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Delia Huddy

Delia Huddy grew up in Leicester surrounded by books, and inspired by her father, head of English at Wyggeston Grammar in Leicester, went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature at King's College, London. She went on to enjoy a long and distinguished career in publishing, initially as an editor at Constable with Grace Hogarth, and then Hamish Hamilton, where she met Julia MacRae. The two were to become life-long friends and went on to set up Julia Mac Rae Books, publishing many of the great names in picture books, including Anthony Browne and Raymond Briggs. In later years she became the Director of Fiction at Random House Children's Books. Alongside a busy career Delia also found time to write, publishing her first book, Jane Plays Hockey, in 1963 at the age of 29. Whilst juggling family life she produced over 40 titles, both picture books for children and fiction for young adults, including the best-seller Time Piper (1976). The Christmas Eve Tree (2015) was a text on which Delia was working at the end of her life in 2005. This was subsequently published by Walker Books, with illustrations by the wonderful Emily Sutton, and continues to sell well worldwide as a now-established seasonal classic. The estate of Delia Huddy is represented by ILeopard Creative, London.

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