Alissa McDonald, who grew up in Hitchin, and moved back here with her family 12 years ago, has launched an independent publishing company of children's fiction: Toller Press Ltd.

Alissa's 20-year career as a literacy specialist – as a teacher, researcher and consultant – means she knows books and a good story when she finds one!  Passionate about sparking a love of reading in all children, Toller Press was founded. (Follow Toller Press on Facebook and Instagram @tollerpress.)

What's special about Toller Press?

There are many incredible stories for children that have been published: Vashti Hardy, Piers Torday, and Darren Simpson to name but a few of the amazing authors writing today. But there are also many incredible stories waiting to be published and ignite that desire to read. We all love different books of course and that's part of the magic – finding the book that's right for you.

I want to create a platform for those undiscovered stories and authors who will get children excited about reading. Books which have stories at their heart, books which have diverse characters, and books which are reviewed by children.

Underlings: The Spark Engine by Murray Fisher is the first book to be published by Toller Press.

Why is it important for you to have diverse characters?

Strength is in diversity.  When setting up Toller Press, I wanted children to see themselves and their classmates represented in the stories they read. Stories should include children from different cultural backgrounds and stories should include children with different needs: physical needs, mental health needs, or neurodiverse needs. We are all different, and that gives us different strengths and challenges. But by embracing difference, it also unites us.

Can you tell us a little about Underlings: The Spark Engine?

Underlings: The Spark Engine is a thrilling science-fiction adventure, for anyone aged between 9 and 99! It is based in the machine-powered subterranean city of Lode, where the story's protagonist is Evin, a feisty 13-year-old girl who works in the mines – an 'underling' – who must trust in new friendships to solve mysteries and battle her way upwards to confront Lode's deceptive leader, Cardinal Mavka, before the world she knows comes crashing down.

Why did you choose Underlings: The Spark Engine as your first book?

I immediately saw the potential of Underlings to captivate children and ignite a love of reading. Brimming with adventure, intriguing characters, and a loyal mechanical dog called Jet, I knew it was a story to be read. If you still need persuading, there's a skeletal hand, a cryptic note, brutish guards, and deadly fumes from the dragonsbreath!

Where can I purchase Underlings: The Spark Engine?

In North Herts, Underlings is available at David's Bookshop in Letchworth and Bow Books in Royston. It is also available online at Waterstones, and soon will be available at bookshop.org, which is a fantastic website supporting independent bookshops across the country.

I am also excited to share that the author Murray Fisher will be running FREE character creation workshops for children aged 9+ at the wonderful David's Bookshop (2pm, 1^st November) and at MK BookFest (11:15am, 25^th October). Murray will also be meeting readers and signing books in the afternoon at David's Bookshop and between 10 and 5pm at MKBookFest.  

REVIEWS

'A masterclass in adventure.' Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild and Midnight Treasure

 'The Spark Engine is a rollicking steampunk ride, filled to the gasket with brilliant worldbuilding

and ingenious twists.' Darren Simpson, author of The Memory Thieves and Furthermoor

 'A pulse-racing journey through the steampunk vents and shadowy tunnels of Lode, where

secrets are worth risking everything to uncover.' Vashti Hardy, author of Brightstorm and

Crowfall

'The story is full of twists and turns, and I loved trying to work out what would happen next to

Evin and her dog, Jet. If you love adventures and a good mystery, this book does not disappoint.'

Isaac, age 10