Angus Book Award 2012
Being Billy by Phil Earle
Billy has had it tough, and it’s made him tough too. Eight years in a care home makes Billy Finn a professional lifer. Billy's angry - with the system, the social workers, and the mother that gave him away. As far as Billy's concerned, he's on his own. His little brother and sister keep him going, though they can't keep him out of trouble. But he isn't being difficult on purpose. Billy's just being Billy. He can't be anything else. Can he? Billy is a completely believable character, and it’s his personality that forms the backbone of this realistic and moving story.
Born in Hull, Phil spent a lot of his childhood playing sport, messing around in plays and trying to sing in bands. As a kid he read mostly comics and graphic novels. He studied English Literature alongside Drama at University. His first job after University was as a care worker in a residential home for children, and it was this experience that influenced the writing of Being Billy. While working as a bookseller he began reading children’s fiction and realized he wanted to try writing for children. He lives in South London with his wife and three children.