Jennifer Claessen
Jennifer Claessen is an author and theatre-maker. She was born in Reading so, of course, grew up a book worm.
Her debut novel, The October Witches, was released by UCLan Publishing in the UK in 2022, Simon Kids US in 2023 and is the first book of the ‘A Month of Magic’ trilogy, contemporary retellings of Arthurian legend. The 'Netta Becker' trilogy is forthcoming in 2025.
Jennifer is Writer in Residence at Mayfair Library and Human in Residence at Ministry of Stories where she works with 8–12 year-olds to tell their own stories. She also teaches creative writing to slightly more grown-up writers at City Lit and artsdepot theatre.
Jennifer studied literature and theatre at a few universities and most recently programmed ‘Write for Joy’, an inclusive literary festival for Waltham Forest and was shortlisted in the Polka Playwriting Prize. She currently lives in Walthamstow with her partner, two young daughters, thousands of books and a very rusty yellow bike.
Netta Becker and the Missing Memory Maze
Available March 5th 2026
Legend and edge-of-your-seat action fuse together in this exciting second installment of the Netta Becker trilogy, underpinned with a feminist retelling of Ancient Greek myth.
A hall full of statues. A pair of lost siblings. Monsters at every turn.
Under orders from the Titan called the Crone, Netta steps out of time itself. And, panicking just a little, her little brother Remy follows. Lost and alone, they each wake in a strange maze-like world as statues. Netta breaks free and begins her double quest: to find her brother and the second sister Titan.
But Remy can’t remember who he has lost – and when he is rescued by young Tig, he leaves his memories of Netta behind. By breaking sphinx riddles and with mythical beasts as new allies, Netta and Remy must find out who they are – and who the League of Archon is – in the Realm of Memory itself.
Books
Netta Becker - Book 1
Netta Becker and The Timeline Crime
A mysterious labyrinth. A desperate king. A rebellious princess.
Being stuck in a crumbling old villa in Crete with her annoying, history-obsessed little brother Remy isn’t exactly Netta’s idea of a fun summer holiday. But before she can even get bored, Netta starts having very real dreams where she is dragged back thousands of years to Ancient Greece. Here, King Minos is preparing for the opening of his precious labyrinth, and there are rumours that a monster lurks inside.
As Netta becomes more drawn to the past, her present-day self starts slipping away. Netta and Remy must figure out what is pulling her back before they run out of time - and if they don’t solve the puzzle soon, Netta might just become history herself.
Publisher: Fox & Ink Books
ISBN: 9781916747593
Number of pages: 256
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
Netta Becker - Book 2
Netta Becker and the Missing Memory Maze
Legend and edge-of-your-seat action fuse together in this exciting second installment of the Netta Becker trilogy, underpinned with a feminist retelling of Ancient Greek myth.
A hall full of statues. A pair of lost siblings. Monsters at every turn.
Under orders from the Titan called the Crone, Netta steps out of time itself. And, panicking just a little, her little brother Remy follows. Lost and alone, they each wake in a strange maze-like world as statues. Netta breaks free and begins her double quest: to find her brother and the second sister Titan.
But Remy can’t remember who he has lost – and when he is rescued by young Tig, he leaves his memories of Netta behind. By breaking sphinx riddles and with mythical beasts as new allies, Netta and Remy must find out who they are – and who the League of Archon is – in the Realm of Memory itself.
Publisher: Fox & Ink Books
ISBN: 9781916747968
Number of pages: 256
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
A Month of Magic - Book 1
The October Witches
There's so much to love about October - Halloween, pumpkin everything and MAGIC. Especially magic. But for nervous young witch Clemmie, this October might see the stars descend on her for the first time, bringing with them a whole month of chaotic new power. She's spent twelve years watching her mum, aunts and cousin receive their October power and knows that, for the Merlyns, magic can get very messy.
And there are those who want to harness their magic and make it last beyond October. It's a bold experiment, until Clemmie and her coven find themselves in mortal danger. What price must be paid for magic that never ends? Or for having magic at all?
Publisher: UCLan Publishing
ISBN: 9781912979905
Number of pages: 352
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
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A Month of Magic - Book 2
The November Witches
No witch is excited about gloomy magic-free November apart from young hag Clemmie who is relieved to finally be done with October’s magical mess.
But if there’s no more magic, then where are all the armour-clad knights coming from? When even their enemy coven, the Morgans, don’t have any answers, the Merlyns are on the run.
Neither the Morgan or Merlyn covens want to burn so they will have to work together to solve the mystery of where the witch-hunting knights and the all-engulfing flames are coming from.
Will Clemmie be able to find her voice in time to save her family?
Continuing directly on from THE OCTOBER WITCHES, this NOVEMBER sequel is full of bonfires, knights, family disasters and one very important round table.
Publisher: UCLan Publishing
ISBN: 9781915235701
Number of pages: 322
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
A Month of Magic - Book 3
The December Witches
The conclusion to the A Month of Magic trilogy. December is Clemmie Merlyn’s favourite month as it usually begins with birthday cake and gifts. But as she turns thirteen, it begins with a bang: Clemmie, and Clemmie alone amongst all witches, is full of magic. So full of magic she might not make it to the end of the month. As the snow spirals down, anxious Clemmie and the young hags will have to find some way to stop her exploding.
Because someone, or something, has chosen Clemmie and made her their One True Witch. But magic is meant to be shared and no-one can survive being filled to the brim with starry power.
Can the Merlyn and Morgan covens finally take on the ancient twisted magic of their ancestors? And can they do it in time for Christmas?
Publisher: UCLan Publishing
ISBN: 9781916747166
Number of pages: 352
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm