Archives: Events

I am delighted to announce that Peter Harrington Rare Books will be hosting an evening’s conversation and Q&A about John Masefield’s fantasy novel, The Box of Delights, just in time for Christmas. Together, our senior specialist, Dr. Phil Errington, and me will delve into the sources of Masefield’s inspiration, key themes and characters, and various adaptations of the novel, including our upcoming Royal Shakespeare Company production.

Join us for an exploration of what was once called one of the greatest children’s books ever written. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for this magical event!

Acclaimed authors Patience Agbabi, Sita Brahmachari and Piers Torday share readings of their specially commissioned stories exploring positive, sustainable versions of a future world.

A panel discussion exploring the role of storytelling, children’s literature and the climate crisis for parents and teachers.

Grab a cuppa and get to know American author and 2023 Paul Torday Memorial Prize winner Bonnie Garmus. Bonnie will be in conversation with me to discuss her work and career and to offer a glimpse into her creative routine.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Piers Torday (2 mins)
• Introduction to Bonnie Garmus and a glimpse into her creative routine (15-25 mins)
• Q&A with audience (10-15 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (3 mins)
• This event will be moderated by Aine Pullan–Prizes and Awards Manager, SoA

Send us your questions in advance

If you would like to send questions in advance, email Aine Pullan on APullan@societyofauthors.org with ‘Bonnie Garmus – Question’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

SoA @ Home Fundraising Bookshop

Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the SoA @ Home Festival. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Authors’ Contingency Fund, which provides hardship grants to authors in financial difficulty.

The Line-up

Bonnie Garmus

Bonnie Garmus is a copywriter and creative director who has worked for a wide range of clients in the US and abroad, focusing primarily on technology, medicine, and education. She’s an open-water swimmer, rower, and mother of two incredible daughters. Although Seattle is still home, she currently lives in London with her husband and her dog, 99.

In April 2022, her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, was published. It won the 2023 Paul Torday Memorial Prize and is being adapted to an Apple TV+ series.

Website: www.bonniegarmus.com | Twitter: @BonnieGarmus | Instagram: @bonnie_garmus_author

Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils Conference

Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils is a national network of teachers’ book groups who read high-quality and diverse children’s literature in order to ignite the spark of reading for pleasure in teachers and, through them, their pupils.

Since 2021, Cheltenham Festivals has run an annual Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils Conference as part of The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. The Conference is a full day of CPD on reading for pleasure for KS2 and KS3 teachers, School Librarians, Headteachers and literacy and education experts from around the country, including many of our Strategic Partners such as CLPE, the English and Media Centre, Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books. With keynotes, panel discussions and workshops from authors, academics, literacy experts and fellow teachers, the day offers a holistic approach to encouraging children to read for pleasure, and it is designed to empower and equip delegates with insight, tools and practical ideas to refresh their practice, engage their pupils and bring books to life in the classroom.

Previous speakers include Aidan Chambers, Onjali Q. Rauf, Emma Carroll, Darren Chetty, Katherine Rundell and Frank Cottrell Boyce.

I will be taking part in a panel discussion chaired by Sharna Jackson about how reading can inspire you to change the world; it will cover how reading and the right books can inspire change in our own internal world (e.g., reading for well-being), in our societal/cultural world and I will represent how reading can motivate and empower us to make environmental changes.

Tickets on sale Sat 6th September

WORD PLAY is a reading festival for young folk and their families, taking place at How Brave is The Wren Bookshop (Kings Heath) and schools in Birmingham from 5th-11th June.

I will be joining them for an extra special Word Play-themed story time. Come along to hear me read an extract from The Wild Before and talk about all things associated with being an author; get your questions ready!!

Tickets are free, but booking is required so they know how many chairs to put out!, copies of my books will be available to purchase at the event, and I’ll be very happy to sign them for you or bring along any copies you already own.

I’m DELIGHTED to be returning to the wonderful party that is the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival this year for their Schools Programme.

Join me for an animated, interactive insight into how I became a writer, how my passion for nature inspires me and why I have returned to the Last Wild world for the sequel to the series, The Wild Before.

Suitable for years: 5 & 6

Duration: 1 hour

Booklist: The Wild Before
The Last Wild Trilogy

Society of Author members and their guests are invited to an exclusive pre-show q&a and showing of my brand-new adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved The Wind in the Willows, at Wilton’s this Christmas.

Wilton’s Music Hall presents extraordinary theatre and music in the oldest Grand Music Hall in the world. Their Grade II* listed building is home to over 300 performances and over 80 productions each year.

Prior to the evening performance on Monday 5th December,  SoA Members to join us for a special in-conversation event, chaired by SoA’s Johanna Clarke, who will be joined on stage by Piers Torday (playwright);  and  Justin Audibert (Artistic Director, Unicorn Theatre).

Justin Audibert – Artistic Director, Unicorn Theatre

Justin is the Artistic Director of the Unicorn Theatre the UK’s largest theatre for children and a freelance writer and director for theatre and film. Justin recently wrote and directed Marvin’s Binoculars and three episodes of Anansi Respun for the Unicorn Theatre Online and The Guardian, and Story Seekers for the Unicorn Theatre and National Theatre Learning. His productions of Macbeth and The Winter’s Tale, both adapted by him for young audiences, are part of the National Theatre Collection- Drama Online.
www.unicorntheatre.com | Twitter @UnicornTheatre | Instagram @unicorn_theatre

Johanna Clarke (Chair)

Johanna is a Publishing Contracts Advisor at the Society of Authors. She began her career in the theatre industry where she spent 5 years in various roles including tour booking, production assistant and working for a theatrical agency representing writers and creatives, before joining the rights team in a literary agency. Johanna is the coordinator for the SoA’s Poetry and Spoken Word Group and works closely on the SoA’s outreach programme.

SoA CEO Nicola Solomon will chair this special #SoAatHome industry insider panel discussion as part of Ethical Consumer Week, with comics creator Hannah Berry and writers Dawn Finch and Piers Torday. We look at the sustainability of books, avoiding Amazon, supporting the high street and consider audio and e-books against the physical version. Nicola will bring her specialist knowledge of contracts to this author discussion.

About Ethical Consumer Week

This year’s Ethical Consumer Week ( #ECWeek2022) will investigate who’s benefiting from  or paying for the cost-of-living crisis, and the role of government, business and consumers in finding equitable solutions.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Nicola Solomon (2 mins)
• Nicola Solomon chairs a panel discussion with comics creator Hannah Berry and writers Dawn Finch and Piers Torday. (40mins)
• Q&A with audience (15 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (3 mins)
• This event will be moderated by Sophia A Jackson, SoA’s Head of Events

What will this session cover?

• Which methods of book buying are the most ethical and sustainable for the planet?
• And how do we ensure continued creativity?
• Is buying second hand good or bad?
• What can consumers do in their buying and lobbying choices?
• How can we create greener books and a fairer environment for creators?

Who is this session for?

Anyone interested in the environment, its relationship with the book industry and the issue of trying to be an ethical consumer.