Neil: A Monster of a Morning

We held our second event in the Authors Live programme in partnership with BBC Scotland Learning yesterday. Julia led a hugely enjoyable 30-minute session of stories and songs, with a special appearance from a certain someone. Neil Scott the content Producer with the BBC drops by the blog to fill you in on his experience with Julia and the Gruffalo.

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I’ve just finished having lunch with children’s author Julia Donaldson and her constant companion the Gruffalo. It brought to an end one of those terrific full on mornings that remind you why you love the work you do.

 

The Authors Live project ticks so many boxes for so many people. Firstly it’s a partnership (tick) with the Scottish Book Trust. This is their event, supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council’s Inspiring Communities Fund, which BBC Scotland along with GLOW (the world's first national intranet for education) are helping to pump out live over the internet to schools in Scotland and beyond.This means that at 11.00am today a community of well over a thousand schools (tick) from all over the UK were downing pencils and crayons to watch a live broadcast event (tick). Julia not only delivered a great performance (tick) but she also introduced young readers to her latest book (tick) What the Ladybird Heard.

 

After this fantastic dramatic read we had emailed questions from participating schools which gave the event a feel of real interaction with the web audience (tick). These questions were pitched at Julia by the wonderful Janice Forsyth. In passing it has to be said that Janice spent a great deal of the morning flirting outrageously with the Gruffalo! A singalong brought the whole broadcast event to a close. But Julia kept going and patiently chatted with the audience while signing copy after copy of her work for both children and adults alike. As she worked her public Julia charmed the many clicking cameras with her blaze of a smile – just fantastic PR for all involved (tick).

 

For me the day was all about getting a chance to produce my first live event (tick) working with a young team who also relished the new experience of working live (tick). This kind of opportunity only happens when very generous and experienced members of staff , after guiding and advising, stand back to let others have a shot. The BBC at its best (tick).

 

So it was worth getting up early today. Sure, we made some mistakes but we’ll sort them tomorrow and add them to our learning curve. Today we not only had a lot of fun but we also made a lot of new viewers very happy. And right on cue - as if by magic - an email from Julia Donaldson has just pinged its way in to my mail box - “Thanks so much for today. I thought it all went very smoothly, and everyone was so friendly - a very nice atmosphere” Icing, cake (tick!)

 

Children's Authors Live is part of our Meet Our Authors project and is very kindly sponsored by Scottish Friendly. The next Authors Live event is with Michael Morpurgo at 11.00am on Thursday the 17th of June 2010. You can register now by clicking here!

 

 

Other news:

You have only 4 days left if you are wishing to apply for the Young Writers Awards. If you are between 14 and 17 and a resident of Scotland then why not apply now and you can be mentored by teen author Cathy Forde, meet agents and visit a top London publisher.

Check out the details online and get your application in! Go to www.scottishbooktrust.com/youngwritersawards

 

Seven modern classics from Puffin’s backlist will be re-jacketed to celebrate Puffin’s 70th birthday and a vote to find the Puffin of all Puffins. The titles include; Charlotte’s Web by E.B White, Stig of the Dump by Clive King and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. The titles will be available from 3rd of June and priced at £6.99. Voting will open on 4th June with the winner announced on 17th June.You Can vote here!

 

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick has won the 20th Bisto Children’s Book of the Year ‘09/'10 for her picture book There.  The results of the twentieth Bisto Children's Book of the Year Awards were announced on Monday 24th of May 2010. This is the third time that Marie-Louise has picked up this prestigious award, winning in 2001 and 2003 for her two other nominated picture books You, Me and the Big Blue Sea and Izzy and Skunk. Congratulations Marie-Louise!