BOOK Melanie Taylor: our writer-in-residence Over the last 20 years, Melanie Taylor has applied herself to a diverse range of jobs; she’s worked with children at a secondary school and university level. Currently she is working on a new project: a novel for young adults. For this year’s Book Banter Festival at Simon Balle School, not only will she be chairing the judging panel for the Book Banter writing challenge, but she’ll be passing on her wealth of knowledge to our students through workshops. Lastly, on the final day of the festival (November 21st), she will be organising a ‘Poetry by Heart’ event. If you enjoy poetry, you can’t afford to not be there! Thank you to Melanie for being part of our festival; it will be remembered for years to come.
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Ready for banter: Big name authors, such as Bali Rai, are expected to light up this year’s book week.
Excitement throughout the school as Book Banter edges nearer As the much anticipated book week 'draws closer, the whole school is getting ready to be swept aside by a few days of sheer reading and writing heaven for the many enthusiasts in the school. The Simon Balle book week, this year named Book Banter, has been running for many years now but is expected to be bigger and better than ever before this time. There are several well-known authors, a creative writing competition and a whole host of events in the library coming to entertain the students during the week. But what is everyone thinking ahead of, what is certain to be, another successful and memorable book week? Mrs Syme, the long-serving school librarian, is in an upbeat mood going into the event, saying "While everyone immensely enjoyed our book week last year, this one should be even more special and beneficial. We are looking forward to welcoming some award-winning authors, some debut authors and our own writer-in-residence”. When talking about the impact the event will have, she hoped that “it would encourage students to create, read and explore other worlds!” But, as well as the usual, the book week is really engaging teachers from other departments as well. I spoke to Mrs. Wigmore, a science teacher who enjoys reading in her spare time, and she was full of praise, commenting: “I am pleased that book week has become more prominent recently, it has been good to see authors coming in and it being better advertised. The authors raise awareness and inspire students to engage in their reading and writing more. I may not be an English teacher but I feel strongly that everyone should read books, it helps you in a wider range of subjects than you would think.” Lake Boronte, the creator of the It appears that everyone in name of ‘Book Banter’, said “I the school can’t wait for came up with the idea at a what should be a Speakers’ Corner; I was surprised spectacular book week: but very pleased when I found out the literary festival to end all literary festivals. that I won.
Out of the many authors attending Book Banter, students will be especially thrilled to meet and hear from two nationally-renowned writers. Bali Rai is the writer of the thrilling crime drama series; his books are well known among teenage boys. His talks are aimed at boys from Year 9 and 10. Bali Rai has written books based on teen crime and arranged marriages. His books have won an Angus Book award and have been nominated for a Carnegie medal. He grew up wanting to become many things but, eventually, he decided to become a writer. His first books were based on a novel he read as a child. Bali Rai's arrival at the Library will be a good inspiration and experience for the students.
10 October 13.30-13.55 24 October 09.00 5 November 13.20-13.55 7 November 13.30-13.55 11 November 15.00 14 November 14.25 17 November
Years 7-9 Writing Challenge launch at Speakers’ Corner with Melanie Taylor Writing Challenge deadline Poetry by Heart workshop in the Lecture Theatre Results of Writing Challenge announced at Speakers’ Corner Workshop for Writing Challenge winners Workshop for Writing Challenge ‘Highly Commended’ students
11.05 Year 6
Lyn Gardner
12.05 Year 7
Lyn Gardner
14.25 Year 8
Sally Nicholls
18.30 - invited audience
Writing Challenge Awards Evening at the Leaf Café with Sally Nicholls
18 November 09.45 Year 7
Jamie Buxton
Sally Nicholls is returning to the Library for Book Banter after a very successful visit in 2013. She released her first book called 'Ways to Live Forever', which has since become an award-winning novel. In more recent years, she has released other books whose popularity is high amongst her readers.
11.05 Year 6
Jamie Buxton
14.00 Year 8
Jamie Buxton
15.15 Year 12/13 & Parents, Alumni, Staff, Students 19 November
Andrew Hobson (tickets available from the Library 3rd November onwards) Bookshop all day in the Library with Brenda Parkhouse. All Year 7-9 classes to visit bookshop in slots during lessons.
Sally Nicholls' talks are aimed at girls from Year 8. Her lecture will be on Monday at 14:25 to 15:25.
20 November
From previous experiences of the Library's book festival, it is certain that Book Banter will be a very popular event which everyone can enjoy.
09.45 Year 9
Tim O’Rourke
11.05 Year 10 21 November
Tim O’Rourke
08.45 Year 11
Bali Rai (In Hall)
09.45 Year 9/10
Bali Rai (In Hall)
13.25-14.25 All Years & Teachers
Poetry by Heart event
Festival ends
This year, the library has teamed up with Melanie Taylor to bring a brilliant opportunity for Years 7, 8 and 9 students to produce a piece of creative writing celebrating Book Banter. We are expecting an extremely high level of participation as a ‘buzz’ will have already been generated in Speakers’ Corner on Friday 10th October, where Melanie Taylor will be announcing the title for this challenge. The students who participate will then have 2 weeks to write an imaginative and engaging story limited to 500 words. The deadline for the entry is 9am on Friday the 24th October.
With special thanks to Brenda Parkhouse.
There will be house points and certificates for every student who enters and a book token for the winning writers. All the entered stories will be read by a panel of judges and 6 winners in total shall be announced at Speakers’ Corner on Friday 7th November. There shall be an awards evening held at the Leaf Café in Hertford, where the Festival author Sally Nichols will present the prizes to the winners.