Wessex Children's Book Festival 2008

Authors

Malorie Blackman

Malorie BlackmanDescribed by ‘The Times’ recently as ‘becoming a bit of a national treasure’, Malorie Blackman has written over 50 books for children including the award winning ‘Noughts and crosses’ sequence and ‘Pig heart boy’, which was turned into a BAFTA award winning TV series. Malorie is a graduate of the National film and Television Schools and, as well as her novels and short stories, she also writes television scripts, including episodes of the children’s drama series ‘Byker Grove’. Malorie was awarded an OBE in the 2008 Birthday Honours.

At the Wessex festival, Malorie will be talking about her new novel, ‘Double Cross’, the 4th title in the ‘Noughts and crosses’ series. Taking up the story where ‘Checkmate’ left off, we are drawn again into the lives of Callie Rose and Tobey. Written with the author’s trademark immediacy, this powerful thriller also tackles new territory as we find characters caught up not just in race but also gang conflict.

Dramatic and entirely relevant to the world we live in today where 19* teenagers were killed in London alone in the seven months between 1 January and 7 July 2008: where this threat of violence is seen as second only to terrorism in the dangers facing society. Blackman highlights the influences of peer pressure and protection and the roles that money and material goods play in the decisions made by or forced upon young people.

Her talk will be appropriate for children aged 12 and over.

Anthony Browne

Anthony BrowneA Wessex favourite, Anthony Browne is the winner of numerous national and international awards, including the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway medal twice. In 2000 he received the highest international honour for illustration, the Hans Christian Andersen Award, for his services to children's literature - the first British illustrator ever to win the prize. More recently he was Illustrator in Residence at The Tate, from which he produced The Shape Game.

Anthony’s books sell in their millions and are ublished all over the world, from Finland to Japan. His picture books, like ‘Into the forest’, ‘Silly Billy’, the ‘Willy the wimp’ series and, his latest, ‘Little Beauty’ demand in-depth study, not only for their imaginative and sophisticated illustrations but for the way in which they deal with difficult emotions and issues such as bullying and family relationships. Gorillas feature in many of Anthony's books. He says, "I am fascinated by them and the contrast they represent - their huge strength and gentleness. They're thought of as being very fierce creatures and they're not."

Anthony usually shows slides in his sessions and discusses his illustrations, encouraging the children to join in if time permits.

Emma Dodd

Emma DoddEmma Dodd studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Saint Martin's School of Art, London. Since qualifying in 1992 she has worked as an illustrator from her studio in Surrey, England. She has worked on many books, including the popular ‘Amazing Baby’ series (Templar Publishing). The first book she wrote and illustrated herself, ‘What Pet to Get?’ (Templar Publishing) was shortlisted for the 2006 Early Years Awards.

Her latest title, ‘I thought I saw a dinosaur’, tells the story of Jack, a little boy with a huge imagination, who convinces his cousins to go on an epic dinosaur hunt… but who is hunting whom?

Charlie Higson

Charlie HigsonCharlie Higson first came to public attention as a writer and perfomer of comedy – working on ‘The Fast Show’ from 1994 – 2000. In 2005, he released ‘Silverfin’, the first of his Young Bond novels, which focus on the character’s school days at Eton. ‘Silverfin’ was followed by ‘Blood Fever’, ‘Double or Die’, ‘Hurricane Gold’ and the last in the series, ‘By Royal Command’ .The books have been immensely popular, particularly with boys, and describe the experiences that turn young James into the steely and ruthless secret agent that Ian Fleming’s Bond becomes as an adult.

At the Wessex festival, Charlie will be talking about the final book in the series, ‘By Royal Command’. Young Bond's most daring adventure yet takes him from England to the chilling heights of the Austrian Alps. When his whole world explodes, James is forced to go on the run, pursued by enemy agents and the British authorities. James must choose between friendship and duty. His life will never be the same again...

Terry Pratchett

Terry PratchettTerry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled ‘The Carpet People’, appeared in 1971. Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, ‘The Color of Magic’, in 1983. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since. To date there are a total of 36 books in the Discworld series, of which four (so far) are written for children. The first of these, ‘The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents’, won the prestigious Carnegie Medal. Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards and was awarded an OBE “for services to literature” in 1998.

