| Glamlit 2007 Attracts Top Authors |
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Over 1000 school children from across South Wales are taking part in a
celebration of literature at the University of Glamorgan this week. Organised by First Campus, in association with the University and the Guardian Hay Festival, the ‘Glamlit’ festival is a two day event held at the University’s Treforest campus and aims to engage children in home grown literature by introducing them to some of the UK’s best known authors. On day one of the festival, Mal Peet and Valerie Bloom spoke to year 7 pupils. Mal Peet is a writer and, on occasion, cartoonist. His first book Keeper won the Branford Boase Award and a Nestlé Children’s Book Award. Tamar, won the 2005 Carnegie Medal and The Penalty was shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. It takes us into the dark heart of South American football and the mysterious disappearance of the young genuis ‘El Brujito’. Valerie Bloom’s interactive performance style and beautiful Jamaican verse are guaranteed to thrill and inspire. She is recognised as one of the world’s greatest performance poets: her books include Duppy Jamboree and other Jamaican Poems, and Whoop an’ Shout!. Her novels include Surprising Joy and The Tribe.  Nick Hornby and Lemn Sissay appeared on Thursday 13 December for Year 10 students. Nick is the author of About a Boy and High Fidelity, and the move from adult to young-adult fiction is a natural progression for him. Slam follows the highs and lows of Sam, a 15-year-old skating enthusiast, as he falls in and out of love, and then discovers that the girl is pregnant with his child. Lemn Sissay, one of the hottest tickets around, presents more thrilling and touching poetry. Lemn’s performances have an astonishing resonance with young people, with many of them based on his childhood, much of which was spent in care, and on his long search for his Ethiopian family.
Ruth Hay, director of the Glamlit Festival said “Glamlit is always a wonderful event, it is great to watch the young people fall under the author’s enchantment. We were especially excited to welcome Nick Hornby to Glamorgan.” First Campus manager Kath Maddy said, “We were delighted to welcome Glamlit to Glamorgan for the 6th time. The event brings literature to life and really gives school pupils a unique opportunity to meet with inspirational writers.” Glamlit would not be possible without the generous sponsorship of First Campus. The picture shows pupils from Ferndale Community School with author Mal Peet. |
