CBN SUMMER SOCIAL  EDINBURGH, JUNE 2023 We had an absolutely fantastic time meeting members old and new at our annual Summer Social last week. This year we held the event in Edinburgh, as we want to host in-person events in each of our different regions. (So we'll be meeting the the North East next summer!) It was our first Children's Books North event in Scotland, and wonderful to get together in such a vibrant literary city and see so many local members.  We had a brilliant turnout of authors, illustrators and publishing folk, around 50 people in total, including some of our current and previous mentees from our Mentor Scheme - thank you to everyone for making them so welcome!  CBN co-founders and mentees It was lovely as ever to meet in person and make new contacts as well as hearing what everyone is up to and celebrating what we've achieved through the network this last year. (We may have raised a glass or two to quite a big project that we've finally finished work

Northern Highlights Rumana Yasmin Where are you based, and how would you sum up the place in three words?  Middlesbrough - friendly, proud, evolving What is special to you about working with children's books, and what is your favourite thing about it? I simply love the process of collaborating with artists to make our shared vision for a book come alive. There is always so much exploration going on with how we can present words and pictures in each book, and this often leads to some great conversations. By the end of a project, I feel like we have all learnt a lot from each other, and are closer because of it.  When it comes to the end product, reading a completed book to a child, I love the chatter that follows. The best feeling is when a child is inspired to ask questions that open up conversations - it’s a great way to connect with them. Tell us about the most recent book you've worked on or come across in your job. We’re currently working on a board book, which is all about

Northern Highlight  Anna Wilson Where are you based, and how would you sum up the place in three words?  I'm originally from Australia but currently live amidst the beautiful stones that make up Edinburgh. Three words: magical, storied, stone. It is such a visually rich city, so filled with people's stories, stones of rose, green, taupe, browns and greys, colourful doors and row after row of beautiful chimney tops. I love it. What is special to you about creating children's books, and what is your favourite thing about it? I think to turn blank pieces of paper into entire worlds, with their own atmosphere and emotions, is one of the most incredible things to be able to do as a human. It is endlessly challenging, always surprising, and something I can't imagine ever tiring of. Tell us about the most recent book you've worked on. There are two books coming out in the next year that I have been lucky enough to illustrate. The first is written by the wonderful Hollie Hu