Every author has the same ambition: for readers to become totally immersed in your book and connect with the cast of characters you’ve created, following their every step and then imagining their lives beyond the final page.

Join me for this workshop dedicated entirely to the craft of creating complex characters that strike a chord with your intended readership, and insight into the art of developing character arcs. This session makes up part of the Writers & Artists Children’s & YA Fiction Festival 2022, and attendees can expect a practical session involving writing exercises and discussion. 30 minutes will also be reserved for Q&A.

Exclusive Content

All attendees reserving a place at this event also receive free access to An Introduction to Children’s Publishing in 2022, a video interview with Alysoun Owen, Editor of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and the Children’s Writers’  & Artists’ Yearbook. A link to the interview will be circulated by email ahead of the festival, and remain available to view for one week.

The festival is partnering with The Little Bookshop Leeds and attendees will have the opportunity to purchase all festival books directly with them.

Presented by Wilton’s Music Hall

From the writer who brought you Wilton’s Christmas Carol, A Sunday Times Best Christmas Show of 2019 and the much-loved The Box of Delights.
Whatever you do, no matter how much he cries, don’t go out in the snow.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s famous seasonal ghost story is brought to the stage for the very first time, in a thrilling, frightening and utterly original adaptation.

1918. A nurse, recently back from the front, is haunted by her wartime experience. But when she finds herself at a séance, recalling memories of a lonely childhood Christmas on the Northumbrian moors, she also unearths a dark secret that refuses to remain in the shadows…

Spine chilling festive drama in Britain’s oldest surviving grand music hall from the team that brought you The Box of Delights.

#ifyouknowyouknow
#dontgooutinthesnow

I will be visiting the wonderful Pickled Pepper in Crouch End on publication day to sign copies of my new book The Wild Before, the exciting prequel to The Last Wild trilogy. Tickets will include a copy of the book, to be picked up and personally signed on the day.

Can one hare alone change the world? The captivating animal adventure destined to be loved by readers of all ages. A stunning hardback edition from the bestselling, much-loved author, Piers Torday. One stormy, snowy night, a pure silver calf is born on an ordinary muddy farm by the light of the moon.

Three of the best children’s authors team up for an important, uplifting, spectacular event to celebrate the wonders of the natural world and the importance of taking care of our planet. Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate and author-illustrator of How To Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once, gets together with Piers Torday, author of the bestselling The Last Wild series and brand new prequel The Wild Before, and Sita Brahmachari, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner and author of Where The River Runs Gold, to talk about the compelling environmental themes in their books.

This is a live event, with an author Q&A.

Join Pushkin Children’s Books and Tales on Moon Lane for a fabulous evening with three brilliant writers in conversation. Pushkin Children’s Books Editor-at-Large Sarah Odedina will be interviewing bestselling debut novelist Hannah Gold (The Last Bear), critically acclaimed writer Piers Torday (The Wild Before) and multi award-winning author, Ele Fountain (Melt) on Wednesday 26th May on Zoom.

Melt by Ele Fountain (publishing on 29th April) – is a high-stakes survival adventure story of courage in a warming climate. It is the fast-paced tale of two young people whose worlds collide in surprising ways in the Arctic tundra. As with her bestselling and award-winning novels Lost and BookTrust Future Classic, Boy 87, Ele is tackling another very real issue here with compassion and creativity.

In Hannah Gold’s, The Last Bear (out now), there are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to this remote Arctic outpost for six months. But one endless summer night, April meets one. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life…

The Wild Before by Piers Torday (publishing August 2021, available for pre-order) is a stunning prequel to the award-winning, bestselling The Last Wild trilogy, touching on timely themes of climate change, friendship, and above all, hope. One stormy, snowy night, a pure silver calf is born on an ordinary muddy farm by the light of the moon. This is the legendary Mooncalf, whose arrival has been foretold since the dawn of time. According to a dream passed down from animal to animal, if the calf dies, a great terribleness will come – rising seas, a plague, skies raining down fire, the end of all things… and Little Hare vows to persuade all the animals to protect Mooncalf, whatever the cost…

Tickets are free pending sign up. Tales on Moon Lane will partner with us for the event, selling books by all three writers. This event is on Zoom and a link to join will be sent to you closer to the event . Please make sure you have Zoom installed and up to date on the device of your choice.

About the Course
Delighted to be teaching this adult online course in collaboration with Little Angel Theatre exploring the creative process of writing and adapting for children’s theatre.

There will be practical tasks, discussion and an opportunity to network with other writers. This course is perfect for getting new exciting projects off the ground or for increasing your skills in order to diversify your audiences. With assistance collectively you will work through some of the challenges and difficulties of writing for this exciting, diverse and fluctuating age group.

This course is for adults, age 18+.

Dates and times: Mondays, 6.30-8.30pm
11, 18 and 25 January 2021

Cost: £75

Location: Online, via Zoom. Download our Zoom Policy here.

BOOK ONLINE or call our box office on 020 7226 1787

Please note we cannot reserve places on courses or classes, so book early to avoid disappointment.

A special online performance for younger readers, featuring:

CRESSIDA COWELL

PIERS TORDAY

JASBINDER BILAN

FINBAR HAWKINS

LORIS OWEN

MAXIMILIAN HAWKER

& THE BOOKSHOP BAND!

Watch online @tinyurl.com/brixtonbookjam