Emma Carroll author page

Emma Carroll biography

Emma Carroll writes children’s fiction, with many of her stories using historical settings, magical elements and female lead characters. Before becoming an author, she worked as an English teacher. She graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University with an MA in Writing for Young People.

Her books include Secrets of a Sun King, Letters from the Lighthouse, The Week at World’s End and A Night at the Frost Fair. In Darkling Wood was published by Faber & Faber in 2015 and is a historical ghost story for readers aged 11 to 15. Sky Chasers was published by Chicken House in 2018 and is a historical adventure about the Montgolfier family and the invention of the first hot-air balloon.

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back, illustrated by Lauren Child, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2022 and reworks Hans Christian Andersen’s story through a Victorian London setting connected to the Bryant and May match factory strike. Dracula & Daughters was announced as the first book in her first middle-grade series, with paperback publication planned for 25 September 2025 by Faber.

Emma Carroll teaching resources

• Emma Carroll’s school visits page sets out her school-events offer, including online events by Zoom or Google Meet, 30-minute Q&A sessions, one-hour author talks, two-hour mini visits, in-person visit formats, fee information and contact details.
• Emma Carroll’s Teaching Ideas page provides classroom activities, research tasks and linked reading suggestions for Years 4-8 using Frost Hollow Hall, The Girl Who Walked on Air, In Darkling Wood, The Snow Sister and Strange Star.
• Authorfy’s Emma Carroll masterclass provides video clips, writing challenges, downloadable resources and extracts for ages 8+ and 9+, including material for Letters from the Lighthouse, Secrets of a Sun King, The Tale of Truthwater Lake and The Houdini Inheritance.
• Faber’s Letters from the Lighthouse lesson plans provide a 10-page PDF with chapter-by-chapter comprehension questions, writing opportunities and cross-curricular tasks covering World War II, evacuation, lighthouses, secret codes, Kindertransport, drama, music and map work.
• Hay Festival’s Secrets of a Sun King teaching materials provide a seven-page chapter-by-chapter resource with reading comprehension, writing, drama, dance, history, geography, science, art, design technology, music and Philosophy for Children activities.
• Hay Festival’s Dracula & Daughters discussion notes provide a six-page ages 9+ PDF with pre-reading cover questions, vocabulary work, Dracula background activities, a theme sheet, during-reading discussion questions and five creative activity ideas.