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CWISL News
January-March 2016
Children's Writers and Illustrators of South London (CWISL) is a group of published writers and illustrators. Read on to find out about us and our events.
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Above: Lydia Syson with her books.
Author visits aren’t just for World Book Week, as dynamic school librarian Janet Syme of Simon Balle All-through School in Hertford knows all too well. This November, she organised her fifth school literary festival and invited CWISL author Lydia Syson to talk to years 9 and 10 about the connections between the Spanish Civil War and World War Two through a discussion of her novels A World Between Us and That Burning Summer. Ready, Steady, Book! was an imaginative celebration of reading and writing that offered something for everyone. Other guests included a poet, a playwright, MG and YA novelists and a former pupil who’s now an animator, illustrator, and documentary maker and writes both fiction and non-fiction. As well as a creative writing competition, students voted on the festival’s name and also had a chance to ‘Bake a Book’ – the winning entry was Charlotte’s Web. Local bookseller Rebecca Pirt provided a pop-up bookshop at all the festival’s many events and hosted the Writing Challenge Award ceremony at Leaf Café.
by Lydia Syson
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CWISL's ShoutWest!
Storymaking Festival 2015
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Above: Margaret Bateson-Hill started ShoutWest! off with a wonderful storytelling session.
The CWISL ShoutWest! Festival brought together children’s authors and students from Hillingdon Primary Schools for a two day feast of story making.
The students explored the process of writing and illustrating stories through a series of workshops that focussed on igniting story ideas, creating convincing characters, effective plotting or storyboarding, and using language creatively. We even managed to fit in some drama sessions where students got to direct their own story scenes in great detail.
CWISL authors were impressed with the student’s enthusiasm and creativity and the festival was topped off with a wonderful celebration of everyone’s work and plenty of delicious cupcakes. It was brilliant to meet so many talented young writers and illustrators.
Our thanks to the students and teachers of all the schools that participated, and to the Hillingdon Community Cohesion Partnership and Brunel University for hosting the event. ShoutWest was funded by Hillingdon Community Trust.
by Loretta Schauer
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Above: Mo O'Hara in action.
A blustery Saturday on 6 November and five CWISL authors descended on STREAM 2015. Now in its second year, STREAM is a free children’s book festival, which takes over the classrooms and corridors of Streatham & Clapham High School for a day - it offers talks, workshops, readings and book signings by authors and illustrators to readers from nursery-school age through to young adults. Mo O’Hara pitched up with her zombie goldfish, Margaret Bateson-Hill indulged in a spot of dragon racing, Elli Woollard brought along the Giant of Jum, Sophie Plowden made monsters come to life with her magic feather and Samira Osman joined Barry Cunningham from Chickenhouse on a story-making panel. With Malorie Blackman as patron, this year’s festival line-up included Michael Rosen, Francesca Simon, David Baddiel and children’s laureate, Chris Riddell.
by Sophie Plowden
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CWISL authors Sophia Bennett and Lydia Syson took part in a celebration of Young Adult literature in Nottingham in October 2015. Organised by authors Emma Pass and Kerry Drewery, the UKYA Extravaganza is designed to bring YA writers to audiences outside London, who might not otherwise get the chance to meet them. Lydia and Sophia were joined by Teri Terry, Lucy Coats, Lisa Williamson, David Massey and many others in a series of panels to discuss what’s special about YA.
Bloggers and readers tucked into cupcakes, got books signed, and heard over 30 authors talk about their books. Lydia’s historical fiction and Sophia’s ‘glittery urban realism’ were two examples of a wide spectrum of genres. It was clear from every author’s 2-minute intro that UKYA is full of passion and packed with diversity.
For a video about the event, with contributions from several of the authors, check out CityofYABooks on YouTube, and look for ‘UKYA Extravaganza October 2015’. You can also find the UKYAX on Facebook, if you want to discover details of the next event.
by Sophia Bennett
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The new issue of CWISL's online magazine for children is now live. All submissions of writing and artwork by children aged 16 and under for the next issue are welcome via the website www.shoutaboutmagazine.com
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