A CHILDREN’S adventure inspired by Cornwall’s coastline and her Cornish heritage has earned author Sue Palmer not one, but two of Cornwall’s most prestigious literary honours – making this year’s Holyer an Gof Publishers’ Awards a deeply personal moment.
Sue Palmer’s The Shell Secret (Candy Jar Books) was named Winner of the Holyer an Gof Publishers’ Awards 2026 – Class 2b: Books for Young Adults on July 4.
She was also presented with the Gorsedh Kernow Ann Trevenen Jenkin Cup, recognising excellence in authorship in the Children and Young Adults category.
The double success was made even more special because the awards ceremony took place in Kresen Kernow, the building which houses the world’s largest collection of documents, books, maps and photographs related to Cornwall. In these archives, Sue discovered her grandfather’s contribution to music and the writing of the Cornish dictionary – a family connection that made the occasion especially meaningful.
“When I was notified that The Shell Secret had been shortlisted for the Holyer an Gof Publishers’ Award 2026, I began to research the role of Gorsedh Kernow and the work of Cornish bards in preserving Cornish culture in all its forms.
“Imagine my surprise in finding out that my great grandfather, who was also a baker in Falmouth, had been instrumental in writing the Cornish dictionary and had been made a Cornish bard in recognition of his work in 1940.
“Standing in front of the current day Grand Bard to receive two awards for my children’s Cornish adventure felt like a full circle moment. I was honoured to receive the award and to stand with Cornish bards, as my great grandfather would have done. It was incredibly special and gave me a strong desire to continue his work in promoting and supporting Cornish writing and storytelling.”
Inspired by Sue’s own childhood holidays spent with family in Cornwall, The Shell Secret is a mystery adventure celebrating the county’s spectacular coastline, while exploring friendship, courage and the lasting impact of love and loss.
The novel follows eleven-year-old Alice Clark, who returns to the fictional Cornish village of Trevellen a year after the death of her younger sister, determined to build a shell memorial in her memory. What begins as a personal mission soon unfolds into an unforgettable seaside mystery filled with danger, friendship and hope.
The Cornish landscape is central to the story, reflecting Sue’s lifelong affection for the county and its coastline.
‘I spent many summers in Cornwall as a child, scrabbling around the rocks, peering into rock pools and enjoying a wonderful sense of freedom that didn’t exist anywhere else. It was also a place of peace, storytelling, myths and legends and I couldn’t resist writing an adventure story that celebrated the unique and timeless nature of this coastline.’
Alongside writing, Sue also visits schools with her popular Secrets of the Shore workshop, using storytelling to inspire children while supporting curriculum topics including habitats, ecosystems and marine environments.
Winning both the Holyer an Gof Publishers’ Award and the Gorsedh Kernow Ann Trevenen Jenkin Cup recognises not only the quality of Sue’s writing, but also a story that proudly celebrates Cornwall, its coastline and the adventures that have inspired generations.
Published by Candy Jar Books, The Shell Secret is aimed at readers aged nine and above and is available from all good bookshops across the UK, thanks to the Books Council of Wales. In Cornwall, readers can find it at Waterstones Truro, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, The Falmouth Bookseller, The St. Ives Booksheller, The Edge of the World Bookshop, Black Cat Books, The Bookshop in Helston and The Cornish Store, as well as through online retailers.
For more details on The Shell Secret, upcoming events, and workshops, please visit Sue’s website at sypalmer.com.
