Panel: Writing for younger readers

Writing for younger readers

Authors share everything you need to know about engaging a young audience in your stories, including tips and tricks

*All panels are pre-recorded – check the timetable to see when it will be available but you can watch at your leisure

Sophie Cleverly was born in Bath in 1989. She studied for a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in Writing For Young People. Her book series Scarlet and Ivy and The Violet Veil Mysteries are published by HarperCollins worldwide, as well as being translated into 7 different languages so far.

Emma Read is the author of the Milton the Mighty books, published by Chicken House.  She is also a big fan of the side hustle, being a long-serving member of WriteMentor, as well as a tutor with Creative Writing Ink, a freelance novel editor, as EmDashED, and owner of StorySpinners – a creative writing club for 7 to 11-year-olds.

Emma Finlayson-Palmer lives in the West Midlands with her husband and a multitude of children, cats and chickens! She an author, artist and illustrator. She runs #ukteenchat, a writing themed chat on Twitter; mentors for #WriteMentor and is one half of Word Witches, an editing and mentoring business. Emma’s first book for 5-8 year old readers, Autumn Moonbeam: Dance Magic, is published by UCLan.

[Chair] Emily Randall has worked as a touring actor, an historical interpreter at Hampton Court and for the National Trust, creating events, exhibitions and interpretation. She writes haunting middle-grade mysteries and has won both the Mslexia Children’s Novel and YA competition and the Times/Chicken House Competition. She’s represented by Lucy Irvine at Peters, Fraser & Dunlop and her debut novel will be published in spring 2023. When she’s not writing, she’s busy raising two young children. On days off she can be found near the sea, at the pub or eating cake. Or all three.