Archives: Events

Schools are invited to join me (free of charge) online for a very special virtual event with Waterstones as I present my new gothic treasure hunt novel, Midnight Treasure – expect clues, spells, imprisonments and escapes, fights, betrayals and, above all, courage and hope.

Perfect for the spooky season, students will join us for this 45-minute online event to explore the breathtaking fantasy world of Midnight Treasure and Wolf Crown, meeting vampires and werewolves along the way. They will learn about the inspirations behind the series, including Dracula and other ‘real’ vampires, the history of Transylvania and my own journey to uncovering his Romanian family heritage. Schools will also have the chance to put questions during this special event.

Recommended for Years 5-7

PUBLIC ART MEETS CLIMATE ACTION IN THE HERDS: A MONUMENTAL MIGRATION OF PUPPET ANIMALS ON A 20,000 KM JOURNEY FROM THE CONGO BASIN TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

Is that a giraffe on Tower Bridge? An elephant on the South Bank? Get ready for action, THE HERDS are on the move…

Roaming through cities in West Africa and Europe, herds of life-size puppet animals will invade city centres on an epic journey across the world. THE HERDS is a visual dramatisation of the climate crisis and a stark warning of what may come if animals are forced to flee their natural habitats.

Join us on Friday 27 June as 100 local children from our Creative Hub’s projects become the first to welcome THE HERDS to the UK in an early morning encounter created by the Unicorn’s Artistic Director Rachel Bagshaw, including an original song written by award-winning children’s author Piers Torday and composed by YolanDa Brown.

Arrive at 9.45am on Friday, 27 June at the Scoop for the event which will take place between 9.45am and 10.30am.

Check THE HERDS website for the latest updates, as this is a live event.

The participation of Creative Hub enabled with special thanks to Team London Bridge and The Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation

Master storyteller Piers Torday (The Last Wild) takes readers on a thrilling journey through Transylvania in Midnight Treasure, where folklore meets family secrets. Tibor and Roza face vampires, werewolves, and deadly challenges in a race for a treasure beyond gold – uncovering the myths and mysteries of a legendary land.

Sir Stephen Fry hosts a Theatrical Tribute in honour of Sir P.G. Wodehouse, on the 50^thAnniversary of the celebrated author leaving us for the greatest clubhouse in the sky.

Join a host of stars, including Alexander Armstrong, Stephen Mangan and Miss Baby Sol, for a glamorous night of Words, Laughter, Glamour and Song from the master behind Jeeves and Bertie and a cavalcade of beloved characters.

The Simon Beck Quartet lead us through glorious songs with Lyrics by Wodehouse and Music by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Kern and Novello.

Devised by Piers Torday and directed by Amy Lane. This sparkling soirée promises to be a night to remember.

Don’t dither—snap up a ticket before Aunt Agatha commandeers the lot!

In aid of the National Literacy Trust

Weaving Magic with Words

The 2025 Federation of Children’s Book Groups conference will be held at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School St Catherine’s Campus from 11th to 13th April.

Speakers already confirmed include Jackie Morris, Manon Steffan Ros, Karin Celestine, Louisa Reid, Lesley Parr, Barry Cunningham, Piers Torday, Ash Bond, Claire Fayers, Alex Wharton, Kate Williams, Mamma G, Chris Smith, Hannah Gold, Gill Lewis, Neill Cameron, Billy Partridge, Sophy Henn, Sandra Saleh-Reyhani, Struan Murray, Greg Stobbs, Scott Evans, Zoe Antoniades, Matt Goodfellow, Thomas Flintham, Ben Hoare, Lily Dyu, and Nicola Davies. We will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of Jill Murphy’s classic picture book Peace at Last, 25 years of Chicken House, 10 years of Rock the Boat, Usborne’s new series Pia’s Pet Club, and the publication of Jessie Burton’s Hidden Treasures.

Weaving folk tales and legends into your stories –

I will be joining Ash Bond and Sandra Saleh-Reyhani to be interviewed by Claire Fayers on Sunday morning.

Conference Keynote: From Tree to Me: Changing the Story

At this year’s joint conference from the Library Association of Ireland and CILIP, I will be discussing how authors, publishers, andlibraries can change the climate story for the next generation, from thestories on the page to the values of that page. I will share a recent case study of sustainable publishing and an update on the UK Society of
Authors’ “Tree to Me” campaign, showing how individuals andorganisations can make a difference working together.

Exploring Magical Worlds with Anna James, Sam Leith and Pari Thomson

Join award-winning and bestselling authors Piers Torday, Pari Thomson and Anna James for a discussion of fantasy writing and their newest novels.

Torday is a bestselling writer of children’s books including The Last Wild, The Dark Wild and The Wild Beyond. His latest, Midnight Treasure, is a fantasy adventure and a story of trust, truth and what it means to be mortal. Thomson’s Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea is the sequel to Greenwild: The World Behind the Door, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Year. It is about Daisy Thistledown’s mission to find her kidnapped mother. James is the author of the international bestselling Pages & Co series. Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment is the first in her new series about a place where everyone has magic inside them.

Explore new stories, hear about their writing and inspiration, and ask questions in this not-to-be-missed panel chaired by Sam Leith, author of The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading.

An annual weekend of History themed talks in the beautiful settings of Historic Marches Country Houses.

Join me for an inspiring session on how I turned a family story into a captivating adventure for younger readers with my latest book, Midnight Treasure. With over a decade of experience in children’s literature, I will be offering practical advice and creative strategies for bringing stories to life, from research to storytelling techniques, character development, and navigating the publishing world. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your craft, this session will empower you to embark on your storytelling journey.

Keynote 3 – From Tree to Me: Changing the Climate Story |  Piers Torday – Children’s author and playwright, Chair of the Society of Authors Sustainability Network
The award-winning author of The Last Wild and publishing sustainability campaigner Piers Torday discusses how authors, publishers, and libraries can change the climate story for the next generation, from the stories on the page to the values of that page. He will share a recent case study of sustainable publishing and an update on the Society of Authors’s Tree to Me campaign, showing how individuals and organisations can make a difference working together.

Piers Torday’s award-winning Last Wild series examines themes of biodiversity loss for young readers, and The Wild Before was a showcase attempt at publishing a sustainable book. His plays The Box of Delights (RSC) and The Wind in the Wilton’s (Wilton’s Music Hall) were produced to the sustainable standards in the Theatre Green Book. Piers is also the first Chair of the Society of Authors Sustainability Network Steering Committee and was involved in launching their to-me campaign on sustainability in publishing. His latest book is Midnight Treasure, researched sustainably through a Travelling Scholarship from the Society.