Should be a great evening at Waterstones, Piccadilly, when Chris Riddell and I will be in conversation with Nicolette Jones to celebrate our nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Thanks to IBBY for organizing the event! From 6.30pm to 8.45pm.
If you're in Edinburgh on Sunday 22nd November, come and hear me at 3pm at the Assembly Roxy where I'll be discussing the migration of stories and the legacy of Hans Christian Andersen with Daniel Hahn, author, translator and editor of the Oxford Companion to Children's Literature. This event is once again supported by IBBY and is part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Booked! Programme.
I'm thrilled to announce the publication of my new book, Dindy and the Elephant, which is being published on 4th June by Macmillan Children's Books. The story is set in India, at the time of Independence in 1947. Dindy and her little brother Pog have spent their whole lives living in comfort and luxury in a bungalow in the middle of the tea garden which their father manages. Outside the fence, the real India is an unknown place which they have never explored, but one day, they open the gate and step out...
The book comes with lovely drawings by Peter Bailey.
I am hugely honoured to be shortlisted once again for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. The winner will be announced on 22nd June. It's a bit daunting when I look at the brilliant books and authors on the shortlist. No chance of winning, I fear, but it's just great to be on the list.
It's also wonderful to know how many people are shadowing this prestigious award. And not only in the UK but around the world! Thanks to Jonathan Guy and the pupils in the ABC International School Saigon for a great Skype session yesterday.
The short list for the 2015 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has been announced, and here it is:
The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis
The Lie by Helen Dunmore
Viper Wine by Hermione Eyre
In the Wolf's Mouth by Adam Foulds
Arctic Summer by Damon Galgut
A God in Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie
The Ten Thousand Things by John Spurling
The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose on 13th June. Book tickets now!
In March I'm heading to Toronto for the wonderful Story Telling Festival. Here are my events:
Sunday 22nd March 1pm Animal Fables and Tiger Tales Storytelling at the Aga Khan Museum with Rubena Sinha
Monday 23rd March Storytelling at the Ismaili Centre during the day
Monday 23rd March A Storytelling Journey to Ethiopia Ismaili Centre 7.30-9pm
The Previously History Festival in Edinburgh should be fun. I'll be talking about my collection of Ethiopian folktales and my book The Lure of the Honey Bird at 6.30pm. Not sure about the venue yet, so watch this space.
I'll be talking to librarians at the YLG conference in Durham on Saturday 18th October. this is definitely one to look forward to.
Looking forward to meeting teachers in Croydon on Monday 13th October. Thanks to CLPE for inviting me.
In 1967 Elizabeth travelled to Ethiopia where she met Emperor Haile Selassie, was arrested for a murder she didn’t commit, went to the fabled city of Lalibela and hitched a ride across the desert. Since then Elizabeth has become a hugely successful writer for children and young adults. But she hankered after Ethiopia and returned in the 1990s to collect folk tales. Interspersed with these remarkable stories is an account of a wonderful journey and The Lure of the Honeybird is – as ever - beautifully written.
Chaired by Eleanor Updale.
Tickets - £10