Monday, February 11, 2008

Children's Writers and Illustrators Conference, Cambridge

The Children's Writers and Illustrators Group of The Society of Authors are holding a conference at Robinson College, Cambridge over the last weekend in August - 29-31 August 2008. Booking for this is now open to non-members. The conference is intended as a forum for the exchange of ideas for published and would-be published authors and illustrators but also for those interested in the whole children's book world.

The conference opens on Friday evening 29 August and closes mid-afternoon on Sunday. Speakers include David Almond, Laurence Anholt, Anthony Browne, Polly Dunbar, Julia Eccleshare, Nicolette Jones, Graham Marks, William Nicholson and the Children's Laureate Michael Rosen. There will also be parallel sessions dealing with (on the whole) more practical matters including how to survive school visits, working in remote areas with indigenous communities in Australia, how to manage time, how to make a living as a children's poet, story-boarding, from picture book to film, historical research and more.

Robinson College is a modern college set near the Backs so walking into the centre of Cambridge is a joy - a ten minute stroll alson a footpath takes one directly to King's College. Robinson opened in 1981, built to a high architectural standard with specially commissioned John Piper windows magnificently displayed in the chapel. The standard of catering is excellent and if the weather is glorious you can take your breakfast or lunch outside. Rarely, for a Cambridge college, you can walk on the grass. Ensuite accommodation with the lecture theatre, dining hall, exhibitions, Heffer's conference bookshop and bedrooms within the same central area. There are quick frequent trains from London to Cambridge and if you choose to drive there is even parking!

Further details and a booking form can be seen on www.societyofauthors.org. Residential rates for the whole weekend for members of The Society of Authors are £255 plus VAT total £299.62 and for non-members £295 plus VAT total £346.62. Non-residential rates for the Saturday and Sunday only are for members £160 plus VAT £188 and non-members £200 plus VAT £235.

"I was invited by an author friend to join her at the Sussex Conference in 2000. It was the beginning of all kinds of good things for me. Apart from enjoying the stimulating and inspiring talks and workshops, I met interesting people and discovered a whole world of support and information I didn't even know existed. I joined the Society of Authors and went to the conferences in Leeds and Oxford. Each conference gave me something special that has enriched my personal and working life - a friendship, an inspiration, an opportunity - so I'm looking forward to Cambridge 2008" Sally Hewitt, non-fiction author

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