WRITE AWAY ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Last week schools all over the country celebrated World Book Day. Sophie McKenzie and Chris Higgins visited Newton Preparatory School. Chip Colquhoun attended for Write Away and sent this report.

Two unassuming women sit in front of the stage as the children, aged 11 to 13, file into their school theatre. None barely bothers to give the women a glance – these could easily be two new teaching assistants assigned to make sure everyone enters sensibly, or even a couple of dinner ladies hanging over from lunch break in their casuals. The only giveaway is the display of books behind them. Such is the charm of an authorial visit to a school; the children quickly realise that authors look just as normal as their mums, dads or teachers.

 “I think these visits are important so children see that authors are ordinary people,” explained Sophie McKenzie afterwards. “It shows that writers are accessible; that writing is an accessible career.”

Thursday 4th March was World Book Day, which saw the launch of a brand new double-title release. McKenzie’s 'The Thief' is published back-to-back with Chris Higgins’ Walking the Walls, and you may think that such different stories and styles could only have been brought together so that girls can enjoy one half and boys the other. But, if the audience response from Newton Preparatory School was anything to go by, any such thinking would be misplaced.

Steve Cole's Cows in Action and Astrosaurs are definitely miracle books. Many teachers and librarians have witnessed them turning non-readers into avid readers. So when Random House threw a relaunch party for Steve, we were pleased to send Anita Loughrey along to join in the celebrations.

It is no secret I am an avid Star Trek and Dr Who fan, so when I was presented with the opportunity to meet the legendary Steve Cole of Astrosaurs, Dr Who, Z-Rex and Cows in Action fame, well, I jumped at the chance. So, on Thursday 25th February I made my way from Newbury to Kings Cross and the very chic venue, ‘The Hub’, with its high-ceiling, brick walls, wooden floorboards, large theatre lights and flowing staircase leading to a circular viewing platform above. Actually, I nearly missed the venue all together because the only sign was tiny lettering on the glass door and could have been wandering the streets of London in the rain for hours. I am soooooooo pleased I didn't miss it.

Once inside, I mingled with members of Random House Children’s Books, Scholastic, agents and editors. On the far wall was a large screen showing a slideshow of illustrations from the intro to Astrosaurs. Steve it emerges was very familiar witht he reviews of his books on Write Away.

It was revealed that Steve Cole had many reasons to celebrate that night, as not only was he relaunching his very successful Astrosaurs series but, he has written 45 book in five years for Random House, he had launched his re-vamped website that afternoon, (see www.stevecolebooks.co.uk ) and was presenting a preview of his brand new series Slime Squad with the great hook line, ‘Beating Crime with Slime’.