Friday 5 April, 5.30pm. La librairie Book in Bar Aix-en-Provence. I also look forward to meeting students of English at Lycée Val de Durance in Pertuis and at Collège Mignet in Aix. Tuesday 23 April, 6pm. World Book Night at Canada Water Library, London. Hosted by BookAid International. Conversations about the love of reading with four very… Continue reading
News & views
Some events from 2012
The book that has occupied most of my time over the last five years will be published in October in South Africa by Jonathan Ball. Death of an Idealist: In search of Neil Aggett is the story behind the only white detainee to die in custody of apartheid’s security police. Thirty years ago, the death… Continue reading
Some events from 2011
My retelling of Aesop’s Fables with delightful illustrations by Piet Grobler (another South African – and illustrator of The Great Tug of War) is published by Frances Lincoln on 3 March. A number of co-editions (including Danish, Swedish, Dutch and Brazilian) are lined up and, to my great pleasure, my first South African editions, including my first translation… Continue reading
Some highlights from 2010
At the end of last year, I joined the End Child Detention Now campaign. Nearly 70 children’s authors and illustrators signed a letter of protest calling on the government to stop keeping child asylum-seekers in prison conditions. Karin Littlewood (who illustrated Baba’s Gift) and I visited Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre for a storytelling session with… Continue reading
Some highlights from 2009
This year I look forward to becoming a grandparent… and already I’m thinking of the little one’s library! There’s a great beginner pack for babes and toddlers on the Australian storyteller Mem Fox’s website Mem believes that by the age of five, a lucky child will have listened to 5000 stories… including some that are… Continue reading
Some highlights from 2008
I hope to spend most of my time writing this year (on a very special project) but will be taking time out to visit a number of schools, some here in the UK, some further away like the International School of Dusseldorf, and some really far away in Calgary, Alberta in Canada! I shall give… Continue reading
Some highlights from 2007
Burn My Heart, my novel about loyalty and betrayal, set in 1950s colonial Kenya, was handed in to Puffin in June last year – on time! My story begins just before the State of Emergency when 55,000 British soldiers were sent to Kenya to fight the Mau Mau. After four decades of silence, this period… Continue reading
Some highlights from 2006
I spent most of the first half of the year working on my new novel, set in 1950s Kenya (no title yet!) but I made time for a few events and celebrations including: A few readings in India – Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi – but mainly I am there to explore and learn! To read… Continue reading
Some highlights from 2005
This year I return to novel writing but I shall make time for a few visits, including: Kenya in March for the Caine Prize for African Writing workshop; Greensteds/Nakuru High School; International School of Kenya, Nairobi; return visits to library projects in Mathare and Kayole…. and some exploring! Schools including St Michael’s Middle, Wimborne; The… Continue reading
Some highlights from 2004
Author visit to Kenya – includes opening Mathare North Library with Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, 21 Feb – 2 March Baba’s Gift, written with daughter Maya, illustrated by Karin Littlewood. Published by Penguin on World Book Day, 4 March. Beverley with students from Cape Town on Robben Island in video link to students from Ilfracombe College,… Continue reading
