Following on from last week’s blog post about the inaugural Barnes Children’s Literature Festival – which takes place on Saturday 25 April – I’ve finally managed to catch up with its organiser, the delightful Amanda Brettargh. It’s all systems go at Festival HQ so I’m grateful to Amanda for finding time in her hectic schedule to talk to me.
“I believe that Barnes will become both a destination and an inspiration for book lovers everywhere.”
Karen:
We’re all hugely excited about the upcoming kidslitfest in Barnes! I’m sure that my readers – children, parents, teachers and librarians, not to mention children’s authors – would love to know the story behind the festival, so here are a few questions.
What gave you the idea for the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival?
Amanda:
“In my day to day life I am a freelance book publicist and I have a media consultancy that specialises in publishing. All of my clients are small to medium sized independent publishers and part of my job is to organise the appearance of their authors and illustrators at festivals everywhere. From this I have had first hand experience of the importance of these events on book sales. So when I used to push my buggy around beautiful Barnes Pond every day, every day I would think: they should have a literature festival here! Of course, we also have one of London’s best independent bookshops in Barnes (The Barnes Bookshop) and I believe that any community that supports its own bookshop deserves to have its own festival.”
Here’s Barnes Pond, just in case you didn’t see the last blog post 🙂
This is a ticketed event – £5 per performance – in aid of local children’s charities. Have you chosen which will be benefiting?
“The Barnes Children’s Literature Festival is a community event and thanks to Barnes Bookshop a percentage of all books sold on the day, together with the profit from ticket sales will be donated to Barnes children’s charities, which include local primary school libraries, Barnes Brownies and Guides and St Mary Barnes Cubs and Scouts.”
You’ve managed to pull together an amazing line up of authors and illustrators – how easy was that to do? You seem to have some excellent connections!
“It’s true that through my own work I already had some contacts among the agents and in the various publishing houses and, in general, I think they were very positive when I approached them. The head of publicity for one of the largest children’s presses even said to me: ‘Barnes! The perfect place for it!'”
What are your hopes for the festival in the future? Can we expect this to be an annual event?
“I am planning for this to be an annual event in the same way that Bath has its children’s literature festival every year. With our magnificent location, our strong literary heritage and sense of community we are going to strive to present a literary experience like no other.
“I have said that when you come to Barnes you will find some of children’s literature’s best known names as well as a few special treats that you will be unlikely to see at festivals anywhere else.
“This year we are opening our festival with the UK premiere of the stage production of Chris Haughton’s beautiful picture book, ‘A Bit Lost’ by the Boulevard Theatre from Stockholm .
“I believe that Barnes will become both a destination and an inspiration for book lovers everywhere.”
Do you have your own children? Did they have in say in helping you decide who to include in the line-up?
“I have ten year old twin girls who are at Barnes Primary School. This Festival has been a real family affair and we’ve had plenty of sorting and stuffing and stickering and folding and leafletting – you name it! They also had great pleasure in putting together a list of authors that they would love to see come to Barnes. At the top of it was Jeff Kinney, closely followed by David Walliams, and I’ve said to them: ‘Next year!'”
What do you do when you’re not organising children’s literature festivals?
“I very much regret that the demands of my media consultancy, as well as becoming a launching festival organiser – not to mention my ten year old twins – leave me little time for my favourite occupations, reading and sleeping!”
Finally, I can’t help noticing your warm southern hemisphere accent – are you from Australia by any chance? (If so, how do you cope with the weather over here?!)
“Yes, I’m Australian. We have been here for twelve years and my children were born here. When I walk around Richmond Park, even when it’s tipping it down, I think, ‘I could never leave!'”
My thanks to Amanda for sharing her story with us. And how wonderful that someone from so far afield has helped bring the first ever Children’s Literature Festival to Barnes!
Click here to see what’s on and buy tickets
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