SCBWI British Isles and Manchester Children's Book Festival, 26 & 27 June 2015

More details, including a MCBF Family Fun Day, on the Manchester Children's Book Festival:

Trailblazer Panel Event - What is the Worth of Creating for Children? Friday 26th June - 5-6pm– Followed by the gala launch of the MCBF Experienced authors and industry professionals wrestle with the merits and the perceived value of creating Children’s books. Why is writing for children thought of as a mere stepping stone to adult writing- a means to an end? Aren’t kids’ books worthwhile and important in their own right? Or is writing for children arguably more valuable than writing for adults? Panel members include author Jonathan Mayhew (Mortlock, Monster Odyssey series), Julia Churchill of AM Heath Literary Agency and illustrator/author Kate Pankhurst (Mariella Mystery series and much more). For just £5.50 you can attend the panel discussion and then stay on for drinks and canapés at the festival launch - a gala event that will include a poetry reading by Carol Ann Duffy. Buy your tickets direct from the festival box office at http://www.mcbf.org.uk/whats-on/events/so-when-are-you-going-to-write-for-grown-ups-what-is-the-worth-of-creating MCBF Family Fun Day – Celebrate Kids Books and Reading with the SCBWI Saturday 27th June 2015 – 10am – 4.30pm Come along and help us celebrate kids’ books and reading at the MCBF Family Fun Day. With ticketed events featuring some of your favourite children’s authors, and opportunities for crafts, storytelling and drawing at our SCBWI stand, it promises to be a great day. Our ticketed events run from 10:30 – 4.30pm and at just £3.50 are a right bargain! A brief summary is included below. You can find more details and buy tickets at the festival box office – paste  http://www.mcbf.org.uk/whats-on/events into your browser. Kate Pankhurst – 10:30am – Age: 7+ Calling all Young Super Sleuths! Come face to face with a Ghostly Guinea Pig and a Spaghetti Yeti (if you dare) with author and illustrator Kate Pankhurst as she investigates the totally mysterious world of Mariella Mystery. Expect drawing, dressing up and excessive amounts of inspiration for writing and illustrating your own mystery stories. Steve Hartley – 2.30pm – Age 7+ Steve Hartley is many things: author, astronaut, spy, trapeze-artist and vampire-hunter. His hobbies include puddle-diving, and hamster-wrestling, and he never, EVER tells fibs. Steve’s hilarious show will contain some (or none) of the following: top-tips for writing stories, awesome acting, a game show, a superhero, and a huge pair of knickers. It will definitely contain readings from his prize-winning Oliver Fibbs series of books, and the biggest, fattest fibs you’ve ever heard - honest! Ruth Fitzgerald – 3.30pm – Age 7+ Join author Ruth Fitzgerald and Wavey Cat to talk about disasters and fiascos and all things Emily Sparkes. Learn to make origami cats and rats and enter our fun competition (which is definitely not going to be a calamity...) All events take place at the Manchester Metropolitan University Geoffrey Manton Building. About SCBWI PULSE: SCBWI PULSE is an exciting initiative that aims to provide workshops, lectures and professional development for published children’s book writers and illustrators. We have our finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the industry and will bring members updates on trends, help them market themselves in the new-media, digital age, offer exclusive networking opportunities and much, much more! For more information email: pulse@britishscbwi.org