Writers with stories to tell
More than a dozen authors will challenge, engage and delight children of all ages as the week-long Paisley Book Festival schools’programme gets underway.
Launched yesterday, the schools initiative will see 38 events held in public libraries, primary, secondary and additional support need schools in the area.
From homegrown talent such as Fiona Longmuir to exciting new writers such as Elle McNicoll, the 2023 festival has the largest ever offering for children yet.
Today, the Express showcases some of the highlights set to be staged this week.
FIONA LONGMUIR
Fiona was born in Paisley and published her debut novel, Looking for Emily, last year.
It was named as one of Waterstone’s Best Children’s Books of 2022.
Fiona will be appearing at Johnstone Library and Glenburn Library to meet local primary school children, and also visiting Johnstone High and Gleniffer high schools.
ALEX MULLARKY
Author Alex Mullarky lives on the edge of Edinburgh and loves creating stories about nature and magic.
Her novel The Sky Beneath the Stone is set in an enchanted realm and in her workshops, at Bishopton Library and Linwood Library, Alex will create a collaborative map of magical places, developing ideas for our own tales of adventure!
MATT OLDFIELD Matt has sold over one million copies worldwide. He writes about famous footballers and the fictional Johnny Ball – Football Genius series.
He has visited Renfrewshire schools before and has always been a big hit.
Matt has worked with the Renfrewshire school libraries team on a fantastic online resource called Football Shorts talking about how he writes and researches his books. Matt will be visiting Mary Russell
S4Oldfield School where he will meet pupils from to S6 Step unit, many of whom have a keen interest in football.
He will also visit Linwood High, Trinity High and meet pupils from St Charles Primary at Paisley Central Library and Arkleston Primary pupils at Renfrew Library.
JUSTIN DAVIES
Justin Davies is the winner of the Fantastic Book Awards and lives in Fife. He will be appearing at Erskine Library and Johnstone Library to read from his fantastic new book Haarville when he will take youngsters on a journey into the mysterious world of Manx Fearty, a 12-year-old orphan who is about to lose his family’s perpetual device shop to some sinister, suspicious newcomers.
ELLE MCNICOLL
Elle McNicoll is one of the most talked about new writers for children.
Her first book A Kind of Spark has been adapted for TV and will be broadcast this spring. She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, and in 2022 founded the Adrien Prize, to recognize children’s fiction that explores the disability experience. Her latest book, Like a Curse, is the sequel to Like a Charm, and is a spellbinding tale set in an Edinburgh filled with magical creatures.
BARBARA HENDERSON Barbara Henderson will be launching her new book Rivet Boy about a real boy called John Nicol – who fell from the Forth Bridge during construction and survived and his friend Cora, an aspiring engineer.
It also features William Arrol, the Renfrewshire-born engineer who built the iconic Forth Rail Bridge and Tower Bridge in London. Barbara will bring the amazing story to life through readings, drama activities and live interactive engineering challenges.
Barbara will lead a session at Paisley Central Library before heading off with the mobile children’s library bus the Skoobmobile to visit two more schools.