Live talk and Q&A with Sharna Jackson
Summer term virtual author event with Sharna Jackson
Sharna Jackson talk and Q&A
Bring an author into your classroom for free!
Each term we select 100 registered schools with the highest FSM percentage to receive 50 to 100 free books.* Our summer term author is Sharna Jackson.
Sharna Jackson loves murder – not committing them of course, but writing about them. In her stories, young detectives get to prove just how smart, sharp and funny they are, while always serving justice. Join Sharna to find out what inspired her to write modern day murder-mysteries and hear her tips on how to write your own in this crime-writing masterclass.
Date: Wednesday 12 June 2024
Timings: 11am start (45 – 60 mins max)
Accessibility: Subtitles will be available on the video recording two days after the event.
Suitable for: Year groups 5, 6 and 7
About Sharna
Sharna Jackson is a writer of books, games and scripts mostly about art, mystery and murder. She lives on a ship in Rotterdam and comes up with her best ideas in the shower or on a long morning walk. Sharna’s latest book, The Good Turn, is a slightly spooky mystery in which a trio of young friends start their own scout troop in Luton. Her next book, Nine Nights Mystery, is published in June 2024 and centres on one boy's birthday, one dead body and nine nights to solve the mystery. The schools attending our virtual visit will have the chance to receive year sets of Nine Nights Mystery (30 schools will receive 60 copies, find out more when you register).
Sharna's debut novel was High-Rise Mystery in which Nik and Norva solve a murder in their tower block during the hottest summer on record, it won numerous awards and accolades including Best Book for Younger Readers at the 2020 Waterstones Book Prize. In the sequel: Mic Drop, Nik and Norva investigate the death of an up-and-coming pop star TrojKat, who has fallen from the tower roof. Sharna was also one of the writers of Saltsea Chronicles, an adventure game released on PS5 and Switch in late 2023.
Clockwise from left: Jasmine Richards, Joseph Coelho, Sabine Adeyinka
Joseph Coelho and special guests team up for a unique author talk and Q&A
BookTrust Represents virtual event with Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho shines a light on bookmakers in the publishing industry
In January, we had a special Bookmaker Like You takeover of BookTrust Represents. In this virtual school event presented by Joseph Coelho, we celebrated bookmakers out there with three authors who shared their journeys into bookmaking, their successes and their mistakes to break down children’s assumptions of becoming a storyteller.
Get reading: Five brilliant books by people of colour chosen by Joseph Coelho
Download Jasmine Richards' Unmorrow activity sheet
About Bookmaker Like You
Launched last autumn by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, ‘Bookmaker Like You’ highlights the artistry of book creatives from under-represented communities and backgrounds – with a particular focus on new and emerging talent – showcasing the exceptional skill that brings a story to life.
It will offer insights from experts including editors, designers, publishers and agents, with the aim of demystifying publishing and inspiring more talent into the industry. By diversifying bookshelves, Coelho hopes that every single child can see themselves as a storyteller.
The project will run across Coelho’s remaining tenure as Waterstones Children’s Laureate.
About Joseph Coelho
Joseph Coelho is an award-winning children's author, performance poet and playwright based in London. He is also the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2022-2024.
About Sabine Adeyinka
Sabine is the author of Jummy at the River School and Time to Shine at the River School. She was born in England to a Nigerian dad and Jamaican mum. Her favourite pastime is writing about memories of the landscape, food and people of her childhood.
About Jasmine Richards
Jasmine Richards is an author, series creator and founder of Storymix, a children's fiction studio. Her mission is to create books that are windows as well as mirrors. Jasmine loves reading and was a judge for the Blue Peter Book Awards twice.
