Just think – a published children’s author could be coming to your school to inspire your pupils with their love of reading and writing and putting your school on the map of the book world. There’s nothing quite like it for upping the WOW! Factor for English lessons!
So why not sign up to the Appledore Book Festival?
Here’s how it works:
1. Express an interest by emailing events@appledorebookfestival.co.uk. We will contact you to explain the booking procedure and the Event Contract and send you the briefing pack.
2. In January of each year we hold an evening planning meeting with the designated contacts of every school. The purpose of the meeting is for us to explain how the schools programme works. It is also a chance for schools to identify what kind of author they are hoping to host (age-group/genre etc.) Although we can’t guarantee to meet requests for authors we’ll do our best!
3. If you arrange for an author event, you will be given instructions for ordering the author's books, which will be delivered to you in early September. These can be sold to the students prior to the author's arrival. The author will be prepared to sign the students' books after the event.
4. The author will be accompanied by a minder/driver from the Festival and in some cases a member of the Schools Library Service will come to help out. The author will normally present one talk to the selected audience but if necessary can do two talks and stay for the day.
And the bottom line?
Well, they do say that “quality doesn’t come cheap”. A professional writer will often cost in excess of £500, including expenses, travel and accommodation costs and VAT – but because the Appledore Book Festival has found sponsorship for the school events the cost to a school is limited to a flat fee of £150 per talk payable to the Appledore Book Festival. This means, for example, that the cost of one talk for 200 pupils is less than one-third the cost of organising your own author visit.
For the Festival there is great benefit in reaching thousands of local children who may not be able to get to see the authors at the public events. For your school it will be a very special day that will live forever in the minds of your pupils.
Appledore Book Festival is more – yes, even more – than a fantastic celebration of words and writing in one of England’s loveliest locations.
It’s also an educational event – a catalyst for joyful reading for thousands of local children through the schools programme. Every weekday authors will be visiting local schools and presenting talks and signing their books. Here are some of the authors who will be taking part in 2010 .......
Belinda Bauer
Supported by Transworld Publishers
Belinda Bauer grew up in England and South Africa. She has worked as a journalist and screenwriter and her script The Locker Room earned her the Carl Foreman/Bafta Award for Young British Screenwriters. Belinda’s first novel is the critically acclaimed Blacklands, a psychological thriller that centres on the dangerous cat-and-mouse game a 12-year-old boy plays with a serial killer when he decides to write to him in prison.
Peter Bently
Supported by Andersen Press
Peter Bently was born in 1960 in Hampshire, England. His father was an army bandmaster, which meant that as he grew up he got to live in Germany, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as in various places around England - he went to ten different schools! He now lives in Devon with his wife Lucy, and their children Theo and Tara. When he has time he enjoys visiting schools, libraries and bookshops. His recent picture book The Great Dog Bottom Swap published by Andersen Press, was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.
Adèle Geras
Supported by Randon House Children’s Books
Adèle Geras has lived in Manchester since 1967. She's been an actress and a singer and a French teacher but since 1976 has been writing full time. She's published more than 90 books for readers of all ages, including Troy and Ithaka and her latest novel, Dido. She also writes for adults and her four novels (A Hidden Life is the latest) are published by Orion in paperback.
M G Harris
Supported by Scholastic
Meet M G Harris, author of the high adrenalin series The Joshua Files, as she talks about her latest novel Zero Moment. Josh thinks he has solved the puzzle of time travel – but now faces an even bigger dilemma. Travelling through Brazil and Mexico, uncovering Mayan secrets and deadly prophecies, this is heart-stopping adventure at its best.
Julie Hegarty
Edinburgh based children’s author and illustrator, Julie Hegarty published her first book Michelle in: ‘Crabbit Comes to Stay’ in 2006 and since then she has been delighting children with her creative stories. Her second and third books, Michelle: The Rock Concert and Uncle and Aunty Clockwise, have established her as a favourite author amongst youngsters.
Her enchanting stories and energetic storytelling ensure that both children and adults alike are enthralled by her shows. The lively visual show includes puppets, props and lots of interaction with the audience as Julie transports them into the exciting world of her books.
Ceci Jenkinson
Supported by Faber and Faber
Ceci is the author of the hugely popular series Oli and Skipjack’s Tales of Trouble, five of which have been published so far. Last year she won the Sheffield Children’s Book Award for the first in the series, The Mum Shop, and her second book, Gnomes are Forever, was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize.
Ceci will talk about the real-life inspiration behind the weird and wacky characters and events in her books, get an insight into the strange and often surprising life of an author and hear her read from her latest Tale of Trouble, Doctor Doom.
David Lawrence Jones
Supported by Waterstone’s
David Lawrence Jones tells the story of 11-year-old Bradley Baker who travels from Yorkshire to Devon to stay with his aunt during the school holidays. The adventures begin when Bradley is magically transported via the plughole into Pathylon, where he encounters many daunting tasks, unusual creatures and makes some strange new friends.
Ally Kennen
Supported by Scholastic
Join Ally Kennen, author of Beast, Berserk and Bedlam, as she talks about her fantastic latest novel Sparks. Coffin-stealing, boat-burning, telling lies – Carla's crazy plan includes them all. To make Grandpa's secret dream come true, she's ready to break the law and every rule she's ever known.
Tanya Landman
After writing Apache and The Goldsmith’s Daughter – serious historical novels for young adults – Tanya turned to crime! She’s always enjoyed reading murder mysteries: disentangling the lies, intrigue, double-bluffs and identifying the red herrings is as satisfying as completing a huge jigsaw.
Dreaming up plots of her own for her heroine Poppy Fields and her friend Graham is addictive. Tanya can’t look at an ornament now without wondering if it would make a good blunt instrument, or enter a building without puzzling over where the body might be discovered. And she can’t see a stranger on a train without speculating whether or not they have a motive for murder. There are six titles in the series to date and four more are planned.
Sam Osman
Supported by Scholastic
Dark powers from a distant past are searching for three extraordinary children: Wolfie, Tala and Zi’ib.
Children in the Schools Programme will join Sam Osman as she explores the powerful energies that flow through ley lines and the forgotten worlds beneath our feet. The students will get a unique chance to hear the inspiration behind her debut novel, Quicksilver.
Mal Peet
Supported by Walker Books
Mal Peet is the cutting-edge author of teen novels, Tamar (winner 2005 Carnegie Medal) and the Paul Faustino collection, including Keeper, The Penalty, and Exposure (winner 2009 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize). This is a fantastic opportunity for senior school students to join Mal for a no holds barred discussion exploring themes of football and celebrity culture in his dramatic novel Exposure, and a sneak preview of his latest book.
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