The Polar Bear Explorers' Club
Page 21
Members are courteously reminded that – due to the size and smell of the beasts in question – the club’s elephant house is not an appropriate venue in which to host soirees, banquets, galas or shindigs. Carousing of any kind in the elephant house is strictly prohibited.
UPON INITIATION, ALL JUNGLE CAT EXPLORERS SHALL RECEIVE AN EXPLORER’S BAG CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
An elegant mother-of-pearl knife and fork, inscribed with the explorer’s initials.
One silverware polishing kit.
One engraved Jungle Cat Explorers’ Club napkin ring and five luxury linen napkins – ironed, starched and embossed with the club’s insignia.
One magic lantern with fire pixie.
One tin of Captain Greystoke’s Expedition-Flavour Smoked Caviar.
One corkscrew, two Scotch egg knives and three wicker grape baskets.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my new agent, Thérèse Coen, who championed Polar Bears from the very beginning, first at the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, and now at Hardman and Swainson. Many thanks to everyone at both agencies.
I would also like to acknowledge Carolyn Whitaker, of London Independent Books, who sadly passed away last year. She became my literary agent when I was nineteen and offered a wealth of advice, wisdom, encouragement and opportunities over the eleven years that followed. She was the first person from the world of publishing who believed in my writing, and I could not have become a published author without her. Given that this is all I have ever wanted to do – I owe her a great deal.
I’ve got to mention New Orleans as well. This city is full of music, creativity and magic, and I happened to visit during a low time when my artist’s soul was very much in need of nourishing. I had almost made up my mind to put the manuscript for Polar Bears away in a drawer, but this trip gave me the drive to submit it, come what may. Thank you, NOLA, and laissez les bons temps rouler again one day, I hope.
I’m delighted that Polar Bears found a home with Faber, and would like to thank Leah Thaxton, Natasha Brown, Hannah Love and everyone else there who has shown such love and affection for the book. You’re all amazing.
I’d also like to thank fellow writers, Sarwat Chadda, Natasha Ngan, James Noble, Louie Stowell, Jane Hardstaff and Ali Standish for cocktails, fun and all of the bookish chat in London. Writing is a solitary business and the friendship and support offered by other authors is extremely special. Plus, they all write fantastic books – go and buy ’em!
Finally, much gratitude as always to my family, who put up with all the ups and downs of the writer’s life with such good grace. Particular shout-outs for my parents, Shirley and Trevor Bell, for taking me to New Orleans when they did; my boyfriend, Neil Dayus, for keeping me supplied with whisky cocktails during edits; and my dear little Siamese cat, Suki, who is the very best at cuddles. Gold medals for everybody!
About the author and illustrator
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alex Bell has published novels and short stories for both adults and young adults including Frozen Charlotte. The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club is her first foray into middle grade. She always wanted to be a writer but had several different back-up plans to ensure she didn’t end up in the poor house first. After completing a law degree, she now works at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Most of her spare time consists of catering to the whims of her Siamese cat.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Tomislav Tomic was born in 1977. He graduated from the Academy of fine arts in Zagreb. He started to publish his illustrations during his college days. He has illustrated a great number of books, picture books, schoolbooks and lot of covers for children books. He lives and works in the town of Zaprešic, Croatia.
Copyright
First published in 2017
by Faber & Faber Limited
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2017
All rights reserved
Text © Alex Bell, 2017
Internal illustrations © Tomislav Tomic, 2017
Cover illustration © Shutterstock, 2017
Polar bear head on cover © Tomislav Tomic, 2017
The right of Alex Bell and Tomislav Tomic to be identified as author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
978–0571–33255–7