Julia Golding facts for kids

Julia Golding (born in 1969) is a British writer who creates exciting stories for young readers. She is famous for her book series like Cat Royal and The Companions Quartet. Julia also writes under different names, called pen names. These are Joss Stirling and Eve Edwards.

About Julia Golding

Julia Golding was born in London in 1969. She grew up near a big forest called Epping Forest. She studied English at the University of Cambridge. After university, she worked for the Foreign Office. This meant she was a diplomat, working in other countries like Poland. Her job took her to many interesting places, including mountains and even a coal mine!

After her time in Poland, Julia went back to studying. She earned a special degree from Oxford University, focusing on old English literature. Then, she worked for Oxfam, a charity that helps people. She worked to make sure that wars caused less harm to people living in those areas. She even talked to the United Nations about it.

Today, Julia Golding lives in Oxford and works as a full-time writer. She is married and has three children. Her very first novel was The Diamond of Drury Lane. This book was the start of her popular Cat Royal series. In 2007, a big bookshop called Waterstones chose her as one of the top 25 authors for the future.

Julia Golding's Books

Julia Golding has written many books for young people. She writes different types of stories, from historical adventures to fantasy.

Cat Royal Series

The Cat Royal series follows the adventures of a clever character named Cat. These books are set in the past.

• The Diamond of Drury Lane (2006)
• Cat among the Pigeons (2006)
• Den of Thieves (2007)
• Cat O'Nine Tails (2007)
• Black Heart of Jamaica (2008)
• Cat's Cradle (2009)
• The Middle Passage (a shorter story, 2012)

The Companions Quartet

This fantasy series takes readers on exciting journeys.

• Secret of the Sirens (2006)
• The Gorgon's Gaze (2006)
• Mines of the Minotaur (2007)
• The Chimera's Curse (2007)

Other Series by Julia Golding

• Darcie Lock:
  • Ringmaster (2007)
  • Empty Quarter (2008)
  • Deadlock (2011)
• Dragonfly Universe:
  • Dragonfly (2008)
  • The Glass Swallow (2010)
  • Ragged Wolf (2019)
• Universal Companions:
  • The Water Thief (2011)
• Young Knights:
  • Young Knights of the Round Table (2013)
  • Pendragon (2013)
  • Merlin (2014)
• Mel Foster: (Victorian fantasy stories)
  • Mel Foster and the Demon Butler (2015)
  • Mel Foster and the Time Machine (2016)

Books as Joss Stirling

Julia Golding also writes young adult books under the name Joss Stirling.

• Savants Series:
  • Finding Sky (2010)
  • Stealing Phoenix (2011)
  • Seeking Crystal (2012)
  • Challenging Zed (2013)
  • Misty Falls (2014)
  • Angel Dares (2015)
  • Burning Yves (2015)
  • Summer Shadows (2016)
• Raven Stone (Young Detectives) Series:
  • Storm and Stone (2014)
  • Stung (2015)
  • Shaken (2016)
  • Scorched (2017)

Books as Eve Edwards

Under the name Eve Edwards, Julia Golding writes historical fiction.

• The Lacey Chronicles: (set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I)
  • The Other Countess (2010)
  • The Queen's Lady (2011)
  • The Rogue's Princess (2011)
• World War I Duet:
  • Dusk: a love worth fighting for (2013)
  • Dawn: a love worth living for (2014)

Awards and Recognition

Julia Golding's books have won several important awards:

• 2006 - Her book The Diamond of Drury Lane won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.
• 2006 - The Diamond of Drury Lane also won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for children aged 9–11.
• 2006 - The Diamond of Drury Lane was a finalist for the Costa Book Awards.
• 2008 - Secrets of the Sirens was recognized as an Honour book for the Green Earth Book Award.