An informal monthly chat for writers at all stages of their picture book writing journey hosted by Clare Helen Welsh. Sessions typically start will a round-up of how the previous month has been, celebrating highs and offering support for the lows followed by a discussion on a picture book topic. Members can suggest topics and we’ve covered everything from structure, to rhyming schemes, query letters and book fairs. The second half of the session is not recorded and may include workshopping members stories.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Clare tutors our Advanced Picture Book Course
- Clare is a former primary school teacher turned writing tutor and children’s author, living in South West England with her husband and two children. When Clare isn’t writing stories, she is inspiring children to write their own. She loves visiting schools, libraries, bookshops and festivals in her authormobile, giving her an outlet for her BIG ideas. Once she helped a class make a giant rice crispy cake that was so wide it wouldn’t fit through the door!
- Clare is the founder of Books That Help – an initiative that aims to celebrate picture books and how they can be used therapeutically to navigate life’s up and downs.
- Clare is represented by Alice Williams of Alice Williams Literary.
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CLIENTS INCLUDE:
Andersen Press, Harper Collins, Ladybird, Little Tiger Press, Nosy Crow, Maverick Books, Pan Macmillan, Storyhouse Publishing, Quarto Ltd.
- AWARDS INCLUDE:‘Slime? It’s Not Mine!’ – (Nicola O’Byrne, Macmillan, 2022) – winner of the Write Blend Book Awards 2023, winner of Books For Topics’ Book of the Year (KS1 Best Curriculum Support 2022)‘How Messy!’ (Olivier Tallec, Quarto 2022) – shortlisted for the Write Blend Book Awards 2023
‘Wee? It Wasn’t Me!‘ (Nicola O’Byrne, Macmillan, 2021) – winner of the LOLLIES Picture Book Award 2023
‘Poo! Is That You?’ (Nicola O’Byrne, Macmillan, 2020) – winner of The North Gate Book Awards 2022
‘Sunshine At Bedtime’ (Sally Sowoel Han, Storyhouse Book, 2022) Finalist in the Teach Primary Awards 2002.
‘The Tide’ (Ashling Lindsay, Little Tiger Press, 2019) – winner of The North Somerset Teacher’s Book Award 2019, winner of SCBWI-BI Crystal Kite Award 2020, Honour Award for Illustration at The Children’s Book Awards, Ireland 2020.
‘The Perfect Shelter’ (Asa Gilland, Little Tiger 2020) – shortlisted for the InstaBookGrammies 2020.
- Clare does hundreds of events with schools, libraries and festivals: *318 events and counting!*