Welcome

princess-bmx-for-website-678x1024Hello and welcome to my website! 

If you came here on purpose, you’ll already know that this is the place to find out more about me, Marie Basting, and my book Princess BMX. If you didn’t, and you have no idea what you’re doing here, the next bus doesn’t leave for an hour, so why not take a look around. You’ll find all my latest news, interviews, reviews, school resources and secrets I haven’t even told myself. And, please, no laughing at my webbed feet!

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Tyson and I love meeting or hearing from readers, so don’t forget to visit the events information or send us a message using the contact form.

PRINCESS BMX is Enchanted meets BMX! A funny debut for ages 7+ that brings the fairy tale bang up to date – get ready for some extreme adventurous fun! With black and white illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino, are you ready to be more BMX! 

BUY the Book  – Princess BMX is Published by Chicken House and is available from all good book stores –  read the first chapter and follow the links to order here.

IMG_5871-EditWhen Marie Basting was fifteen, she was told by a careers advisor that girls like her don’t become writers. For a long time, she believed this. But then something magical happened and Marie finally came to realise that girls like her can do anything they want.

Princess BMX is her debut novel.

What the Reviewers are Saying This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is potatosack.jpg

Evil aunties and fairy godfathers called Nigel combine with a streak of feisty rebellion to create a daft and delicious fantasy.
The Guardian

Ava’s hilarious adventure races along at breakneck speed while punctured with characterful illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino. Children will love Ava’s cheeky humour and her courage to be true to herself. A modern fairy-tale which is full of magic, friendship and bikes! Enchanted meets BMX.
South Wales Evening Post

This book is a fabulous mix of magic and the everyday.  A testament to friendship and believing in yourself.  A proper modern fairy-tale with a princess that is waaaaaaay more than a pink dress wearing puppet.  Ava is brave, fearless and fabulous and the story ends with the tantalising prospect of more to come.
StorgyKids

Read more reviews here!

Recent Posts

Six Months of Princess BMX in Pictures

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Six months. Yes, I repeat, six months. That’s a big fat half year since Princess BMX wheelied her way into the world. I’m saving all the words for book two, so here are some of the highlights in pictures.

It’s launch day and I wake up to find my social media streams full of BMX riding authors.

And then the reviews start to come in. Princess BMX is a Guardian Book of the Month!

Like that wasn’t exciting enough, I got to see my book on the shelf…

And on the table…

And in between a blog tour, signing books and chatting to booksellers, I celebrate with friends and family and take Tyson on holiday.

September was all about my #BeMoreBMX tour. Thank you to the wonderful booksellsers and librarians who took me out to meet readers.

And thank you to all the friends and family who came along to help me celebrate at my belated Biscotti themed Book Launch Party.

October leaves fell but Princess BMX soared.

I appeared at the Rochdale Festival of Literature and Ideas where I met the fantastic Mrs Wylie…

Who brought me some very interesting letters from my book pen pals.

November meant more school visits and I had my very own display in Salford libraries…

And I appeared at the Chicken House Roadshow with the fantastic Dan Smith and James Nicol.

I celebrated Princess BMX with SCBWI friends at the Mass Book Launch at our Winchester Conference…

Where I also won an Outstanding Contribution award.

And before I knew it, December was here and it was time for Christmas cheer with writer friends at Gladstone Library.

There was also some Christmas craziness with my Book Pen Pals.

January has been a mixed bag, with lurgy and tax returns and other boring stuff. But there’s still been time for fun…

So, yes, it’s been a mad six months. The camera has only captured the good times, but there were also wobbles and falls and moments of extreme debut fear. Thankfully, I had my SWAG friends to keep me on the BMX track. (Shame I didn’t have a shot of us all xxx)

And then there’s been you guys: family, friends, bloggers and other writers cheering me along the way. I can’t thank you enough. You are all extreme BMX!

  1. Princess BMX Competition – Teachers’ Guide Leave a reply
  2. The Truth About Marie Basting Leave a reply
  3. Princess BMX Blog Tour Leave a reply
  4. Counting down to Princess BMX – saving Sir Jeffrey and other stuff Leave a reply