Spread the Word is thrilled to be hosting An Evening with Jason Reynolds. Jason Reynolds, a New York Times bestselling author for children and young adults, will be in conversation with Dapo Adeola on Wednesday 17 August at 7pm at Deptford Lounge.
To celebrate the launch of his latest publications Oxygen Mask and Stuntboy, in the Meantime, YA and children’s author Jason Reynolds will be talking about his work and writing journey in a Q&A with children’s book illustrator and author Dapo Adeola.
We welcome and encourage writers of all levels to this event, particularly those at the start of their writing careers.
This event will be BSL interpreted with free bursary places for writers on a low income. Round Table Books will be selling copies of both writers’ books.
More info and book your tickets
Tickets are £6, with 30 free places available for those on a low income. Tickets can be booked here, and free place info can also be found here too: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-with-jason-reynolds-tickets-379577465417
About Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds is a No.1 New York Times bestselling author for children and young adults and the current US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature – a role equivalent to our Children’s Laureate. He’s published 12 books in the UK for middle-grade and YA readers to critical and commercial acclaim.
In 2021 he was awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal for Look Both Ways – ten interconnecting stories about the 15 minutes of unsupervised independence children have on their walk home from school. He was previously shortlisted in 2019 for his powerful verse novel, Long Way Down, which explores gun violence and grief. Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel, an innovative illustrated adaptation by Danica Novgorodoff, won the 2022 Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal.
About Dapo Adeola
Dapo Adeola is an illustrator, author and character designer who rocketed into the picture book world with his greatly acclaimed illustrator debut, Look Up!, written by Nathan Bryon and published by Puffin in 2019, which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2020. He also collaborated with Malorie Blackman on their picture book We’re Going to Find the Monster. Dapo made his author debut in 2021 with the picture book Hey You!: An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black, featuring 18 talented Black British illustrators, the book went on to win Best illustrated book at the 2022 British Book Awards. Dapo also took home the British Book Awards “Illustrator Of The Year” Award that same night. Born in Britain and of Nigerian heritage, Dapo’s work tends to revolve around creating characters and imagery that challenge race, identity and equality politics in a fun and upbeat manner. An avid believer in the importance of equal representation in the creative arts, Dapo runs illustration and character design based workshops with children and adults to help highlight the possibilities of a career in illustration to inner city people of various ethnicities. Dapo currently lives in London.
Free bursary places
We have 30 free bursary places for this event available to writers who are on a low income including:
– Carers;
– Single parents;
– Care leavers;
– Disabled writers;
– Those with experience of being homeless;
– Ex-offenders;
– Unemployed;
– Those on benefits or a minimum wage zero hours contract.
If you would like to apply for a bursary place, please email [email protected] putting Jason Reynolds event in the subject heading, letting us know why you are eligible for a bursary place and why you would like to attend the event. The deadline to contact us is Monday 8 August 2022.
We’ll notify bursary applicants with the outcome of their application by 5pm on Friday 12 August.
Image of Jason Reynolds by Adedayo ‘Dayo’ Kosoko
Published on 19 July 2022