National Author's Day

What is National Author's Day?

Every year on 1st November, National Author's Day gives us the chance to celebrate the brilliant minds behind the books we love. Books are one of the oldest mediums of storytelling and have the power to entertain, educate, uplift and even shape us as people.

Meet Ivor Baddiel - Author, scriptwriter and storyteller

Today, we shine a light on our writer in residence, Ivor Baddiel, whose varied career has spanned over 30 years. Alongside writing 23 books for adults and children, he has written scripts for numerous television programmes, including The X Factor, The Voice, Dancing on Ice, The Olivier Awards, and the Coronation Concert.

Free Author Workshop

We are excited to offer Year 6 pupils the opportunity for a free online author workshop at 11:00am on Tuesday 25th November, where Ivor will share his experiences as an author, offer practical ideas to inspire budding writers, answer questions as well as reading an excerpt from his new book Brainchild.

Find out more and book your place here for this not-to-be-missed workshop!

About Brainchild, Ivor's latest book

Brainchild is a fast-paced, thrilling adventure for 10-15 year olds, sparking conversations about the ultimate battle between good and evil. Twins Carl and Isobel Summers are the guardians of a secret like no other; beneath their house, two halves of a human brain are growing. When the evil half is stolen and unleashed in the body of a teenager, Carol and Isobel must face terrifying consequences in a race against time.

Brainchild is a fantastic new YA book, filled with intrigue, drama and fun. It's a perfect introduction to the YA genre and was a really enjoyable read.

- Ruby J

Inspiring Young Authors with Purple Mash

To help celebrate National Author Day in the classroom, explore our range of Purple Mash writing projects that encourage creativity and literacy skills. Here are a few favourites: