Nicky Smith-Dale

"I feel so lucky to have Kate as my agent."

Nicky spent her childhood in daydreams, floating through life in a haze of stories and silliness. When she grew up (and had to impersonate a sensible adult) she tried a few uninspiring career options before discovering that teaching was a lot of fun.

Surrounded by incredible children’s books she was moved to take up her pen and write a story of her own. The result was a bit disappointing but she didn’t give up easily. After years of experimentation she decided to write the silliest story that popped into her brain. (A tale of evil toads and enchanted boiled eggs.) Yeah, it was weird. But weird worked.

Now, Nicky writes from her home in Winchester, where she lives with her husband and two children. She has signed a three-book deal with Farshore for her anarchically funny young fiction series Betty Steady (illustrated by the incomparable Sarah Horne).

NICKY’S BOOKS

Betty Stead and the Toad Witch, Farshore, 2024.

REVIEWERS

“Bold, brilliant and toadally bonkers!”

Mel Taylor-Bessent

“I’m a Betty Steady mega fan.”

Jenny McLachlan

"A glorious giggle fest!”

Anna Brooke

Latest Book

THE WRITER WHO MOST INSPIRED NICKY

E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web has a special place in my heart. Reading it as a child I learnt that a good story plays with your emotions, making you laugh one minute and cry the next.

There are so many children’s comedy books that have inspired me over the years. A few that have tickled my funny bones are Babette Cole’s Princess Smartypants picture books, Roald Dahl’s The Twits and Andy Stanton’s delightfully mad Mr Gum series.

NICKY ABOUT KATE

I feel so lucky to have Kate as my agent. From our first conversation (when she quoted some of the silliest jokes from my manuscript) I knew I’d found a kindred spirit. Since then, she’s been an incredible cheerleader for my work and has helped my writing dreams become a reality. Kate really knows her stuff in the publishing world. She is knowledgeable, insightful and, most importantly, an absolute delight.

KATE ABOUT NICKY

When I opened Nicky’s email submission I wasn’t prepared for what was about to hit me. Character? Yep. Adventure? Check. Voice? Outstanding. Catch phrases? Plenty. Laughter? Yes, yes, YES! Here was both a brilliant and funny new voice in children’s fiction AND the perfect antidote to these tough times. I wasted no time in meeting Nicky and signing her up before any other agent could steal her away.