Sit at their feet, hear them speak

THE chance to hear two brilliant children's authors speak about their work is just around the corner.

If you live in the north west of England, then don't miss talks by Anne Fine and Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Frank Cottrell Boyce with his Carnegie Medal-winning novel, Millions

First off is Frank, who is appearing at a Birkenhead Literature Festival event at Greasby Library this Sunday (October 17). It's part of a family fun day 10.30am-4pm (call 0151 677 5714 for more details) but Frank's speaking in the afternoon.

Frank began his career as a screenwriter, paying his dues on soaps such as Brookside and Coronation Street before moving into movies. His best known films are 24-hour Party People and Millions. This latter screenplay he turned into the children's novel of the same name and so a brilliant career as a children's writer was launched. Along the way he picked up the Carnegie Medal for Millions and nominations for his subsequent novel, Cosmic.

I once had the pleasure of interviewing Frank when I was a reporter with the Westmorland Gazette in the Lake District. He had just written a script about William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Lake poets, which was to become the movie Pandaemonium.

We had a good old chat about writing and he spoke passionately about screenwriting. His talk at Greasby Library should be very interesting.

Meanwhile, Anne Fine makes an appearance at County Hall, Preston, on Saturday, October 23, at 10.30am (tickets £5/£4 concessions). It's part of the excellent Lancaster Literature Festival.

Anne Fine, the second Children's Laureate

Anne is probably best known as the author of Madame Doubtfire, which was turned into the Hollywood blockbuster Mrs Doubtfire starring Robin Williams. But that's to overlook her fine body of work, including Goggle-Eyes, Bill's New Frock, Flour Babies and The Tulip Touch. She was also the second Children's Laureate.

Her new book, Eating Things On Sticks, has been nominated for the Roald Dahl Funny Book Prize in the 7-14 age category.

I'll keep you posted of any more events coming up that I think you'll find interesting.