATE

Kate’s enthusiasm for Princess BMX convinced me straight away that she was the right agent for me. With her amazing ability to know exactly when I need a pep talk, and to say just the right thing, I’m certain Kate is of magical descent. My bet is on pixie princess – must check her ears out next time I see her.

KATE ABOUT MARIE

My first impressions of Marie, through her anarchic writing, during our first phone call and then face-to-face, were of her great talent (and fab footwear) and that she tells it like it is. She’s had me laughing and proud to represent her ever since.