2009 Calgary Children’s Book Fair & Conference
The first annual Calgary Children’s Book Fair and Conference featuring local children’s authors and illustrators is set to take place Saturday, November 14, 2009. Promoter and children’s author, Simon Rose (The Doomsday Mask 2009), took the challenge of creating and administering this new book event.
When asked why he wanted to bring this event to Calgary, he replied, “From my own experiences at school visits and book signings over the years, I realize how excited children are to meet a real live author, especially if they have read your books. I thought it would be a great idea to bring authors together for a one day event where children could meet their favourite authors, chat with them about their work and buy an autographed book with a personal message.”
To date, thirty exhibitors are attending, and all of the readers and speakers will also have tables at the event with books for sale. The adult conference topics include: Writing for Children and Young Adults, The Riches of Writing, Word Power, Scriptwriting for Graphic Novels, Illustrating Characters, The Importance of Research, Educational Publishing, Finding and Working with a Literary Agent, and Powerful Poetry.
The book fair also features an element for children and teens. There will be a Children’s Fiction Writing Award for those kids residing in the Calgary area. Invited to unleash their creative imaginations, there are two categories: ages 8 to 12 and 12 to 15 years old, in three genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Mystery. Winning entries in each age group will be announced at the book fair on November 14. The winning stories will be professionally edited, and then collected into an anthology, featuring not only the story, but also a photograph and biography of the author, to be printed by the conference sponsors, Blitzprint.
Regarding the Children’s Fiction Writing Award, Rose says, “The award obviously generates more publicity of the event with parents, schools and the media and should help with attendance on the day. However, I also review children’s writing all the time through my online workshops and at schools and believe that some of it needs to be recognized as the quality it undoubtedly is, for the age group. There is a possibility that we will be able to offer workshops for children at next year’s event, but this is very much in the planning stages.”
The ultimate goal of the book fair is that exhibitors will be able to showcase and sell their books, and attendees, especially children will be able to interact with the authors and illustrators. Rose explains, “Authors will be able to promote their work through readings and also demonstrate their expertise in various aspects of the writing business in the conference section of the event. Conference attendees will enhance their knowledge of how to work with agents, how to submit to publishers, improve their writing skills and so on, depending on the sessions they attend.”
Plans for a 2010 book fair depend on the success of this year’s event, and it is expected that both the book fair and conference would be expanded in 2010. Rose would like to see the support of the public and says, “Please attend on November 14 and make not only this year a success, but also help us create an annual event for the writing community and children of Calgary and the surrounding area. Everyone keeps saying what a great idea this is, but without the support of the public, it will disappear into history and be quickly forgotten, never to be repeated. If attendance is low this year, there will be no 2010 event. So on November 14, come experience inspiration, imagination and invention, right here in your own backyard.”
The Calgary Children’s Book Fair and Conference will be held at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre in North West Calgary on Saturday November 14, 2009 from 10 am to 4 pm. Visit www.calgarybookfair.com for more information.
Note: Patricia L. Atchison will be an exhibitor at this event, with her books, Little Blue Penguin and McKenzie’s Frosty Surprise.
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