Opportunity for Young Writers: Festival Young Critics

Are you a budding young writer or journalist aged 8-18 years? Interested in chatting to some award-winning children’s authors and getting published? 

The Festival has teamed up with Cardiff youth magazine theSprout to put together a group of Festival Young Critics. Throughout this year’s Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival (20th – 24th March) we are offering young people the chance to review, discuss and report on a festival event, in exchange for a complimentary ticket plus publication online.

The Festival Young Critics will be able to meet fellow young writers, not to mention some fantastic authors. Please note: young people under 16 must be accompanied by an adult when reviewing events.

To apply to be a Festival Young Critic and for further information, click here.

Info from Literature Wales.

Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival Tickets Now On Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival which was launched last week with a sell-out event featuring Jeff Kinney; the creator of the children’s book phenomenon, Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Before the event Jeff said: ”I'm delighted to be visiting Cardiff. I visited Wales 15 years ago and I've been eager to get back ever since. I'm very excited to get the chance to meet some of my Welsh fans and I'm honoured to be launching the Cardiff Children's Literature Festival."

The Festival will take place from Wednesday 20th March to Sunday 24th March 2013 and the programme boasts some of the best national and local contemporary authors and illustrators in both English and Welsh, promoting literacy and the arts with an inventive and accessible programme across the city.

Children across the age ranges will be encouraged to meet and interact with their favourite authors, and to discover new voices and characters, including previous Children’s Laureate Jacqueline Wilson, Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown, Dan Anthony, Cressida Cowell, Eurig Salisbury, Young People's Laureate for Wales Catherine Fisher, Lucy Christopher, Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell and Lydia Monks.

For budding adult authors there’s the chance to learn how to get that children’s novel published, while for inspiration there’s an exhibition of children’s books from the 17th to 20th century at Cardiff University from February to April.

A free schools programme of high-profile authors, illustrators and poets includes Anthony Browne, Simon James, Mererid Hopwood, Jeremy Strong, Bethan Gwanas and creator of young James Bond Charlie Higson.

Leading up to the festival an Outreach programme will take workshops in storyboarding, scriptwriting, poetry and prose, as well as visits from Welsh authors, out to primary school children across Cardiff and the surrounding area.

The Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival is organised by Cardiff Council, Literature Wales, Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru / National Museum Wales.

Tickets are available to buy from TicketlineUK
  or by calling 02920 230 130.

To view the full Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival events programme
and for more information, visit www.cardiffchildrenslitfest.com
  Twitter @CDFKidsLitFest

Source: Literature Wales

Wimpy Kid Author Jeff Kinney to Launch Inaugural Cardiff Children's Literature Festival 2013

Thursday 29th November 
6.30pm - 7.30pm
City Hall, Civic Centre, Cardiff
Tickets: £3.50

The first Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival will take place in March 2013 and it’s already attracting big names in the world of children’s literature.

Jacqueline Wilson has already confirmed her attendance at the event and now organisers are delighted to announce that the festival will officially be launched this November by Jeff Kinney, the author of the globally successful and award-winning Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.

Jeff will be taking to the stage at Cardiff’s City Hall in his only Welsh appearance to talk all things Wimpy and introducing his audience to 'The Third Whee'l, the seventh and latest book in his brilliant best-selling series. Jeff will be sharing inside information on his involvement in the Wimpy Kid films, and showing how he brings Greg, Rowley and the gang to life.

The Cardiff Children’s Literature festival will run between March 20th-24th 2013 and will bring together some of the best national and local contemporary children’s writers and illustrators in key venues across Cardiff, putting Wales once again on the children’s literary map. Authors already confirmed include Jacqueline Wilson, Anthony Browne, Jeremy Strong, Catherine Fisher, Eurig Salisbury and Malachy Doyle.

“We are delighted that such a prestigious author as Jeff Kinney is launching our festival,” said Cardiff Council Cabinet Member, Cllr Huw Thomas, “The Children’s Literature Festival next year will provide a fun way of getting children excited and interested in reading. Having Jeff Kinney at the launch is a great coup. Our aim is to reach out to everyone who loves children’s books, especially young people, and enable them to interact with some of the most creative minds working in children’s books today by providing a variety of inspirational and accessible events in both the English and Welsh language.”

The original The Diary of Wimpy Kid has beaten Harry Potter to be voted 'Best Children’s Book of the Decade', and is the number one best-selling children’s brand in Britain selling more than 6 million copies in the UK, and over 75 million copies worldwide. The sixth book in the series, 'Cabin Fever' was the best-selling book of 2011 selling one copy every four seconds in the first week of sale.

The logo has been designed by illustrator Huw Aaron, who will be involved in the school outreach activity leading up to the festival.

The Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival is organised by Cardiff Council, Literature Wales,
Cardiff University and The National Museum of Wales.

To book your tickets for the launch event, click here.