Gangster School

East Sussex youngsters to get chance to design for children’s books

Some lucky Hastings and St Leonards youngsters will get the chance to see their creative work in print reports Angela J. Phillip. This will be in a popular children’s book series, thanks to author Kate Wiseman.

Kate, author of the Gangster School series, is hosting a free session for children aged 8+ at Hastings Library on August 30 at which she’ll read from her latest book Gangster School – Gruffles and the Killer Sheep and ask youngsters to help design her next book.

Kate’s latest book is about Blaggard’s School for Tomorrow’s Tyrants, described as “like Hogwarts for criminal kids”, and what happens when two good kids Milly and Charlie join the academy and take on the cold-hearted Pecunia Badpenny, Wolf the evil electronic dog and other assorted villains.

Kate Wiseman

During a 90-minute reading and workshop Kate will ask participants to design a new disguise for Blaggard’s extensive disguise department. The best ones and their young designers will feature in Kate’s next Gangster School book. Kate says: “No useful criminal knowledge will be imparted during this session. Honest!”

Tickets are free but must be booked in advance via Hastings Literary Festival’s website at https://www.hastingslitfest.org. The event runs from 14:00 to 15:30 at Hastings Library and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Kate’s session is just one of a number of free sessions for children during Hastings Literary Festival, which runs from August 30 to September 1 at various venues in Hastings and St Leonards.

These include Heroines and Monsters, with Kate O’Hearn, Hastings-based best-selling children’s fantasy author; The Caterpillar and the Blackbird, an enthralling story and dance performance; Creature Creations, a fun activity with plenty of slime and bubbles; and an exciting drawing and creative writing session with author Ed Boxall.

• Hastings-based master puppeteers Theatre Rotto are giving a performance of Little Ida’s Flowers followed by a puppet-making workshop for children aged 5+ at The Printworks in Hastings from 10:00 to 12:00 on Sunday, September 1. Children must be accompanied by an adult and discounted family tickets are available through Hastings LitFest website.

Thanks for reading. Good luck to all the children who go and take part.

Angela J. Phillip

Also in: Hastings Bookchat