Picture a British storyteller who spins magical tales and crafts immersive video game worlds—meet Gabrielle Kent! A novelist, game designer, and educator, Kent brings a unique blend of interactive storytelling and children’s literature to life. Her Alfie Bloom series, filled with enchanted castles and daring adventures, has captivated young readers worldwide, while her work in gaming continues to inspire creativity.
Born and raised in North East England, Kent’s imagination was sparked by childhood summers on her grandmother’s farm in Galway, Ireland, and a lifelong love for comics, castles, and 1980s video games. This vibrant mix of influences shapes her stories, making them resonate with readers and players alike.
The Making of Gabrielle Kent
Gabrielle Kent’s journey began in the 1980s, where she spent her days drawing dragons, reading comics, and playing Atari with friends. Her summers on her grandmother’s Galway farm, running wild with cousins, fueled her love for adventure and exploration. This passion led her to a career in video game design, starting as an artist for platforms like PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. For 16 years, she taught game development at Teesside University, sharing her expertise while directing Animex, a major UK festival celebrating animation and gaming. In 2006, a visit to Castle Coch in Wales, inspired by a carving of The Fates, sparked the idea for her debut novel, marking her shift to children’s literature.
Gabrielle Kent’s Unforgettable Stories
Kent’s Alfie Bloom series, launched in 2015 with Alfie Bloom and the Secrets of Hexbridge Castle, follows a boy who inherits a magical castle and discovers ancient powers within him. Packed with secret passages, a flying bearskin rug named Artan, and time-slipping adventures, the trilogy blends fantasy and mystery, earning praise for its homage to classic children’s literature. The series, translated into seven languages, includes The Talisman Thief and The Witch of Demon Rock, each brimming with wit and heart.
Beyond Alfie Bloom, Kent’s Knights and Bikes novels, based on the acclaimed video game, capture 1980s nostalgia with a thrilling tale of two girls, Demelza and Nessa, on a treasure-hunting quest. Her collaborative works, like Rani Reports with Satish Shewhorak and Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch with Rhianna Pratchett, showcase her versatility. Kent’s style weaves vivid worlds, relatable characters, and interactive storytelling, reflecting her gaming roots and knack for engaging young readers.
Her stories often draw from personal experiences, like the medieval festivals she attended as a child, which appear in Alfie Bloom’s Samhain and Beltane celebrations. Critics, including Eoin Colfer, praise her ability to craft fast-paced, heartfelt adventures that resonate with both kids and adults.
Why Gabrielle Kent Matters
Gabrielle Kent’s impact spans children’s literature and gaming, bridging two creative worlds. Her books inspire young readers to embrace imagination and resilience, while her game design legacy empowers aspiring developers. As a festival director and educator, she’s shaped countless careers, earning accolades like the 2006 Next Gen Magazine’s Top 100 Influential Women in Gaming. Her ability to craft stories that feel both timeless and fresh ensures her work endures, inviting new generations to explore her magical universes.
- Born: North East England
- Key Works: Alfie Bloom series, Knights and Bikes, Rani Reports, Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch
- Awards: 2016 Cumbria Spellbinding Book Award shortlist, 2013 York Festival Friday Night Live winner
Snag Alfie Bloom and the Secrets of Hexbridge Castle and dive into Gabrielle Kent’s spellbinding world of magic and adventure!