BIOG

Photo by Candy Gourlay

Ally Kennen grew up on a small, organic farm near Exmoor.

Before becoming an author, she had many jobs including working as an archaeologist, a classroom helper, a museum guard, a giant teddy bear and a singer and songwriter.
Her first novel BEAST, written during an MA in CreativeWriting at Bath Spa University and published in 2006 by Marion Lloyd Books, was shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize and the Carnegie Medal and won the 2007 Manchester Book Award. her second novel BERSERK won the North East Teenage Book Award and the Leicester Book of the Year Award 2008. BEDLAM is her third novel and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2009
SPARKS, published in May 2010, has been longlisted for the 2010 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. It is for readers aged 8/9 and above.
QUARRY, a teen chiller, was published in February 2011 and has been longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the UKLA 2012
BULLET BOYS, a new teen thriller, was published in January 2102 and was also longlisted for The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. Fact about BULLET BOYS, Ally nearly called it STRANGEWAYS instead. She still can't decide which title she likes best and it has been out for over a year!

MIDNIGHT PIRATES, set in Cornwall, is her new adventure story for readers age 9-16.
Ally lives in Somerset with her husband, three children, six chickens and four cats.


No woman has ever beaten Ally in an arm wrestle. Yet.