Children's Books North - We Are Three

 Children's Books North 

We Are Three! 

It hardly seems possible that it is already three years since we launched Children's Books North with our very first social event in Manchester February 2020. Our third year was another packed year of celebration, promotion and championing the creativity in the North and Scotland. Now seems like a good time to look back on a great 2022 ... 

2022 Mentor scheme

The second year of our mentor scheme for aspiring publishing professionals brought a brand-new cohort of mentees for Emma, Tilda and Liz to work with. Luke Power, Joanne Ruffell and Helen Varley joined us to take their first steps into learning more about the publishing industry.

We're absolutely delighted that for our 2023 mentor scheme we will be joined by more publishing professional mentors, giving us the opportunity to offer additional mentee places to aspiring professionals. Watch this space for further announcements.

CBN Summer Social

After a long two and a half years, we were finally able to meet in June 2022 for only our second in-person CBN social. 

CBN Summer Social in Leeds

We were delighted that so many of you came along to celebrate everything we've achieved as a network and to socialise with fellow CBNers. Our brilliant CBN Committee, Shaniah, Maria and Tom were able to join us too, along with some of our first mentees. 

CBN with the Committee: L-R Maria, Emma, Tilda, Tom, Shaniah

CBN with the mentees: L-R Tilda, Helen, Sarah, Joanne, Emma

It was a joy to see you all and to gather together, as we move our socials round each of our regions. Next stop, Edinburgh, for the 2023 social on 22nd June - save the date!

CBN x Just So Festival
2022 also brought our first ever Festival collaboration, as CBN staged a takeover of the Telling Tales stage at Just So Family Arts Festival in Cheshire.

CBN x Just So programme of events

Massive thanks to Catherine Jacobs, Corrinne Averiss, James Harris and Jenny Pearson with her writing partner Sam Copeland, who entertained audiences on the brilliant Telling Tales stage in the woods and ensured the North was fully represented at Just So. And a big shoutout to Rachel Morrisroe and her fabulous Drama Llama event.

Pathways into Publishing event
Emma, Tilda and Liz spoke at the in-person Pathways into Publishing event at Portico Library as part of the Manchester Festival of Libraries.
 

 
CBN Twitter 23 Pitch
In 2023, we held the second CBN Twitter pitch event, giving aspiring authors and illustrators the opportunity to pitch to publishers and agents, and, again, we had some success stories including Ashley Thorpe signing with Alice Sutherland-Hawes.
 
"I was in the middle of writing my middle grade manuscript, Shadow of the Orishas, when the 2022 #CBNPitch came around. I thought this was a great chance to put my name out there as a writer based in the North, and to support others too. You never know how it’s going to go with these pitches - you never want to get your hopes up. But to my delight, not only did Alice show interest in the pitch but offered to represent me on reading the finished manuscript." Ashley Thorpe

 “As soon as I saw Ashley’s pitch as part of the CBN Twitter event I knew I had to read it, and I’m so thrilled it’s worked out. CBN Pitch is a great initiative and I’m delighted to be working with Ashley! I’ll look forward to taking part next time!”
Alice Sutherland-Hawes
 
Publishing Round Table
 We also held our first ever publishing round table, with our publishing professional members discussing what more we can do to work together.
 


These were just some of the highlights from 2022. We have lots more planned for 2023 and many more opportunities for CBN members to get involved in the network. 
 
Thanks for all your support over the last three years. We couldn't do it without you!

Emma, Tilda and Liz x


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