An 11 year-old novelist from Deal has published her debut novel and is already being hailed a literary name to watch out for.

Avid reader Sky Bradford wrote her first book aged eight, and the second came to a publisher's attention through lockdown.

Now, with help from Four Peacock Publishing The Stars of the Night Sky is on the shelves and is paving the way to a career in writing for Sky.

Extolling her love for writing, she told Kentonline: "You get to let your imagination run wild and you can make up your whole world if you want to. There's not really any rules."

The aspiring Dover Grammar School for Girls pupil should know what makes a good tale - she reads about five books a week!

Sky's a big fan of the magical writings of JK Rowling and says: "I love the Harry Potter books and the Ickabog."

But space is a common theme in the young author's work. Her first offering was about an alien and her debut book is about Charlotte and her nemesis the Night Owl. Set on a big star in the centre of the universe, they both have special powers and Charlotte realises she needs to defeat the Night Owl so the universe can be safe again.

She said: "I'm not sure where the idea came from. I just get out my pen and then I write." She then edits after one chapter and works out where the following chapters will take her.

Sky has played a big part in the publishing process. She chose her own illustrator, the aptly named Natalie Starr who was her friend before the partnership.

"I Invited Natalie to do the illustrations. I think it's made our friendship closer," she said.

Natalie told us she was asked for her creative help just after last Easter.

Collaborating through the lockdowns they would work via video call. Sky would describe what she wanted and Natalie would draw it as they spoke, giving the author feedback and offering her own ideas as they worked.

“Sky has an amazing talent. I have no doubt that she will go on to be a best-selling writer..."

The pairing worked well and 25 of 26 drawings were used in the book. Natalie will be supplying the illustrations for the sequel too.

Publisher Joe Harris of Four Peacocks Publishing described Sky as an "exceptional young writing talent."

He said: "I was blown away by the quality of her writing. So much so I agreed to publish her book and she is now a published author!

"Her grandad and guardian, Shane Bradford, bought one of our peacock books and mentioned to me that Sky had written a book of her own (we had never met before). I asked for the manuscript and the rest is history."

“Sky has an amazing talent. I have no doubt that she will go on to be a best-selling writer. Within one page of reading her manuscript I knew this young exciting talent needed to be in print. I’ve got my signed copy!”

Author and screenwriter, Dougie Brimson (Green Street, Top Dog, In The Know) first came across Sky when she was right. He was so impressed with her writing ability that his encouragement spurred her on to write her first novel. He was effusive in his praise of what she has achieved saying, “The Stars of the Night Sky is an utterly captivating read from beginning to end made all the more amazing by the fact that the author isn’t even a teenager yet! Sky Bradford is definitely a name to look out for.”

The Stars of the Night Sky is novel for younger readers (aged seven-11) and is an interstellar story set on the planet Star2. When Night Owl returns from her banishment a curse is lifted and civilisation as we know it is under threat. One person can save her friends, her family, the people of Star2 and the Universe.

The Stars of the Night Sky is available for £7.99 at fourpeacockspublishing.com ISBN: 9781838088736

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