How to place your order for collection at the Folkestone Book Festival author events

If you wish your child to collect a book at the festival - please choose the option: Click and Collect - Folkestone Book Festival (£0.00) When the order and payment process is complete, please reply to our confirmation email (bookshop@canterbury.ac.uk) with your child's name, class, and school. We will then do the rest with the lovely people at the Quarter House to make sure the book or books are ready for collection at the event. This is a wonderful opportunity to get your books signed. Please make sure you place click-&-collect-orders prior to Tuesday 12 November to ensure your book is ready in plenty of time. Any questions - please drop us a line. Many thanks, and Happy Reading!

[Of course, to get your reading in early, books can be purchased and sent to a home address in the normal way. Please allow 3-5 days to ensure Royal Mail deliver in time for you!]

Please note: Payment is restricted to card-only at the festival venue.

Catherine Johnson, Race to The Frozen North

Monday 18 November, 11am & 1pm

Catherine Johnson is an award winning author whose accessible and exciting books engage young readers in often hidden histories.  This event will focus on some of her books for KS2; Race To The Frozen North, Journey Back to Freedom and Freedom. Race To The Frozen North details the incredible life of explorer Matthew Henson, who battled poverty and segregation to become the first man to reach the North Pole. Journey Back To Freedom outlines the early life of Olaudah Equiano, activist and abolitionist, and Freedom is the story of a fictional boy sent to England from Jamaica and his fight to escape enslavement against the background of the trial that began the move to abolition. Catherine is a writer whose work not only includes books, but TV, Video games, and the occasional poem. She loves stories and swimming and lives just up the coast in Hastings with her cat, Turnip.


How to be a Spellcaster with Tania Tay

Tuesday 19 November, 11am and 1pm

What magic powers do you dream of having? Jenny, Ananya, Maya and Tamzin are the Spellcasters, performing music, mayhem and magic in Spellcroft Street.  Find out how they got their ancient powers and cast a magic spell in this fun talk for Years 3 and 4. Meet Tania Tay, the author of the Spellcasters series. She’ll talk about her writing journey, and how she became an author. She’ll introduce the four main characters from Spellcasters, and the different magic powers they’ve inherited from their ancestors. Find out how they use their powers to fight their magical nemesis, the Graydig. Then, together we’ll find our own magic talisman, invent a rhyming couplet and cast a spell with some fabulous words.  You’ll leave the session feeling like a true Spellcaster!

Tania Tay writes the Spellcasters series, under pen name Crystal Sung. As a child Tania adapted fairytales into plays for her sister and friends. Her debut suspense novel for adults, The Other Woman, was published earlier this year. Tania is also an advertising copywriter and emerging screenwriter and has developed a script with BBC Writersroom. She’s also a professional cake decorator, and ran cooking parties and workshops for children. She’s British Malaysian Chinese and lives in East London.

Ramzee: The Cheat Book

Wednesday 20 November, 11am & 1pm

Author-illustrator Ramzee brings to life the laugh-out-loud The Cheat Book in his event for schools. He’ll explain the creative process behind his brand-new middle-grade series, what a cheat book actually is and how he developed the distinctive voice of Kamal. Drawing on his experiences as a cartoonist, storyteller and coming to the UK as a refugee, Ramzee’s inspiring session engages children’s creativity whether they are avid readers, budding young writers and illustrators or reluctant readers. There will be plenty of opportunities for children to get involved including a ‘What would Kamal do?’ quiz and an interactive draw-along.

Eve Ainsworth: Back of the Net – An Inspirational Story

Thursday 21 November, 11am & 1pm

We are excited to welcome Eve Ainsworth, an acclaimed children’s author, to Folkestone for a special event designed for primary school students in Years 5-6. Eve Ainsworth will be talking about her writing journey and inspirations surrounding her recent football books which focus on girls in sport. Her talk touches on the history of women’s football and their journey to the current Lionesses success.

During this event, Eve will read excerpts from Back of the Net and discuss the themes of self-confidence, friendship, and overcoming challenges. She’ll also talk about the importance of inclusivity in sports and how the book’s easy-to-read format aims to break down barriers for dyslexic readers. The book tells the story of Eve, a talented footballer who has faced bullying because of her skin condition. As she starts at a new school, Eve’s self-esteem is low, and she’s hesitant to join the local football team, the Lightmoor Lionesses, despite her new friends’ encouragement. This event promises to be an engaging and encouraging experience for students, fostering a love for reading and resilience in the face of adversity.