Are you writing and/or illustrating for children? Join us for our Children’s Writers & Illustrators Festival 2025: an online, craft-based festival for Children’s writers & illustrators of fiction and non-fiction at all stages of their careers.
We're proud to present this full-weekend line-up of authors, illustrators, agents and industry professionals, who will each talk tips, offer advice, share experiences and pass on knowledge.
A festival Weekend Pass means access to everything we have to offer over the course of the weekend, so that's ten hours of content in the form of live craft-based masterclasses, further guidance and inspiration from leading authors and illustrators via exclusive pre-recorded videos, and real-time discussion with industry professionals. Our goal across the course of the weekend? To provide festivalgoers with an invaluable blend of tips on the creative process, insight into the current Children's publishing marketplace, and information that helps demystify the publishing process.
All ticketholders have access to our live panel discussion with two literary agents about the process of seeking representation (which includes an opportunity to receive feedback on your own book pitch!), and all attendees are automatically entered into our festival raffle, too.
Full Festival Line-Up:
Speaker bios and further information about our raffle and live agent panel can also be found by scrolling down this page.
Saturday:
09.30-09.45: Welcome!
09.45-10.15: Video 1: Writing picture books with Chitra Soundar
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10.15-10.30: Comfort break
10.30-12.00: Live 1: Writing poetry for children with Laura Mucha (click here for more details)
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12.00-12.30: Video 2: Writing non-fiction for children with Hiba Noor Khan
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12.30-13.30: Lunch break
13.30-14.00: The children’s publishing landscape with Rebecca McNally (TBC)
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14.00-15.30: Live 2: Bringing stories to life with Alex Wheatle (TBC)
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15.30-15.45: Comfort break
15.45-16.15: Graphic novels with Chanté Timothy
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16.15-16.30: What to expect from tomorrow
Sunday:
09.30-09.45: Welcome back!
09.45-10.15: Illustration with Dapo Adeola (TBC)
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10.15-10.30: Comfort break
10.30-12.00: Edit better with Sara Grant (click here for more details)
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12.00-12.30: Video 5: Writing Authentic Characters with Laura Noakes
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12.30-13.30: Lunch break
13.30-14.00: Alternative routes to publication with Jasmine Richards
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14.00-14.30: Video 6: Using fantasy to tackle big themes with Clara Kumagi
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14.30-14.45: Comfort break
14.45-16.15: Agent panel (TBC)
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16.15-16.30: Raffle and closing remarks
Camilla Chester describes herself as a dog walker who writes.
After receiving a distinction in a Diploma for Creative Writing and Literacy, Camilla went on to self-publish three children’s novels. She was a finalist in the National Literacy Trust New Author Award 2016 and Mslexia Children’s Novel Award 2019. Her traditionally published children’s novel, entitled Call Me Lion, was shortlisted for the Oxfordshire and Portsmouth Awards in 2023 and won the SCBWI 2023 Crystal Kite Award. Camilla also writes for the popular online school resources, Serial Mash and Fiction Express.
Camilla has a long history of supporting other writers both voluntary and through her freelance work. She has a very practical eye and likes nothing more than helping writers find the heart of their story.
Writer, editor, lecturer and mentor Sara Grant is the author of Revision Revolution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Dissecting and Improving Your Children’s or YA Novel. She also consults part-time as Storymix’s talent manager. Dark Parties, her first YA novel, won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Europe. Publishers in the US, UK and Europe, including Scholastic, Little, Brown and Orion, have published ten of Sara’s books for children/teens. She’s taught master’s courses on writing for children/teens at Goldsmiths University and the University of Winchester. She co-founded Undiscovered Voices – which has launched the writing careers of more than a hundred authors.
Hiba Noor Khan is a writer and activist based in the north of England. Her academic background is in physics and engineering and she completed postgraduate study in 2015 at the University of Oxford. Since then she has worked as a Refugee Advocacy Worker for The Children’s Society, a Physics teacher and TV presenter.
Clara Kumagai is from Canada, Japan and Ireland. Her fiction and non-fiction for children and adults has been published in The Stinging Fly, The Irish Times, Banshee and The Kyoto Journal. Her debut YA novel, Catfish Rolling (Zephyr, 2023), blends magical realism with Japanese myth in an original story about grief and memory. Catfish Rolling was nominated for the 2023 Carnegie Medal for Writing, a finalist for the 2023 Great Reads Award and won the 2023 KPMG Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Award.
Laura Mucha is an ex-lawyer turned poet and Author-in-Residence in the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge. Her writing has won multiple international awards and been featured on TV, radio and public transport, as well as in hospitals, hospices, prisons, books, magazines and newspapers around the world.
Her books have been described as ‘stunningly original’ (BookTrust), ‘fantastic’ (Daily Mail), ‘brilliant’ (The Telegraph), ‘a must for every school library and classroom’ (The School Librarian) and ‘a marvellous feat’ (Richard Curtis). When not writing, Laura spends her time visiting schools around the world and working with organisations such as the Royal Society of Medicine, National Literacy Trust and UNICEF to try to improve the lives of children.
Laura has always had an insatiable love of stories, so it was almost fated that one day she would write some of her own. As a disabled author, she strives to tell stories where disabled kids are the heroes. Her debut book, Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star, was published by HarperCollins Children's Books in 2023, with the sequel following in 2024. She lives in beautiful Bedfordshire with her husband, Connor, and two cats, Scout and Sunny.
Jasmine Richards read English Language and Literature at Oxford University and has over 18 years of experience in children's publishing. She was the Lead Editor on the multi-million-selling series Beast Quest and has written a dozen books for children, including The Unmorrow Curse and Myth Keeper.
