David Almond, Leigh Hodgkinson and Sarah Davies to
deliver keynotes at the
SCBWI British Isles’ Annual Conference.
19-20 November, 2016 in Winchester
The British Isles Chapter of the
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators announces speakers for
its 9th Annual Conference in its celebratory 20th year.
Cracking
Characters!
The British Isles chapter of the SCBWI, a
professional organisation of writers, illustrators, editors, publishers,
agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature
for young people, announces a star-studded line-up for their 9th annual
conference, to be held on 19-20 November, 2016 at the University of
Winchester. Keynote speakers this year
are author David Almond, author/
illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson and
founder of The Greenhouse Literary Agency
Sarah Davies. Special guests to mark the 20th anniversary of
SCBWI British Isles include Lin Oliver,
author and co-founder of SCBWI.
The theme of this year’s conference is Creating Characters that Leap off the Page.
Saturday’s keynote talks will be given by
Carnegie Medal winner David Almond
and award-winning animator and illustrator Leigh
Hodgkinson. An action-packed day follows, filled with specialist industry
panels, discussions and interactive workshops led by a wide range of industry
professionals. The day closes with ‘The Hook’, a Dragons’ Den style panel
competition event in which five brave delegates pitch it out to hook an agent.
Saturday evening’s exclusive industry party will not only feature a Mass Book
Launch of members’ 2016 publications and the awarding of the Crystal Kite Award
but also mark the 20th
anniversary of SCBWI British Isles with SCBWI co-founder Lin Oliver.
Sunday opens with Industry Keynote, Sarah Davies, founder of The Greenhouse Literary Agency, a transatlantic agency for children’s
literature. Among its clients are two New York Times bestsellers, a Morris
First Novel Award winner and Kirkus Prize Finalist.
The rest of the day is dedicated to craft
intensives: writers can create a
comic character with Lin Oliver,
hone their heroes and villains with author Cliff
McNish or learn how to develop a story for television with scriptwriter Roland Moore. Illustrators can get hands-on with
author/ illustrator Viv Schwarz. The popular PULSE stream will offer published members, opportunities to
further their careers: learn creative storytelling techniques to add character
to your school presentation with Margaret
Bateson Hill and get tips on creating cracking school resource packs. And
in the SPARK self-publishing stream: Carnegie winner Susan Price, author of ‘Self Publishing and Marketing Children’s
Books’ Karen Inglis and Independent
Bookseller Tamara McFarlane will
offer a workshop on the nuts and bolts of self-publishing.
One-to-one
manuscript and portfolio reviews with agents and editors will also be offered at a small additional cost.
A juried
illustrator showcase and portfolio
exhibition will also take place.
·Author keynote David Almond is the author of Skellig, My Name is Mina, The Savage, The Tightrope Walkers, A Song for Ella
Grey and numerous other novels, stories, picture books, opera librettos and
plays. His work is translated into 40 languages, and is widely adapted for
stage and screen. His major awards include The Carnegie Medal, two Whitbread
Awards, The Eleanor Farjeon Award, The Michael L Printz Award (USA), Le Prix
Sorcieres (France) and The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. In 2010 he won
the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the world’s most prestigious prize for
children’ authors. He is Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University
and lives in Northumberland.‘A writer of visionary, Blakean intensity.’ The
Times.‘A Tyneside Dylan Thomas, and it is impossible not to be swept up in the
power of his storytelling.’ Daily Telegraph ‘A master storyteller.’ The
Independent. ‘David Almond’s books are strange, unsettling wild things –
unfettered by the normal constraints of children’s literature. They are, like
all great literature, beyond classification.’ The Guardian. http://www.davidalmond.com/
·Illustrator keynote by Leigh
Hodgkinson is an award winning animator, author and illustrator with a
passion for day dreaming. She
graduated from the University of Hull in 1998 with a first in graphic design
and went on to study Animation Direction at the National Film and Television
School. Her picture books include Colin and the Snoozebox, Limelight Larry and Scrummy! All published by Orchard Books. As
