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Diana Wynne Jones
Humour and originality ... Diana Wynne Jones. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian
Humour and originality ... Diana Wynne Jones. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

Celebrating the magic of Diana Wynne Jones

This article is more than 11 years old
The first anniversary of the fantasy author's death is being marked with an online celebration of her life and work

Have you come across the author Diana Wynne Jones? Her fantasy novels create worlds previously undreamed of, from Christopher Chant's powerful magic in the Chrestomanci books to the delightfully delicious butter-pies of A Tale of Time City, and the wonderful Howl's Moving Castle. Her work does what novels do best - suck you into a world so magical and gripping that you don't want to be returned to the everyday when you close the pages.

However, until the Harry Potter frenzy struck, many of Wynne Jones's books were out of print. But as interest in fantasy novels grew, she was rediscovered by a fresh generation of readers. Her sparkling wit charmed and enticed all over again, and those who were already aware of her talents were able to get their hands on her novels once more. With a career spanning four decades and over 40 books, her death last year was a tragic loss to the literary world. It has been felt by children and adults alike. i

To mark the first anniversary of her death, Wynne Jones's publishers have launched a week-long online celebration. This includes a blog that allows people to express their thanks and appreciation. Anyone can contribute, from people who knew and worked with Diana, to those who have been touched by her wonderful wand of literary magic. The blog has already been graced with some lovely submissions, including a review of her novel Earwig and the Witch from a member of this site and words of gratitude from authors including Maggie Stiefvater.

If you already know of Diana's work, you can contribute your favourite stories, draw pictures of her characters, or just say how she's affected you. If you don't, this is a great opportunity to discover her and the books that have inspired the quotes, pictures, anecdotes and memoirs on the blog.

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