Robert Dinsdale

Robert Dinsdale
Born
Robert Neil Dinsdale

April 1981
Northallerton, England
Alma mater
Years active2009–present
Children1
Websitewww.robertdinsdale.com

Robert Neil Dinsdale (born April 1981) is an English author of historical fiction and fantasy. His novels include The Harrowing (2009), Little Exiles (2013), The Toymakers (2018) and Once a Monster (2023).

Early life

Dinsdale was born in Northallerton, North Yorkshire and grew up near Target Wood. He began writing at a young age and received his first rejection letter at age 12.[1] He graduated from the University of Leeds.[2][3]

Career

Dinsdale began his career working as an assistant for Conville & Walsh (C&W) Agency.[4] He later worked for A.M. Heath Literary Agency.[5] Dinsdale published his debut novel The Harrowing via Faber & Faber in 2009. The novel follows two working-class brothers from Leeds, one of whom takes the other's place in the First World War.[6][7] The Harrowing was longlisted for the Waverton Good Read Award.[8] Dinsdale reunited with Faber & Faber for the publication of his second novel Three Miles, set in Leeds during the Blitz.[9]

In 2012, Dinsdale signed a two-book deal with HarperCollins UK and Australia,[10] through which he published Little Exiles, centred around the exile of child orphans to Australia in the after math of World War II.[11] This was followed by Dinsdale's first fantasy novel Gingerbread, set in Belarus and drawing upon Slavic folklore, in 2014.[12]

As announced in 2017, Dinsdale's next novel The Toymakers (also stylised as The Toy Makers) was published via Del Rey (an Ebury Publishing imprint) in February 2018.[13] The story begins in 1906 when teen mother Cathy Wray is hired by Papa Jack's Emporium and follows the various characters through the decades.[14] The Toymakers named a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice[15] and longlisted for a 2020 Dublin Literary Award[16] Also under Del Rey, Dinsdale's sixth Paris by Starlight was published in 2020.[17][18]

Dinsdale moved to Pan Macmillan for the publication of Once a Monster in 2023,[19] a reimagining of the Minotaur myth set in Victorian London.[20][21][22] Once a Monster was also named a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice.[23]

Personal life

Dinsdale lives in Leigh-on-Sea and has a daughter.[24]

Bibliography

  • The Harrowing (2009)
  • Three Miles (2011)
  • Little Exiles (2013)
  • Gingerbread (2014)
  • The Toymakers (2018) (also known as The Toy Makers)
  • Paris by Starlight (2020)
  • Once a Monster (2023)

References

  1. ^ "Meet the Author: Robert Dinsdale". Suffolk Libraries. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Real-life terror in tales from the forest". The Yorkshire Press. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  3. ^ Lewis, Stephen (27 February 2010). "Redemption story". The Press. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  4. ^ Jones, Philip (8 April 2008). "Conville and Walsh assistants sell first novels". The Bookseller. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  5. ^ Dag R. (11 January 2013). "Interview with Robert Dinsdale". SFF World. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  6. ^ Walker, Maureen (11 August 2009). "Historical novels". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  7. ^ Taylor, Catherine (27 June 2009). "The Harrowing". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Waverton Good Read Award". I Browse Books. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  9. ^ Boyce, Laurence (14 October 2011). "Three Miles by Robert Dinsdale". The Culture Vulture. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  10. ^ Allen, Katie (17 April 2012). "Joint pre-empt for HC UK and Oz". The Bookseller. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  11. ^ Hardy, Karen (17 March 2013). "Lest we forget the little children". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  12. ^ Kapur, Annie. "Book Review: "Gingerbread" by Robert Dinsdale". Geeks. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  13. ^ Cowdrey, Katherine (24 May 2017). "Dinsdale to publish 'magical' book with Ebury". The Bookseller. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  14. ^ Larman, Alexander (7 October 2018). "In brief: The Indian Empire at War; The Corset; The Toy Makers – reviews". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  15. ^ Kemp, Douglas (August 2018). "The Toymakers". Historical Novel Society. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  16. ^ "The Toymakers - Robert Dinsdale". Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  17. ^ Larman, Alexander (29 November 2020). "In brief: The Nolan Variations; Paris By Starlight; Nat Tate – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  18. ^ Xenos, Natalie (8 January 2021). "Book Review: Paris By Starlight by Robert Dinsdale". CultureFly. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Dinsdale moves to Pan Mac with magical Minotaur tale". The Bookseller. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  20. ^ Fraser, Katie (16 June 2023). "Robert Dinsdale on morality, legends and imagination". The Bookseller. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Book Review: 'Once A Monster' by Robert Dinsdale". Plato's Fire. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  22. ^ Shukla, Nils (September 2023). "Interview With Robert Dinsdale (ONCE A MONSTER)". Fantasy Hive. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  23. ^ Lynes, Michael (November 2023). "Once a Monster: A Reimagining of the Legend of the Minotaur". Historical Novel Society. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  24. ^ Turner, Josie (14 February 2018). "#BlogTour #Q&A: The Toy Makers by Robert Dinsdale". Over the Rainbow. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
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