Kathryn Evans

Vivienne Kathryn Evans (née Hodgkiss; born January 1969) is an English young adult (YA) novelist, public speaker and farmer. Her debut novel More of Me won the Edinburgh Book Festival's First Book Award and a Crystal Kite Award. Her second novel Beauty Sleep (2019) earned a CrimeFest Award.

Early life Evans was born and grew up a "Navy kid" in Portsmouth with three siblings. She lost her mother at a young age. Evans graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Drama from Bangor University in 1990.

Career Upon graduating university, Evans moved to Sussex and landed her first job working backstage in the green room of Chichester Festival Theatre. The pair started off growing vegetables at Almodington Nurseries before setting up their own strawberry farm in Sidlesham.

At the recommendation of Natascha Biebow, Evans joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) circa 2002, where she honed her writing skills.

In 2016 via Usborne Books, The novel had a U.S. publication in 2017 via Amulet Books (an Abrams Books imprint). More of Me won the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival First Book Award Beauty Sleep won Best Crime Novel for Young Adults at the 2020 CrimeFest Awards

Influences Evans has praised the children's literature of Candy Gourlay, Michael Morpurgo, Jeanne Willis, Catherine Johnson and Matt Haig. 2017 Crystal Kite Award UK / Ireland 2018

STEAM Children's Book Prize YA

CrimeFest Awards Best Crime Novel for Young Adults