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This month, author Nicola Brooks-Williamson reflects on her weekend with BookTrust Represents and the Children’s Laureate, Patrice Lawrence, at the 2026 Cheltenham Literary Festival.

by Nicola Brooks-Williamson

I’ll be honest, I was tired — of life, rejections, persevering in a difficult industry, and although I can talk up a storm, I’m inherently shy and my social battery was flashing on red. How would I cope with a weekend of strangers?

I arrived at Paddington two hours early for the trip to Cheltenham Spa and posted in our group chat that I had a pink suitcase. An hour later a sweet voice said hi and introduced herself; a talented illustrator Suhayla whose pictures made me smile. 

Her train earlier than mine she waved goodbye, but soon Mumbi and Sheetal, the FAB Prize winners 2025, were introducing themselves. Emma and Emily from BookTrust arrived. We discussed writing, drawing and… OMG, was that the time! We raced for the train. Sheetal and I made it. The others missed it! The ice was definitely broken.

That night, reunited, we met the final BTR 2026 members, writer Abimbola and illustrator Jemma. We then dined with author Sharna Jackson, artist Melinda Tuza, and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Patrice Lawrence. A lovely gesture, and we now had familiar faces to touch base with over the weekend.

We shadowed the welcoming Eric Huang to see behind the scenes before his brilliant workshop. Later, children created entire mysteries with Sharna Jackson, and what a joy to see so many boys imagining stories with Lucas Maxwell (I finally understand the attraction Dungeons and Dragons holds for my son). 

I’ve hosted a few creative writing workshops but to see these smooth routines, how the attention of the entire room was held, and the palpable joy from both children and adults despite the different approaches was eye-opening.

We were allowed into the hallowed writer’s room, the green room, where the writers relax pre-performance. Insider scoop: it’s not actually green. 

Here, we shared the highs and lows of the industry, were introduced to others, and belly laughed as we realised we may not have a clue if someone famous was tapping out their next bestseller or reading next to us. Still blushing from asking Naomi Ishiguro to move over for our group — she was very nice. I didn’t tell her we share a publisher; I was too busy trying to disappear under the table.

Less awkward highlights? Oh so many.

• Eric Huang’s worlds are seared on my brain.
• Patrice Lawrence’s understanding of my culture and of my desire to fly in this career made me feel seen, and genuinely tearful. 
• I watched in awe and hope both David Olusoga sessions. First as an interviewer and then a guest, he discussed difficult topics with intelligence and calmness. He showed that whatever our views, we can still talk. I breathed more freely than I had in a while.
• Dame Maggie Aderin said, ​“Reach for the stars. It is only by aiming high that we can reach greater goals and fulfil our true potentials”, and Meera Syal urged us to ​“love what makes you different”. She also reminded us that ​“each time an elder dies, a library burns down.” 

Words that reignite the fire within me. The creation of books is born out of passion and love; the process a rollercoaster of validation and rejection. Cheltenham Literary Festival, BookTrust, and all the new friends I’ve made have showed me to be less afraid to be myself. Battery charged, I will keep going.

This was written by Nicola Brooks-Williamson, the author of the middle-grade Stableheart series, a collaboration with Storymix under the penname Nicci Johnson. She’s keeping her fingers and toes crossed for a fairy godperson aka agent before her next birthday.