Katya Balen is an author and the co-director of Mainspring Arts, a charity that provides creative opportunities for neurodivergent people. Her debut novel, The Space We’re In, was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Her second book, October, October was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
She lives in South London with her partner, two lazy dogs and an assorted collection of dying house plants.
Awards: Carnegie (2022) see all
Genres: Children's Fiction
New and upcoming books
Series
Novels
The Space We're In (2019)
October, October (2020)
The Light in Everything (2022)
Birdsong (2022)
Foxlight (2023)
Ghostlines (2024)
The Appletree Animal Agency (2025)
Letters from the Upside (2025)
October, October (2020)
The Light in Everything (2022)
Birdsong (2022)
Foxlight (2023)
Ghostlines (2024)
The Appletree Animal Agency (2025)
Letters from the Upside (2025)
Chapter Books show
Awards
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Award nominations
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Katya Balen recommends

Witchspark (2024)
(Witchspark, book 1)
Dominique Valente
"An absolute delight. Full of magic and wonder, this is the kind of book you want to live in forever."

On Silver Tides (2024)
(On Silver Tides, book 1)
Sylvia Bishop
"A classic in the making. I loved every word."
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