Wicked Nix
Lena Coakley, illustrated by Jaime Zollars
A visually stunning, middle-grade classic in the making about Wicked Nix, the foulest of the fairies Mischievous woodland fairy Nix is up to no good. His beloved fairy queen has gone away, leaving him with a very important job: He must protect the forest from a most dangerous enemy - humans. When a determined invader trespasses on his territory, Nix's skills are put to the test as he invents several wicked tricks to chase the sorry fellow away. But when his efforts don't go quite according to plan, it becomes clear that this intruder - and this sprite - may not be at all what they seem. This gorgeous new fairytale by acclaimed author Lena Coakley, with illustrations by rising illustration star Jaime Zollars, explores the timeless bonds of family and the joy of finding home in unexpected places. "Wicked Nix is like any other fairy food - it is delightful; it will cut you to the core. With humor and heartbreak, devastating loss and the hope of connection, Wicked Nix is a meditation on the lies we tell ourselves to protect ourselves, and the unexpected ways we might build a family. A sharp, startling, wondrous story. " - Kelly Barnhill, Newbery medalist for The Girl Who Drank the Moon"Sheer delight. " - Kathy Stinson, author of Red Is Best and The Man with the Violin "Wicked Nix is a rare and enchanting book. Equal parts mischievous and poignant - this story is destined to linger in the hearts of all readers lucky enough to discover its magic. Easily the best fairy story I've read in years. " - Jonathan Auxier, NYT bestselling author of The Night Gardener
Josie Cox is a journalist, editor, and broadcaster with a particular interest in business, workplace culture, and equality. She has an extensive professional network and experience working for a broad range of media outlets in Germany, Switzerland, the UK, and the US, including Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Independent, where she served as business editor. As a freelancer, her work has appeared in The Guardian, Fortune, Forbes, The Times and Sunday Times of London, and other publications. She has appeared as a commentator on CNN, Fox News, Al Jazeera, and Sky News, and is a regular guest on the BBC. Cox was a fully funded 2020/2021 Knight-Bagehot Fellow at Columbia Journalism School. She has an MBA from Columbia Business School and is also an associate instructor within the Strategic Communications program at Columbia’s School of Professional Studies. She lives in New York City.