Welcome


Hello! My name is Piers Torday, and I write for children: novels, short stories and plays.

Find out my latest news, learn to write your own book or your first play, or invite me for a school visit.

Inside, you’ll also find plenty of trailers and more info on me and my books for school projects. Drop me a line with your questions, or sign up to my mailing list below for updates and giveaways…


Werwolves. Vampirs. And a deadly quest for the...

MIDNIGHT TREASURE


 

During lockdown, while doing some sorting out, I found a mysterious map of a fantasy land drawn by my dad —a wonderful world of knights, bears, forests, and lakes. I had no idea what it was or when he drew it.

And it got me thinking about the amount of stuff I didn’t know about Dad, and so many stories, and the biggest one of all – where did his side of the family actually come from?

I knew it wasn’t a fantasy land. But it might as well have been – because I knew that long ago, the Tordays originally came from Transylvania. (When I was little, I secretly hoped I was a vampire)

Having nothing else to do, I started reading about this incredible country (now part of modern-day Romania). And became obsessed. By the history, the cultures, the landscape…and, of course, the folklore 🧛‍♂️

I visited for the first time last year and saw the castles, caves, mountains, and forests for myself.

The story that began that spring day in lockdown grew and grew.

A fantasy version of Transylvania. A kingdom of vampirs. An orphaned werwolf searching for a mysterious treasure…

I couldn’t be more proud or excited about this story, and can’t wait for you to read it, out this September 🌙

Available for pre-order now



NEWS

Making Books with Polly Ho-Yen


January 4, 2024

Happy 2024! While I was waiting for edits on the new book (on which more soon) at the end of last year, I spoke to my fellow children’s author Polly Ho-Yen for her brilliant new “Making Books” podcast…

Events


To book me for a school, library, bookshop or festival visit, please head to my Contact page.


Q&A


Q

Where can I find classroom resources for your books?

A

You can watch my Last Wild video masterclasses and sign up for classroom resources at Authorfy

There are also some excellent free classroom resources for “The Last Wild” provided by Sustainable Learning

Teachers could sign up to CLPE’s excellent Power of Reading scheme and get a whole teaching sequence based on “The Last Wild”.