Sam Sedgman

Sam Sedgman
Born
Samuel James Sedgman

(1987-10-30) 30 October 1987
Alma mater
Years active2011–present
Websitesamsedgman.com

Samuel James Sedgman (born 30 October 1987) is an English writer and ferroequinologist. He began his career in theatre before gaining prominence as a children's author. His work has received a number of accolades, including a British Book Award and a Children's Book Award.

Early life and education

Sedgman is from Berkshire. His father is an architect in the Reading area.[1] Sedgman attended Wellington College, where he was a member of Ironduke and took part in theatre. He to the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his school.[2] Sedgman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and Creative Writing from the University of Warwick in 2009.[3] He went on to complete a Master of Arts (MA) in Text and Performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and also studied at King's College London.[4]

Career

Sedgman began his career theatre. He wrote the fringe dark comedy play Black and White and Red[5] and worked for the National Theatre (NT) as a digital consultant and producer. He also hosted the NT's podcast.[6]

Due to Sedgman's knowledge of and enthusiasm for railways, a friend M. G. Leonard invited him to collaborate on a railway-themed children's book series.[7] Via a six-way auction in summer 2018,[8] Macmillan Children's Books acquired the rights to publish the series titled Adventures on Trains,[9] starting with The Highland Falcon Thief in January 2020. It was named Children's Book of the Week by Alex O'Connell of The Times.[10] The Highland Falcon Thief won the British Book Award for Children's Fiction Book of the Year and the Children's Book Award for Younger Readers, in addition to a Books Are My Bag Readers' Award in the Children's Fiction category. Further books in the series included Kidnap on the California Comet[11] and Murder on the Safari Star,[12] which were both shortlisted for Best Juvenile at the Edgar Awards. The series was rounded out by Sabotage on the Solar Express[13] and The Arctic Railway Assassin in 2022.

Sedgman published his debut non-fiction book Epic Adventures: Explore the World in 12 Amazing Train Journeys in 2022.[14] Sam Brewster provided the book's illustrations. This was followed by Epic Cities: Take a Tour of 24 Cities in 2025.

As announced in 2022, Bloomsbury Children's acquired the rights to publish Sedgman's solo fiction debut The Clockwork Conspiracy in 2024, the first installment in a middle-grade thriller series.[15][16] Sedgman first came up with the concept in 2016, inspired by the grandfather clock in his childhood home and a trip he took with his father to see Big Ben.[1] The Clockwork Conspiracy was shortlisted for an Indie Book Award and a Books Are My Bag Readers' Award, both in the Children's Fiction category, as well as the Children's Book Award for Older Readers and the KS2 Award at the James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Awards.

Adaptation

In December 2023, Kindle Entertainment optioned the rights to adapt Adventures on Trains for film.[17]

Bibliography

Adventures on Trains (with M. G. Leonard

  • The Highland Falcon Thief (2020)
  • Kidnap on the California Comet (2020)
  • Murder on the Safari Star (2021)
  • Danger at Dead Man's Pass (2021)
  • Sabotage on the Solar Express (2022)
  • The Arctic Railway Assassin (2022)

Isaac Turner Investigates

  • The Clockwork Conspiracy (2024)
  • The Forbidden Atlas (2025)
  • The Galileo Heist (2026)

Non-fiction

  • Epic Adventures: Explore the World in 12 Amazing Train Journeys (2022)
  • Epic Cities: Take a Tour of 24 Cities (2025)

Plays

  • Black and White and Red (2011)

Accolades

Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
2020 Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards Children's Fiction The Highland Falcon Thief[a] Won [18]
2021 British Book Awards Children's Fiction Book of the Year Won [19]
2022 Children's Book Award Younger Readers Won [20]
Edgar Awards Best Juvenile Kidnap on the California Comet[b] Shortlisted [21]
2023 Murder on the Safari Star[c] Shortlisted
2024 Indie Book Awards Children's Fiction The Clockwork Conspiracy Shortlisted [22]
Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards Shortlisted [23]
2025 James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Awards KS2 Award Shortlisted [24]
Children's Book Award Older Readers Shortlisted [25]

Notes

  1. ^ Shared with M. G. Leonard
  2. ^ Shared with M. G. Leonard
  3. ^ Shared with M. G. Leonard

References

  1. ^ a b Povey, Clare (30 January 2024). "'Use your sense of nerdy interest as a compass': Author Sam Sedgman's curiosity-led career". Writers & Artists. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  2. ^ "The Frozen Deep" (PDF). Wellington College Newsletter. December 2005. p. 4. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  3. ^ "University & College Entrance" (PDF). Wellington College Yearbook 2005/2006. 2006. p. 14. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  4. ^ "The Authors". Adventures on Trains. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Further productions announced Etcetera Theatre". London Theatre. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  6. ^ Richards, Jennifer. "How To Create New Work: A Chat with Sam Sedgman of the NT Podcast". London Playwrights. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  7. ^ "About the Author: Sam Sedgman and MG Leonard". ReadingZone. September 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  8. ^ Eyre, Charlotte (10 July 2018). "Macmillan wins six-way auction for series by Leonard and Sedgman". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  9. ^ Eyre, Charlotte (10 June 2021). "M G Leonard and Sam Sedgman: 'Thinking about how it can sell makes you a better author'". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  10. ^ O'Connell, Alex (18 January 2020). "The Highland Falcon Thief: Adventures on Trains (9+) by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman review". The Times. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  11. ^ Millen, John (18 October 2020). "'Kidnap on the California Comet' book review: Agatha Christie lite for YA readers". YP. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  12. ^ O'Connell, Alex (30 January 2021). "Murder on the Safari Star by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman review — a high-speed train journey worth catching". The Times. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  13. ^ Brown, Sophie (19 March 2022). "'Sabotage On The Solar Express' And 'Epic Adventures' Expand 'AoT' Series". GeekMom. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  14. ^ Norfolk, Pam (16 February 2022). "Epic train travels, a Lakeland mystery and dangerous games by various authors - book reviews". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  15. ^ Comerford, Ruth (8 December 2022). "Bloomsbury Children's bags Sedgman's 'totally brilliant' middle-grade series in six figure pre-empt". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  16. ^ Bannerman, Lucy (10 February 2024). "The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman review — a great thriller for ten-year-olds". The Times. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  17. ^ Creamer, Jon (14 December 2023). "Kindle to adapt Adventures on Trains". Televisual. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  18. ^ Chandler, Mark (30 September 2020). "Bennett and McAnulty on Books Are My Bag Readers Awards shortlists". The Bookseller. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  19. ^ Waite-Taylor, Eva (2021-05-13). "British Book Awards winners: From first-time writers to a skincare guru". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  20. ^ Hope, Jacob (25 June 2022). "FCBG Children's Book Award winners announced". CILIP. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Category list: Best Juvenile". Edgar Awards. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  22. ^ Spanoudi, Melina (10 May 2024). "R F Kuang, Sebastian Barry and Katherine Rundell shortlisted for Indie Book Awards 2024". The Bookseller. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  23. ^ Spanoudi, Melina (10 October 2024). "David Nicholls and Rory Stewart shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards". The Bookseller. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  24. ^ "James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award Shortlists 2025". Hull City Council. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  25. ^ Brown, Lauren (7 June 2025). "Ross Montgomery named overall winner of Children's Book Award for I Am Rebel". The Bookseller. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
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