Only three weeks to go til publication!
For those who still don’t know what the fuss is about, author Ken Howard reads a gripping extract from the forthcoming page-turner, The Young Chieftain.
Click for more about the book.
Click to watch the trailer.
Last month, Class 3O at Brecknock Primary School studied the work of Tamarind author Verna Wilkins. They each wrote her a letter asking questions about her life. On Thursday, Verna visited Class 3O in person! Their teacher Siobhan reports…
Class 3O have been studying many books by the author Verna Wilkins, including biographies of Stephen Lawrence and Benjamin Zephaniah, as part of the Literacy Unit Authors and Letters. When they wrote to her to ask her to come and visit, imagine their surprise when she did! Especially as they were to first to hear her read her new book, Abdi’s Day which is not due out until September 2010. Here are some of the class’ comments about her visit:
Danae: “It was delightful that what I wanted to happen happened on Thursday because Verna Wilkins came when we wrote letters to her.”
Josh: “It was extremely good that our dream to meet Verna Wilkins came true. She is an extremely nice woman and she told us about how she wrote her books.”
Merrill: “It was amazing to see Verna Wilkins and her telling us her new story, Abdi’s Day. I asked her if she would ever write her autobiography and she said she would get to work on it when she gets home!”
Amal: “It was so outstanding to meet Verna Wilkins because I really want to be an author when I grow up and she told me everything about how to be a writer.”
This morning Ben Morley, the author of The Silence Seeker, dropped into our office from Singapore during his holiday in London.
After a minute’s silence, Ben enthralled an audience with an intimate reading. The publicity director, managing director and production controller were among those who enjoyed the story and asked Ben questions. Although we can’t repeat the magic of the book read aloud, you can see a video Q & A with Ben below.
Ben signed copies of the book which you can win on Facebook and Twitter next week.
What inspired Ben to write The Silence Seeker
Ben Morley on… Favourite books
Ben Morley on… The Crown Prince of Brunei
Ben Morley on… Being a writer
Ben Morley on… Workshopping the book
Children’s book writing workshop at
The Afro Hair and Beauty Show
Business Design Centre, Islington
May 30th and 31st, 2pm-3pm daily
Do you remember how old you were when you first saw a black person in a book? Join Patsy, Commissioning Editor at Tamarind Books, for a fun creative writing workshop on writing multicultural stories for children and teens. Patsy will give aspiring children’s writers practical tips for success and discuss the importance of representing black children in literature. Bring your notebook and pen!
Click to read Tamarind’s manuscript submission guidelines.
It was a sleepy Friday afternoon when Nick from children’s book charity Pelican Post visited our Ealing office. He’d driven across London in weekend traffic, but that was nothing compared to the journey he had in mind: Nick was picking up 10 Tamarind books and starting their journey to a new school in the Sudan! The Pelican Post send donated children’s books to schools in various African countries. They take care to reflect the children in the books that they receive, and include Tamarind titles among the books they send. However, the package for the Sudan would be a special undertaking, off the beated track for the charity. The Grace School, 17 hours by road from Khartoum, is the only secondary school within a 300-mile radius. In poor condition and on the point of closure a few years ago, British couple Richard and Claire Budd fundraised an amazing £90,000 to rebuild the school from scratch. Opening in the first week of May, the school has classrooms and pupils and teachers, but not a single book. The staff at Tamarind were overjoyed to donate the first package of books to the new school. Nick will track its journey by air and road until it reaches the school. Congratulations to all for making this happen!
Click to find out more about the inspiring story of The Grace School and the work of Pelican Post.
Which books have you had published?
My Big Brother JJ (Tamarind)
Under Sammy’s Bed
Sammy Goes Flying
Sammy and the Telly
Sammy’s Christmas Workshop
Nightingale News – Five Stories About Our School, Hippo School stories
I was inspired by things my daughter told me. She was teaching in Tower Hamlets at the time I wrote these school stories.
What inspired you to write My Big Brother JJ?
It was based on my son’s friend Darren. He often looked after his little sister when he was a teenager. Now he is a father and it was lovely giving his daughters a copy of the book. His eight year-old daughter read it aloud quite beautifully. (Darren pretended to be shocked when the book says “JJ said some horrid horrid words”. He said HE didn’t do that kind of thing!)
My 12 year old granddaughter chose the name Jasmine for the little sister in My Big Brother JJ. I try picture book stories out on my 5 year old grandson in particular.
What you’d be if you weren’t a writer?
I have always had to do a ‘day job’. I used to write in the lunch hours and in the evenings when I got home. Now I am retired so I can spend more time writing.
What are your hobbies?
Travelling and camping in France (in sunny, dry weather!), walking in Scotland, gardening, dancing with Sadler’s Wells’ Company of Elders and spending time with my four grandchildren aged 12, 5, 3 and 1.
What are you reading at the moment?
The Boy with the Top Knot by Sathnam Sanghera (an autobiography)
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls (a truly wonderful book)
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (because I am curious to know why teenagers like that series so much)
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
What’s your favourite Tamarind book and why?
The biography Malorie Blackman. I admire her and love her writing. I am especially fond of Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry, so I look forward to reading his biography too.
If you’d like to book Odette for an author signing, reading or talk with questions and answers about picture books in your primary school or library, please contact Kelly Tapper in our publicity team on ktapper@randomhouse.co.uk or 020 8231 6648.
<< Back
