Pauline says, “I dislike the way that history sets its characters in stone. I want my readers to go away thinking that my characters are as complex and as interesting as people today.” This was an event  enjoyed by children aged 11 to adult. There was plenty of time for questions and audience discussion.

Anthony Irvin – African Adventures Author

Ever wondered what crocodile tastes like? New author Anthony Irvin spent twenty years as a vet in Africa and has canoed among hippos, camped among elephants, climbed Africa’s highest mountain, and photographed a rhino in his pyjamas.
We found out about the people and stories that inspired him to write the African Safari Adventures.
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 Tony Mitton – Children’s Poet

Well known and well loved, Tony Mitton made a welcome return to Linton. He performed some of his poetry and talked about writing to inspire budding poets!

He had some laughs for parents too.

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Andy Cope – Spy Dog Author

Calling all dog and spy dog lovers!  We are sooooo excited that SPY DOG herself, Lara, and her owner Andrew Cope will be visiting Linton to share details of Lara’s next top secret mission.

Andrew Cope is the author of the best-selling children’s series Spy Dog and Spy Pups. He talks enthusiastically about reading and writing as well as offering insights into what life is like as an author.

The ‘Spy Dog’ series has sold in excess of a million copies worldwide. ‘Spy Dog’ won the Redhouse Children’s Book of the Year as well as scooping the prestigious Richard and Judy award for the 7+ category. The books have been translated into 14 languages and ‘Spy Dog’ was chosen to be the 2011 World Book Day title.

Andrew’s talks are full of humour and energy. He often goes beyond reading and writing into themes of personal potential and always tries to inspire children to do their very best in life.

You may even be able to persuade him to talk about Lara’s next top secret mission! Suitable for children and their families, but four-legged friends should stay at home!

Catherine Condie – E-Books Author

Self-published author Catherine Condie talks about her books for children, taking a fresh look at writing, editing and publishing in the light of e-books and print on demand, and the opportunities for marketing these across the globe.

Born in Cambridge, Catherine Condie trained as a business linguist at Anglia Ruskin University and has worked in corporate communication, public relations, an in-house writer and magazine editor.

Now working in business development and marketing, Catherine launched her books Whirl of the Wheel and The Switch, as e-books before publishing them in paperback.

This session is suitable for anyone interested in writing or publishing stories.

Tom Palmer – Children’s Author

Organised in conjunction with the AZTECS Junior Football Club, popular author Tom Palmer will be attending the end of season presentation event on 19th May and is really looking forward to meeting all those football-mad children.

Tom, the author of the Foul Play and Football Academy books, says, “I love football and I love reading, that’s why I love my job.   In fact, it was reading about football that changed my life“.

Tom will be hosting his popular Football Reading Game – half football reading quiz and half penalty shoot-out!

You’d be mad to miss it.

Tommy Donbavand – Scream Street Author

Vampire vs Werewolves Game Show

Do your kids really really like Halloween?  Then they will really really like Tommy.

We are delighted that award-winning children’s author, Tommy Donbavand will be coming to our Festival. Tommy is best known as the author of the Scream Street series, but has written plenty of other books as well!  Scream Street is a series of 13 comedy horror novels that tell the tale of Luke Watson, who, after he begins to change into a werewolf, causes his family to be moved to Scream Street – a secure location for vampires, zombies, monsters and more.

Written for children aged 7+, these books will appeal to those reluctant boy readers and those who can’t get enough of the Halloween fun…..

It’s howls vs growls as Tommy Donbavand splits the audience in two and runs a series of fast-paced, anarchic games based on the spooky relics in his Scream Street series.

It’s blood-curdling fun for children, at the Linton Village College in May!

Rebecca Patterson – Author & Illustrator

Cambridge resident Rebecca Patterson was inspired to write children’s books by her two children, watching them do things like leaping off their bunk bed and jumping into the swimming pool with their classmates.

Her first two books  The Deep End and Not On A School Night were published last year and her third book, The Pirate House, is coming out this summer.

In Linton, Rebecca will bring some props, read from her books, and intersperse the readings with chat and funny stories. She would love to hear the children’s stories too! Suitable for children aged  2 – 5.

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A Thousand Cranes  presents

Tales from Old Japan

“Mountains are just like people – they have secrets, mysteries and stories to tell”. Come and hear the enchanting, mysterious and hair-raising stories of Magnificent Mount Iwate who blew hot and cold, the humble woodcutter and his beautiful but strange bride and the snorting, burping ‘orrible Ogre of Rashomon Gate.

These delightful traditional Japanese tales are brought to life through inventive storytelling, puppetry and music. Performed by Kumiko Mendl and Directed by Vicky Ireland. For children aged 4+ and their families.

Painter and illustrator Rebecca Merry retells her story The Golden Apple, a story of kindness, friendship and a magic apple, using paper cutouts in the tradition of children’s paper theatre.There will be free entry to The Spotted Giraffe for all those coming to hear Rebecca. There will be an opportunity to colour and cut out your own paper character after the story-telling session.Rebecca originally trained in Fine Art in Bristol and went on to complete an MA at the Royal College of Art in 1991.  She has also just completed an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the highly acclaimed course at Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge School of Art, and was recently selected for the Association of Illustrators (AOI) – Images 36: the Best of New British Illustration.As well as the story-telling event, a selection of Rebecca’s illustrations will be on display at the Darryl Nantais Gallery in Linton High Street during the book festival.See more about Rebecca here.