Published: 04 Jul 2023
The Bookscovery artists, image courtesy of Moat Brae.
Moat Brae, the Birthplace of Peter Pan and Scotland’s National Centre for Children’s Books, has appointed an inspiring cohort of children’s book authors and illustrators to its ‘Bookscovery’ programme, which sees each creator supported to develop their approach to delivering inspiring children’s book events. The programme offers bursary support for six months, the chance to connect with children and young people as the work develops, and grant support to work with artists in other disciplines to help inform the development of new and exciting approaches to book events.
Designed to support the resident authors and illustrators and the sector more broadly, the project will culminate with a symposium for other writers and illustrators, publishers, programmers, and literature organisations in November 2023.
The appointed book artists are:
Multi-sensory artist Kirstin Abraham also joins the programme to explore ways to connect children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities with books and story, and Gaelic-language writer Gwen Bowie joins with a project in that language.
Mairi Kidd of Moat Brae said: “In the recent Bookseller survey of debut authors, it chimed with us that there was specific mention of a lack of support for authors new to public speaking and audience engagement. We know that events are hugely important to many children’s book writers and illustrators in particular, and for some may in fact be their bread and butter. During the appointment process for ‘Bookscovery’ almost all interviewees shared with us their frustration that support and training does not exist for this important area of their activity. Even authors with significant experience commented that they have never been able to access training, or support for time to experiment and continue developing their approaches. We hope that our programme will create resources we can share more widely to help authors and illustrators everywhere feel supported in their work to inspire young readers.”
Funders and supporters
Bookscovery is funded by Creative Scotland and Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (The Gaelic Books Council). The programme is supported by The National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland and offers bursary support for six months, the chance to connect with children and young people as the work develops, and grant support to work with artists in other disciplines to help inform the development of new and exciting approaches to book events.
Alan Bett, Head of Literature at Creative Scotland, said: “Most of us remember a moment in our childhood that inspired a love of reading and stories. With that in mind, Bookscovery aims to develop the skills that allow children’s authors and illustrators to connect with their readers. This will not only benefit those directly involved, but by sharing learnings with the broader children’s literature sector, will have a legacy for many artists and young audiences beyond this programme.
“Bookscovery is broad and inclusive. There is a focussed strand on Gaelic language work and also sensory storytelling for those with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The programme will allow authors to inspire children and perhaps even the next generation of authors. The participating authors represent the high level of talent in Scotland and the innovation they bring to classrooms across the country will transform the way children engage with literature for the future.”
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
The fine Georgian house and riverside garden at Moat Brae in Dumfries were credited by Sir J. M. Barrie as the inspiration for Peter Pan. In 2009 a campaign was launched to save the house and garden for the nation and the bulldozers were halted mere hours before Moat Brae was to be demolished. After a huge fundraising campaign supported by Joanna Lumley among others, the building was saved and opened on 1st June 2019 as a major visitor attraction. The wider aspiration of the Trust is to deliver a National Centre for Children’s Books for Scotland, helping to develop the conditions for children’s books to thrive.
Open to public seven days, July and August and Tuesday to Sunday year-round, 10am – 4pm. Facebook: @MoatBrae. Twitter: @MoatBrae. Instagram: @moatbrae.
The Bookscovery Book Artists
Pamela’s Butchart’s best-selling titles include The Spy Who Loved School Dinners, My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat and Icarus Was Ridiculous (Nosy Crow). Pamela has won the Blue Peter Best Story Award and The Children’s Book Award, has been a World Book Day author, and has been shortlisted for the Laugh Out Loud Awards and the Scottish Book Trust’s Children’s Book Award. She continued Enid Blyton’s iconic and much-loved Secret Seven series for Hachette, with Secret Seven Mystery of the Skull and Secret Seven Mystery of the Theatre Ghost.
Amber Lee Dodd is an award-winning children’s author and short-story writer. Her work includes the critically acclaimed novels We Are Giants (Quercus), Lightning Chase Me Home and The Thirteenth Home of Noah Bradley (Scholastic). Her awards include the Calderdale Book Prize and she was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award for We Are Giants. Before her writing career, Amber worked in learning support with pupils with disabilities and learning difficulties. This fuelled her passion to make writing and literature accessible to all. Amber lives in Glasgow.
Chae Strathie is the author of over 25 books for children, including picture books, young fiction and non-fiction. His recent titles include the So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? series for Nosy Crow/British Museum and Scotland: The People, The Places, The Stories (Scholastic), with a foreword by Lorraine Kelly. Chae has twice won the Bookbug Children’s Book Award, for Jumblebum and Gorilla Loves Vanilla. Chae lives in Dundee.
Tom Morgan-Jones is the illustrator of over 75 books for children including Dinosaurs and Dinner Ladies by John Docherty (Otter Barry) and The Boy and the Globe by Tony Bradman (Barrington Stoke). Tom’s work has also appeared on the side of milk cartons, buses, and all the way round Norway's National football stadium. He ‘live draws’ for music and literary events, where his past collaborators include Louis Abbot of Admiral Fallow, and Hollie McNish.
