Author Videos
A brilliant selection of high-profile authors with
fun and engaging videos covering all Key Stages exploring stories, storytelling
and story-writing.
These sessions were recorded exclusively for you and are FREE to view. The videos are intended to support teaching and learning in schools, but also to bring some joy and encourage everyone to keep reading books and writing stories.
This project was made possible by the Local Giving Matched Funding initiative which matched donations made to the Festival for this Project.
Key Stages 1 and 2
Create a Fairy Tale with Pippa Goodhart
Watch Pippa Goodhart’s video (Years 1–5)
Learn to create a fairy tale with all your favourite characters. Which hero would you like to be today? Where will you go on your quest? And what villain would you least like to meet? Pippa will guide children from age 3 up to make their own stories again and again.
Pippa Goodhart has written over a hundred books for children, which have won and been shortlisted for numerous awards. She also writes under the name Laura Owen when writing the Winnie the Witch storybooks.
Story Time with Tanya Landman
Watch Tanya Landman’s video (Years 3–4)
Settle in for story time with Tanya Landman as she reads from one of her most popular books, The Fisherman and His Wife, and The Song of the Nightingale, a traditional and evocative tale of how the animals got their colours.
Tanya Landman is the CILIIP Carnegie Medal-winning author of more than forty books for children and young adults. She regularly delivers talks in schools to inspire children to read and write creatively.
How to Write a Story with Michael Rosen
Watch Michael Rosen’s video (Years 3–6)
Michael gives advice for budding writers on how to tell a story and find inspiration out in the world. Also, hear all about his book Barking for Bagels, the funny story of a small dog named Shnipp.
Michael Rosen is one of Britain’s most popular contemporary poets and authors. He’s
authored more than 140 books including the hugely bestselling We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
He also served at the UK’s Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009.
Inspiration with Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Watch Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s video (Years 5–6)
Frank shares his funny stories Runaway Robot and Cosmic, and talks all about how he crafts his stories.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce
is an English screenwriter and novelist, and was the writer of the 2012
London Olympics Opening Ceremony. He is well known as an author of
children’s fiction, including his debut, Millions, which won the CILIP Carnegie Medal and was made into a film by Danny Boyle.
How to Write a Great Story and Time Travel with Caroline Lawrence
How to Write a Great Story and The Time Travel Diaries (Years 5–8)
Discover the ingredients for a great story with Caroline Lawrence, and hear all about The Time Travel Diaries, a book all about a London schoolboy who goes back ion time to Roman London.
Caroline Lawrence is the author of numerous books for children, including the Roman Mysteries series, which was televised by the BBC.
Key Stages 3, 4 and beyond
Writing Masterclass with Saviour Pirotta
Watch Saviour Pirotta’s video (Years 7–8)
Receive a masterclass in writing as Saviour Pirotta explains how he put together his book Mark of the Cyclops. Get advice from a bestselling author on starting to write.
Saviour Pirotta is a bestselling children’s author and playwright. He specialises in historical fiction and fantasy, and often combines the two to produce award-winning retellings of myths and legends.
Adapting Shakespeare with Tony Bradman
Watch Tony Bradman’s video (Years 7–8)
Tony shares more about the process of adapting Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This is an atmospheric retelling, which serves as an entertaining and engaging introduction to the classic story.
Tony Bradman
is an award-winning author who has been involved in
children’s books for 35 years. He has written for all ages, edited
anthologies of poetry and short stories and held hundreds of talks in
schools.
Code-breaking with Christopher Edge
Watch Christopher Edge’s video (Years 7–8)
Hear all about Christopher’s book The Longest Night of Charlie Noon, a spooky adventure story about three friends lost in the woods, and learn about breaking codes and solve puzzles.
Christopher Edge is an award-winning children’s author whose book have been translated into more than 20 languages. Chris wrote How to Be a Young #Writer and How to Write Your Best Story Ever,
to encourage children to write and develop their imaginations.
Writing Historical Fiction with Julia Gray
Watch Julia Gray’s video (Years 7–10)
Julia Gray walks us through the process of writing her third young adult book, I, Ada, a wonderfully witty and poignant portrayal of the young life of Ada Lovelace, the nineteenth-century mathematician, who is hailed as the world’s first computer programmer.
Julia Gray is an author, teacher and singer-songwriter, and has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal twice.
A Conversation with Alex Wheatle
Watch Alex Wheatle’s video (Years 8–10)
Alex chats about his book Cane Warriors, a historical novel set in Jamaica following 14-year-old Moa who works on a sugar cane plantation. Alex reveals his inspiration for the novel and offers advice for young people who want to write.
Alex Wheatle has written several young adult novels, some of which have been adapted for the stage. In 2008, he was awarded an MBE for services to literature. Alex’s life story was adapted for film as the fourth instalment of Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology.
Shakespeare Masterclasses with Emma Smith
Shakespearean Tragedy for A-Level
(Years 11–13)
Emma Smith gives fresh and intriguing angles on tragedy and plot for students at GCSE and A-Level. She talks about Macbeth as horror, walks us through Romeo & Juliet and covers ideas of tragedy in Othello and King Lear.
Emma Smith is Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Oxford.
She is a globally acclaimed expert on the work of Shakespeare and the
authors of This is Shakespeare, an accessible and informal
guide to the great writer which highlights his continued relevance in
modern society.
Also supported by donations and the LocalGiving Match Funding Initiative