Northern Highlight Emmeline Pidgen 1.        Why did you become a writer/illustrator? I’ve always loved storytelling, particularly through art. I remember when I was about six saying to my best friend, “Hey! You should write books and I’ll illustrate them!”. Now I do both, and I couldn’t be happier doing what I love for a living. Artwork based on The Magician's Nephew 2.        Tell us about where you live. I live in a little town in Lancashire. My house is close to a nice park so I spend a lot of time there or in my garden. It’s wonderful to be close to amazing cities like Manchester, as well as gorgeous places like the Lake District!  3.        Where do you write/illustrate?  I work from my home studio most of the time, but (when it’s not lockdown) I like to get out and draw in cafés or in shared studios. My Anxiety Handbook written by Sue Knowles, Bridie Gallagher and Phoebe McEwen. Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishing 4.        What for

NORTHERN HIGHLIGHT LINDSAY LITTLESON 1.   Why did you become a writer? I began writing stories when I was a child and always assumed I’d be an author when I grew up. But it took me a very long time to get around to it! It wasn’t until six years ago, when I’d been teaching for 25 years, that I thought I’d better start writing a book or it was never going to happen. So, I wrote ‘The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean’ and entered the novel for the 2014 Kelpies Prize. My book won, was published by Floris Books in 2015, and I’ve been writing non-stop ever since in an effort to make up for lost time.  Cover design and publication by Floris Books      2.      Tell us about where you live. For 20 years, I’ve lived in the small village of Uplawmoor, a few miles from Glasgow. It’s perfect, as it’s rural and pretty, but is relatively close to the buzz of city life. Sometimes I think about moving somewhere more isolated, but if lockdown has taught me anything, it’s tha

Special Guest Northern Highlight Sarah Tyson, Books Up North Why did you want to work in the book industry? Really, I fell into it by voluntarily forming a grassroots Book Festival for my rural community with a group of likeminded bookworms. Since then I have observed the social, educational and cultural benefits to be gained by individuals, families and communities from live literary events. Books Up North was established because I have an enthusiasm for reading and a love for books which I enjoy sharing so that more writers can become known to readers in libraries, schools, independent bookshops and at arts festivals. I encourage reluctant readers of all ages to discover the pleasure that can be gained from discovering the right book for them and I am inspired by all the creative people I have been fortunate enough to support and work with. Tell us about where you live . Malton in Ryedale, North Yorkshire Where do you do most of your work? I have a

NORTHERN HIGHLIGHT HOLLY STERLING 1. Why did you become a writer/illustrator? I loved reading as a child. I was always fascinated by characters in books and their relationships with others. Even when I was very young, I would draw from the poems/stories in my books, creating my own visual interpretation. This translated into my art/illustration as I went through school. I enjoyed the idea of taking characters on a journey, which was inspired by people/events in my life.  Becoming a children's book illustrator was something that I dreamed of from a young age, but I didn't ever think that I would end up writing my own stories. A very dear friend and mentor, Vivian French, encouraged me to write when I was studying my masters degree at Edinburgh College of Art (Edinburgh University), and things went on from there... Published by Walker Books Designed by Ines Amaral 2. Tell us about where you live. I live in Sunderland. I moved here fro