Bestselling Harborough author shortlisted for national Waterstones book prize - here's the story that could see her win

Tamsin Winter, 40, said she’s “ecstatic” as she’s in with a chance of winning the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.

Jubilant Tamsin has been put forward for the coveted accolade after her second book ‘Jemima Small Versus the Universe’ has gone down a storm.

And now the schoolteacher is well on her way to finishing her third blockbuster as she blazes a trail through the publishing world.

Tamsin said: “I’m very excited and very proud to be shortlisted for this honour.

“It’s amazing to think I could take home this very prestigious award!”

Her highly-acclaimed book tells the story of an overweight 13-year-old girl called Jemima Small.

“Jemima is very funny, extremely smart and so kind.

“She’s the biggest girl in her class, however, and kids call her Jemima Big instead of her real name,” said Tamsin, who teaches English Literature at Harington School, Oakham.

“But Jemima doesn’t change and she stays the same weight.

“She’s determined to battle on, hold her head high and be proud of who she is.

“So many people have got in touch with me to say how much they have enjoyed my book.

“They’ve told me it’s changed their lives and given them new confidence and a new way forward.

“I even heard from a woman in her 60s who said she wished she’d been able to read all about Jemima when she was a teenager.”

The single mum-of-one said she’d been “empowered” writing about Jemima’s fight to beat the classroom bullies and social media trolls.

“I grew up with a lot of hang-ups myself so I can totally identify with her.

“I’ve looked in the mirror and felt worthless,” admitted Tamsin, who grew up in Northamptonshire.

“I’ve been very low and had a negative body image.

“Self-esteem and self-confidence plummets when a girl hits puberty.

“We are just bombarded with warnings and messages that our bodies aren’t good enough.

“It’s simply not acceptable.

“We have to focus on the positive.

“Every body is incredible – size and shape are not important.”

‘Jemima Small Versus the Universe’ has been praised to the skies by national newspaper reviewers and readers alike after it hit the shelves last summer.

Tamsin, whose first book was called ‘Being Miss Nobody’, will find out if she’s scooped the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize at the end of March.

“I’ll be going down to the glittering event at the huge Waterstones bookshop in London’s Piccadilly,” she said.

“It will be very exciting.

“Then I hope to publish my third book about another girl aged 13 late this year or early in 2021.

“I’ve only ever wanted to be a creative writer since I was a little girl growing up in a little village near here.

“So it’s almost as if it’s all a big daydream and I can hardly believe it at times!”

If you would like to find out more about Tamsin and her bestselling books then visit her website at www.tamsinwinter.com