His latest book, ‘Nation’, set on a small island in the Pacific in the heyday of the British Empire (in a parallel universe),is the tale of a culture wiped out by a tsunami. Thought-provoking as well as fun, this is Pratchett at his most philosophical, with characters and situations sprung from ideas and games with language. Copies of ‘Nation’, as well as many of Terry’s other novels, will be available for sale at the Wessex Festival for Terry to sign.

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Paul StewartPaul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers - everything from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. His first book was published in 1988 and he has since worked for a number of publishers and had over fifty titles published.

Together with Chris Riddell, he is co-creator of the Far-Flung Adventures series, which includes Fergus Crane, Gold Smarties Prize Winner, Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper, both Silver Nestle Prize Winners.

Stewart and Riddell are of course also co-creators of the bestselling Edge Chronicles series, which has sold over two million books and is now available in over thirty languages.

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Chris Riddell is an accomplished graphic artist whose distinctive line drawings, with their clever caricature, fascinating detail and often enchanting fantasy elements are familiar to both children and adults.

He studied illustration at Brighton Polytechnic and has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including Pirate Diary by Richard Platt, and Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver, which both won the Kate Greenaway Medal. Something Else by Kathryn Cave won the Unesco Award and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal whilst Castle Diary by Richard Platt was Highly Commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal. The Swans Stories by Brian Alderson was shortlisted for the 1997 Kurt Maschler Award and won the 2001 Kate Greenaway Medal.

In addition to his children’s book work, Chris is a renowned political cartoonist, whose work appears regularly in UK newspapers the Observer and the Guardian, as well as The Literary Review and The New Statesman.

Axel Scheffler

Axel SchefflerOriginally from Hamburg in Germany, Axel came to England in 1982. He studied at the Bath Academy of Art and worked in advertising and publishing after graduating in 1985. His award-winning partnership with the author, Julia Donaldson, began with the picture book, ‘A squash and a squeeze’. Their next book, ‘The Gruffalo’, was published in March 1999 and has already become a modern classic, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and translated into over 20 languages. It was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and it won the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud. It was followed by ‘Monkey Puzzle’, also nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and ‘Room on the Broom’ was published September 2001 and also won the 2002 Blue Peter Award for The Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud. Axel also continues to illustrate for other authors as well, including Ian Whybrow and David Henry Wilson. The next title ‘The Smartest Giant in Town’ was shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award, and the ‘Snail and the Whale’ was published to great acclaim and won the 2005 Blue Peter Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud Award.

Axel Scheffler has achieved worldwide acclaim for his humorous illustrations, and his books have been translated into over 29 languages. More recently he has been called upon to design Gordon Brown's annual Christmas card! (2006).

Julie Sykes

Julie SykesJulie Sykes, a former teacher, is a local author who has written a wide range of children’s books, including the popular ‘Little Tiger’ and ‘Santa’ series. Her latest picture book, ‘Pirate Small in big trouble’ tells of a young pirate who accidentally sells the captain’s parrot, Polly Feathers, at a deck sale and has to try, in a race against time, to find Polly and bring her safely home.

Julie is a regular visitor to schools and libraries in Hampshire and will be available throughout out Sunday Funday to sign copies of her books.

Marcia Williams

Marcia WilliamsMarcia Williams has been described as one of our very best re-tellers of the classics. In a distinctive strip-cartoon style, she has illustrated a whole series of classic stories – from Noah’s Ark to Don Quixote. Her picture books include ‘Archie’s war’, a scrapbook style account of a wartime childhood during World War One. Coming in November is ‘My secret war diary’ – a similar diary of World War Two.

Titania Woods

Titania WoodsTitania Woods is the pen-name for Lee Weatherly. Lee is a respected author of teen fiction, including the novels ‘Child X’ and ‘Missing Abby’. and is the winner of the Sheffield Teen Book Award. Lee was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now lives in Hampshire.

Writing as Titania Woods, her Glitterwings Academy stories follow the adventures of Twink, a delightful and sometimes naughty fairy, as she progresses through the fabulous fairy boarding school. Those attending Titania’s sessions at the Wessex festival need to be prepared to get creative! There will be competitions, story-telling and much more!

 
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