JUST SO FAMILY ARTS FESTIVAL/CHILDREN'S BOOKS NORTH   On Sunday 20th August 23, Children's Books North was back at 'Just So' Family Arts Festival at Rode Hall, Cheshire.   'Just So' is an annual, intimate, weekend-long festival – an imaginative outdoor family adventure like no other. With a love of stories and childhood escapades at its heart, Just So Festival enables families to step out of their day-to-day lives and into a wonderland of creative pursuits together, in a beautiful natural environment.     We were delighted to be joined by four CBN members - Andy Ruffell, Gabrielle Kent, Hiba Noor Khan and Rachel Morrisroe - who held fabulous interactive, no-tech events with snowballs, dragons, fruit and even a dodo! We had great crowds and even sunshine!     (Rachel Morrisroe)                                            ...

NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS Lina Langlee Where are you based, and how would you sum up the place in three words?  I’m based in Edinburgh – somewhere beautiful, bookish and… blustery. What is special to you about working with children's books, and what is your favourite thing about it?   Working with children’s books is absolutely joyous! The whole reason I work in publishing is because I discovered a love of books when I was young. Really - hopefully without sounding too highfalutin- having access to great children’s books in my childhood in many ways set the course of my future. Coming across a book, as an adult, where you feel that same spark as you did as a child is a magical thing – and one that feels very worthwhile looking for and help make available to young readers. Easily my favourite thing. Tell us about the most recent book you've worked on or come across in your job.   Oh, I am working on quite a few exciting things at the moment! I had two books out in ...

 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 w...

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 abou...

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...

 Guest Northern Highlight  UCLAN Publishing Bookshop Can you tell us more about the new UCLAN Publishing Bookshop, and the reasons why you decided to set it up?  We set the bookshop up to showcase the Publishing House within the university. We want to make staff and students more aware of what the Publishing House to offer, and to highlight the many books our own students have worked on.  What does a typical work day look like at the bookshop and what is the most rewarding part of the job?  Well Charlotte and I both are based within the bookshop, we manage the shop and the publishing house at the same time so it's always busy. The most rewarding part of the job is recommending books and having happy customers leave the shop with a fantastic new read. We also had a visit from the UCLan Pre School a few weeks ago. Author Jake Hope, and illustrator Genevieve Aspinall came and hosted a special story time based on their book  Cheesed Off! ...

Northern Highlights Diana Anyakwo Where are you based, and how would you sum up the place in three words?  I am based in Manchester close to the city centre. There is lots of exciting redevelopment near where I live at New Islington Wharf and in Ancoats. I would describe it as vibrant, creative and friendly. What is special to you about creating children's books, and what is your favourite thing about it? Reading was and still is my number one passion. As a child and teenager books were such an amazing escape for me, they transported me to another world and made me feel connected to others in a way I sometimes didn’t feel in the real world. I love how great books can make you see the world in a different way. I   hope to give the same experience to young people who read my work, that sense of connection, that complete immersion in another world. Tell us about the most recent book you've worked on. My debut novel My Life As A Chameleon is coming out 4 May, 2023 from ...