SoA members recognised in King’s Birthday Honours list

Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson and Peter James among those named in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours list.

We were delighted to see members of the Society of Authors recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list.  

Malorie Blackman, an SoA Fellow and member, and Julia Donaldson, a member of the SoA, were both named Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to literature.  

Malorie Blackman has published more than 60 books for children and young adults, including the Noughts and Crosses series. She was the Children’s Laureate between 2013 and 2015 and was appointed OBE in 2007.  

Julia Donaldson is best known for her children’s stories, including The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child (Macmillan Children’s Books), which together have sold more than 18 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 100 languages. She was the Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013 and formerly received a CBE for services to literature. 

Bestselling crime author and SoA member Peter James received an OBE for services to literature and to charity in this year’s list.  

Our congratulations go to them all.  

View the full Birthday Honours list here.  

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