About this Event
Speaker(s): Jessixa Bagley, Dora Tsang, Ritu Hemnani, and Siobhan McDermott
Moderator: Maureen Tai
Event details
Date: 9 March (Saturday)
Time: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Price: $198
Language: English
Format: Panel
Category: Life Journey
Speaker Biographies:
Jessixa Bagley is a children's book author and illustrator with a background in fine art and comics. Her work has been featured in publications such as New American Paintings, Nickelodeon Magazine, Highlights Magazine, and Illustoria Magazine. Her debut picture book, Boats for Papa, received numerous awards and accolades including the 2016 SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Best Picture Book Text and a 2016 Washington State Book Award. Her picture book Laundry Day received a 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Honor Award for writing. Many of her picture books are also Junior Library Guild Selections. In her work, she is drawn to animals and emotional themes inspired by her own experiences.
Dora Tsang is a writer, artist, and nature guide who lives in the deep bright woods in Limousin, France, with a friendly French boar and a three-legged cat. She writes books about the trials and triumphs of life, as well as quirkily humorous stories for young children. Her creative versatility is demonstrated by her publications: From Alpha to Alpha - a lyrical art book about her 1800-km peregrination, Blue2 - a verse novel for young adults and Much Hairdo about Nothing - a picture book for children. When not writing, Dora can be found in the woods looking for her wandering cat and illustrating her life odyssey at home.
Ritu Hemnani is an author, journalist, and teacher, who hopes for every child to see themselves in the pages of a book and know that their stories matter. Ritu is ethnically Indian, a British national, and calls Hong Kong home. Her picture book, Gope and Meera - A Migration Story was published in 2017. Lion of the Sky is Ritu’s debut historical middle-grade novel in verse and will be published by HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray in 2024.
Siobhan McDermott was born in Hong Kong and grew up on stories filled with Chinese legends and Irish folklore. Now living in the UK, she worked in publishing for six years in various publicity roles at Egmont, Octopus and Penguin Ireland and is now the PR lead at BBC Maestro.
Event Description:
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion on the art of writing for children. Whether you're an aspiring children's author or simply interested in the magic of storytelling for young readers, this panel is not to be missed. Our three authors will share their insights and experiences on crafting engaging and meaningful stories that captivate young imaginations. From understanding age-appropriate themes and language to creating relatable characters and vibrant worlds, this discussion will provide valuable tips and techniques for writing captivating children's literature.
*Please note that photos and videos of participants may be taken during the activities, which may be used by the organiser and the major sponsor for educational and promotional purposes in any way deemed appropriate, including dissemination through printed and online channels. Participation in the programme will constitute the participants’ consent to the above arrangement.
ABOUT HKILF
The Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF) inspires the joy of reading by bringing the world’s writers and stories to Hong Kong’s diverse communities. A dynamic year-round programme and an annual festival offer dialogue, entertainment, and perspective, while the Young Readers Festival (YRF) motivates students to engage with all aspects of the written word, improving communication skills while nurturing the art of writing and storytelling.
The annual festival features established and emerging writers from around the world, alongside local literary talents, in a programme that includes panel discussions, book talks, readings, workshops, walks, school programmes, performances, and more.
To find more, please visit our official website: https://www.festival.org.hk/
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Fringe Dairy, Fringe Club 藝穗會, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
HKD 178.20 to HKD 198.00