well as Goldilocks and Just
the One Bear, Troll Swap and The Big
Monster Snoreybook published by
Nosy Crow. Most recently Bloomsbury published Are You Sitting Comfortably? Her
picture books have been translated into many languages around the world. Leigh
is an award-winning animator and worked as art director on the BAFTA-award
winning animated series, Charlie and Lola. She is currently
art-directing an exciting new animated pre-school television show for Cbeebies
which is due to hit the screens in spring 2017. She co-created the show with
her husband Steve Smith (of Beakus). http://www.wonkybutton.com/
·PULSE keynote by Sarah Davies was a London publisher for
25 years, latterly as Publishing Director and on the management board of
Macmillan Children’s Books where she worked with authors such as Philip
Pullman, Julia Donaldson, Judy Blume, Sharon Creech, Meg Cabot, Frank
Cottrell-Boyce and many others. In 2007 she moved to the USA and launched The Greenhouse
Literary Agency, a transatlantic agency specializing in fiction for children
and teens. Greenhouse quickly built a reputation as one of the leading
boutique-sized agencies on both sides of Atlantic and is well known for
discovering and helping to develop new talent. Among its clients are two New York
Times bestsellers, a Morris First Novel Award winner, a Kirkus Prize Finalist,
and its authors regularly achieve starred reviews and critical acclaim, as well
as deals around the world. Sarah and her colleague Polly Nolan are open to all
genres of fiction and represent young stories upwards through YA, but also sell
picture books, non-fiction and even adult novels by existing clients. What they
seek most of all is quality writing complementing a unique premise. Now back in
the UK, Sarah divides her time between her new home “somewhere east of Oxford”,
London, and New York, and she works with authors across many timezones! http://www.greenhouseliterary.com/
·The faculty also includes:
Margaret Bateson-Hill, Author and
Storyteller, Ruth Bennett, Commissioning Editor at Stripes, Louise Bolongaro,
Publisher at Nosy Crow, Helen Bryant, Literary Consultant at Cornerstones, Jane
Clarke, Author, Candy Gourlay, Author, Karen Inglis, Independent Author, George
Kirk, Educator, David McDougalan, Senior Art Director at Walker Books, Tamara
McFarlane, Independent Bookseller, Cliff McNish, Author, Roland Moore, Script
Writer, Roxie Munroe, Author/Illustrator, Lin Oliver, Author, Susan Price, Author,
Viv Schwarz, Author/Illustrator, Benjamin Scott, Author, Paul Stickland,
Author/ Illustrator, Sarah Towle, Independent Author, Becky Tudor, Educator, Caroline
Walsh, Agent, Polly Whybrow, Commissioning Editor at Bloomsbury.
On Friday
18th November there is a programme of optional
fringe events culminating in an evening critique meet. There is also an open portfolio exhibition on Saturday
19st November and various other competitions for authors and
illustrators. Delegates and invited industry guests will be celebrating 20 years of SCBWI British Isles as well
as our members’ 2016 publishing successes at our exclusive party and Mass Book Launch on Saturday night!
Two
scholarships will be awarded, based on need and
merit, which include tuition and accommodation costs, and a 1-1 with an editor,
art director or agent.
The
Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards will be
presensented to the 2016 winner.
For more information about the conference
programme visit
Booking closes at midnight, Monday 31st October 2016.
About SCBWI: SCBWI British Isles is a chapter of the
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, a group form in 1968 by
some Los Angeles-based writers for children. It is the only international
organisation to offer a variety of services to people who write, illustrate, or
share a vital interest in children's literature. It has over 22,000 members
worldwide working in all areas of writing and illustrating for children, from
picture books to YA. It is the only professional organisation for those
specifically working in mediums of children’s literature, magazines, film,
television, and multimedia, and makes an annual presentation of the Golden and
Crystal Kite Awards, the only award presented to children’s book authors and
artists by their peers.
SCBWI British Isles hosts a number of
events during the year, from a professional development lecture series to
masterclasses and writing retreats. It also supports local critique groups and
events with regional festivals.
For
more information:
Contacts:
Bookings:
Conference and Press Enquiries:
