Writers Advice Centre

Events

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Books are my Bag

Books are my Bag

You’re invited to the Books Are My Bag Readers 2024 ceremony. The #BAMBReadersAwards are the only book awards curated by bookshops and chosen by readers. Watch the ceremony LIVE on Tuesday 12 November at 7pm on the @booksaremybag YouTube...

Children’s Conference 24

Children’s Conference 24

The Children’s Bookseller Conference takes place on Monday 30th September in County Hall, London. This is always an excellent day, packed full of great events and speakers. Reading habits are evolving post-pandemic, with insights emerging into the effects of...

Empathy Day

Empathy Day

Empathy Day is approaching fast and this year takes place on Thursday 6th June. Our sister company, Wacky Bee Books, are proud Empathy Builders and publishers of books which encourage empathy. As well as a great collection of books, Empathy Lab UK have a collection of...

Storytime & Craft

Storytime & Craft

Wacky Bee author, Michelle Maiden, continues her publicity tour of her brilliant debut picture book, this time at Godalming Library on Saturday, 25th May at 2.30pm. Join Michelle as she reads her new book “Grandpa Kuma” for children aged 3 to 6 years old, followed by...

Barnes Literary Festival

Barnes Literary Festival

The UK’s largest children’s literature festival returns to Barnes, South West London, the weekend of 22nd/23rd June. There will be over 100 events with a lineup of stellar authors and illustrators, including Michael Rosen, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Liz...

Storytime!

Storytime!

New Wacky Bee author, Michelle Maiden, will be reading her debut picture book, Grandpa Kuma, at Woking Library on Tuesday 28th May, 10.30 – 11.30am. Grandpa Kuma is based on Michelle’s own experiences growing up as a mixed race child. Her Japanese grandfather...

London Book Fair

London Book Fair

London Book Fair next year takes place from 12th – 14th March. New to LBF24 is the Authors’ Lounge – an exclusive space for authors at LBF to network or take some time away from the show floor during their visit. There’s still time to purchase...

Empathy Collection

Empathy Collection

The 2024 Read for Empathy Collection is being launched on Thursday 8th February 2024 so please save the date. 65 contemporary, diverse books for 3 – 16-year-olds, hand-picked by experts for their ability to help readers understand and build empathy. For more...

Launch Party

Launch Party

Our sister company, Wacky Bee Books, is throwing a launch party on Sunday 26th November (2.30 – 4.30pm) for Slow Down Dino and Busy Lizzie, both by Emily Snape. Pickled Pepper Books are hosting the event and there will be activities, games and prizes. Emily will...

Empathy Conference

Empathy Conference

Landmark conference: Educating for Empathy – the reading factor. 10.00am-3.30pm on Tuesday 5th December. The urgent need for empathy education strategies is highlighted by society’s increased polarisation and the rise in post-Covid behavioural and mental health...

Reading Retreat 2024

Reading Retreat 2024

The Reading Retreat have just finalised their dates for the first half of 2024, and want you to be the first to know. They’re back to their gorgeous Georgian townhouse in Matlock in February, enjoying spring on the Somerset Levels in March, and settling into...

Empathy Day 2023

Empathy Day 2023

Empathy Day is coming up on Thursday 8th June. Empathy is about experiencing and understanding other people’s feelings and perspectives. This is a vital skill that young people need to thrive. To find out how to get involved and to get your free Empathy Lab...

Workshop & Signing

Workshop & Signing

On Friday 16th June, John Patrick Green will be visiting The Alligator’s Mouth in Richmond for a comic drawing workshop and book signing. Spaces are limited for the workshop, but the signing is open to all customers and you are welcome to reserve books to be...

Meet Axel Scheffler

Meet Axel Scheffler

Sat 25th March from 11am No RSVP required, just turn up at The Alligator’s Mouth, 2a. Church Ct, Richmond TW9 1JL Axel is the illustrator of many beloved picture books, including favourites written by Julia Donaldson and the Pip and Posy series. Axel will be at...

Bologna Fiere

Bologna Fiere

Bologna Children’s Book Fair is coming up, running from 6th – 9th March. The Writers’ Advice Centre sister company will be represented by rights agent, Petula Chaplin, who will be in Hall 25, Stand B108. Look out for the Wacky Bee poster and their...

Bookshop Crawl

Bookshop Crawl

The London Bookshop Crawl 2023 takes place over the weekend of 17th – 19th February. It aims to bring book lovers together in a joyful celebration of all things bookish and give some much needed support to (mainly independent) bookshops in the otherwise fairly...

Barry Loser Signing

Barry Loser Signing

Jim Smith, author of the hilarious Barry Loser books, will be at the Alligator’s Mouth bookshop in Richmond, Surrey on Monday 13th February 3 – 5pm, signing copies of the new Barry Loser graphic novel series. He will also be offering to draw portraits for...

Illustration Exhibition

Illustration Exhibition

This year the annual Cambridge MA Children’s Book Illustration Graduation Exhibition takes place from 14th – 18th February, 10am to 6pm. There is a private view on Thursday, 16th February from 6 – 8pm. The exhibition is being held at Candid Gallery,...

Success Stories

Over the past 20 years we have been instrumental in helping writers find their place with publishers, whether directly or indirectly. The following is just a handful of our success stories…

"Thank you for turning this around so quickly for me. The feedback is invaluable and will allow me to make a number of really worthwhile amends before approaching publishers. As I go through the report in more detail I may have the odd question, so thank you for being open to further assistance."

R Myles (Manuscript Appraisal Service)

"I’d like to thank you for your words of encouragement. My wife said to my children after the phone call, ‘That’ll be it now, you won’t see your dad for months as he’ll be busy writing.’ How true!"

Neil Swinney (Telephone Appraisal Service)

"Sharing our book with Louise Jordan at the Writers’ Advice Centre was one of our most important steps on the road to publication of our book My Mum’s a Bug-Eyed Monster. Without Louise’s advice about story pacing and which publishers to target, our monster mum may still be languishing in the slush swamp!"

Andy Rigden & Jim Landen (Face to Face Meeting)

"I am finding this writing course very enjoyable and feel inspired by the assignments. I find your feedback particularly motivating and believe that signing up to this course has not only developed my writing confidence, but is one of the best things I did for my writing career"

Kim White (Home Study Course)

"Thank you for facilitating such an excellent workshop yesterday. I would strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to write for children. Experienced writers would definitely benefit from it as well. Pure gold!"

A Chisambo (Writing Workshop)