Jasmine has also been a screenwriter on Disney's PJ Masks and BBC's JoJo and Gran Gran. In 2019, she founded Storymix, a multi-award-winning fiction studio dedicated to centring children and teens of colour in stories filled with joy and adventure. In 2023, Jasmine received a prestigious special commendation in the Editor of the Year category at the British Book Awards. She is also a Bookseller Rising Star and the creator of The Write Beach Hut, a creative sanctuary by the sea which is designed to nurture and empower writers and creatives through workshops, mentoring, and affordable writing retreats.
Chitra Soundar is an internationally published, award-winning author of children’s books, screenwriter and an oral storyteller. She has published over 20 picture books worldwide and also writes chapter books, poetry and theatre for kids. Her latest picture books are It’s Time to Hush and Say Goodnight (Walker Books, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat) and Garland of Lights (Bloomsbury, illustrated by Amberin Huq). She is the creator of Nikhil & Jay, a BBC preschool sitcom. She is the founder of The Colourful Bookshelf, a curated list of children’s books by British writers and illustrators of colour and the co-founder of SAILFest UK, a festival that celebrates British South Asian illustration and literature.
Chanté Timothy is an award-winning Author-Illustrator known for her vibrant and captivating artwork in children’s books. She has illustrated notable works such as Daddy Do My Hair: Beth’s Twists by Tolá Okogwu and Hey You! by Dapo Adeola, which was featured in The British Book Awards Children's Illustrated Book of the Year 2022. Chanté is also the author-illustrator of the upcoming book series Supa Nova, launching in 2025. Her work celebrates diversity and creativity, aiming to inspire young readers and foster a love for storytelling.
Testimonials from 2023 and 2024 Festivalgoers
"Treated me like a professional, motivated artist"
"Inspiring, informative, inclusive & confidence building."
"Excellent speakers, a well thought out and balanced programme, very inspiring and enjoyable."
"Made a few little idea's into a realistic possibility of being published one day; something between a big hug & a kick up the proverbial bum."
"Practical tips, inspiring and well organised."
"Something for everyone currently writing for children."
"Inspirational. I felt like I had been immersed in a world of children’s literature and heard the perspectives of many from the industry."
"Such a great sense of community and lots of really interesting workshops and talks"
"Inspiring, uplifting and made me want get back to my desk and write :-)"
"Really feels like it has been totally designed with writers in mind."
"Absolutely FANTASTIC! [...] I'm new to the world of writing - and I wasn't expecting much as a result - but I have to say that it completely knocked my socks off in every way."
"Every live session left me with loads of notes in my notebook and really inspired."
"A lovely way to enter this world and get some helpful, encouraging advice."
Pitch Your Book to Literary Agents: Live Panel Discussion
Your Weekend Pass ticket includes a free place at our literary agent panel discussion with TBC and TBC, which starts at 14.45 on Sunday 23rd March, 2025.
Ahead of this session, you will be invited to submit your own novel pitch. A select number of pitches will then be chosen by our agents, and critiqued during the session itself! Look out for an email from W&A in days leading up to the festival, which will contain all the information you need about how to submit your pitch.
Ticketing Information
Weekend Pass+ £125: Access to all 10 hours of festival content (3 live masterclasses, 6 pre-recorded videos, 2 discussions with industry professionals on routes to publication, 1 literary agent panel) plus a bespoke editorial report on the opening of a story (plus full synopsis) by Middle Grade author Clare Povey. Limited to 25 tickets. x3 raffle entries
Weekend Pass £90: 10 hours of content made up of 3 live masterclasses, 6 pre-recorded videos, 2 discussions with industry professionals on routes to publication, 1 literary agent panel. x2 raffle entries
Masterclass+ £75: 7 hours of content made up of your choice of our live masterclass sessions, access to all 6 pre-recorded videos and attend our literary agent panel. x1 raffle entry.
Festival Player £50: 4.5 hours of content. Watch all 6 pre-recorded sessions, and access our live agent panel. Single raffle entry.
Single Masterclass £40: 3 hours of content. Book one of our real-time masterclass sessions (choose from Laura Mucha, Sara Grant or TBC) and then come along to our live literary agent panel. Single raffle entry
Festival Raffle
Every festival attendee is automatically entered into our festival raffle. Weekend Pass+ ticketholders receive three entries, Weekend Pass ticketholders receive two entries, and Masterclass+, Festival Player and Single Masterclass ticketholders receive a single entry. The raffle will be drawn at the end of the festival, with the following prizes up for grabs:
3rd prize: Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2025 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
2nd prize: complimentary place at any W&A evening masterclass (RRP £30) + Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2025 and Bloomsbury Children's book bundle
1st prize: gratis Opening Chapters editing service (RRP £240/£380)
Your Weekend Pass ticket gives you access to all ten hours of festival content. This is made up of three live masterclasses, six pre-recorded videos, two sessions with children's publishing professionals and a live panel with literary agents. You will also receive two entries into our raffle.
This festival will take place online in full, and will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions, links, and full guidance will be circulated for the above in the week leading up to the festival.
Any event materials associated to individual masterclasses will be made available to attendees at the author's discretion, and all recordings will be made available for a time-limited period.
The festival weekend pass is priced at £90 (inc. VAT), and payable in full online.
Please note that payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on events@writersandartists.co.uk so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Accessible to All
It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- Writers & Artists has made one Weekend Pass+ available as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page for further information about how to apply. All bursary applications must have been submitted for consideration by 2nd March 2025
- At the author’s discretion, event materials will be made available to attendees after their real-time masterclass.
- A link to a recording of live masterclasses will be circulated after the event. This will be made available to event attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- Each event will include written text and visuals. Please contact us in advance so that we can make arrangements to be sure all documents appear in a format that works for you.
- If you’d like to attend but have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, then please email AccessWA@bloomsbury.com
