UK Shared Reading charity The Reader will be hosting a Meet the Author event with E. L. Norry, author of one the best new children’s novels at its Liverpool home.
The acclaimed children’s author, who writes fiction and non-fiction for eight to 13-year-olds, is giving a special reading from her novel Fablehouse ((Bloomsbury, 2023), at The Old Cafe, the Mansion House, Calderstones Park on Saturday 5 October, 10am-11am.
Fablehouse is inspired by real-life experiences of mixed-race children who grew up in foster care at Holnicote House, Somerset, after the Second World War.
The novel, described by Jacquline Wilson as “an exciting, heartrending story with a magical twist’ is Longlisted for the Historical Association’s Young Quills Award 2024 – for best historical fiction for young people.
There are currently 10 places available for local children who would like to attend with their accompanying adults. Afterwards there will be time for questions, and young book lovers can get their books signed.
Bloomsbury Children’s Books is also donating 125 copies of Fablehouse to The Reader’s Reading Heroes project for care experienced children and young people.
Reading Heroes supports children in care aged two to 15 to improve their confidence and spark a love of reading for pleasure by pairing them with a highly trained volunteer to enjoy reading aloud – online and in person – together for six to nine months.
Cardiff-born E. L. Norry, who grew up in the care system, said:
“This is my first visit to The Reader and I am looking forward to talking to the children who attend about my own life experience.
“I am passionate about diversity and inclusion and showing children that authors can come from different backgrounds.
“Fablehouse is based on a real place called Holnicote House which was home to many ‘brown babies’, children born to white women and Black American GIs, after the second world war. I had no idea about this part of history! Having come from a care background myself, I was excited to dive into the research around Holnicote House, aswell as the Arthurian myths.”
Fablehouse tells the story of a children’s home like no other. It is a safe haven for Heather and her friends, sheltering them from a society that will not accept the colour of their skin. But soon that is not the only danger that threatens them. When mysterious spirits infiltrate the house, stealing away some of the children, the friends must follow them to the heart of the underworld.
The Reader is currently looking for 100 more volunteers to read with children online following an increase in the number of children joining the scheme from across the North West and London’s Tower Hamlets.
Emma McColl, Reading Heroes Manager at The Reader, said:
“The Reader is hugely grateful to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for donating 125 copies of E. L. Norry’s wonderfully enriching novel Fablehouse to our Reading Heroes project.
“We would especially like to thank E. L. Norry for taking the time to visit us in Liverpool for this very special reading at The Reader and also for joining an online event for children on our Reading Heroes project.
“This year we are commissioned to read with 175 children and young people across the North West and Tower Hamlets in London and have engaged 400 children over the life of the project. We are also looking to extend our work in the future by reading with unaccompanied asylum seekers aged 16 to 18 in the Liverpool region.
“As a result, to meet a growing demand we are looking for 100 more volunteers this year to read stories online with children and young people. Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer can visit here and get in touch with us.”
Sarah Davies, Reading Heroes volunteer, said:
“It’s such a privilege to meet with a child each week and connect together in the world of the story. Recently my reader’s carer told me she had chosen to read before school, something she had never done before. She picked the book we had read in our session.
“Knowing that I am helping her develop a love of reading which will go on to help her throughout her life is very special.”
E. L. Norry has a BA (Hons) in Film and an MA in Screenwriting. She now lives in Bournemouth with her husband and children and works in further education. Emma has written seven previous books including Son of the Circus (Scholastic, 2019), which was shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards, and Amber Under Cover (OUP, 2021).
Her short stories have been published in anthologies including The Very Merry Murder Club (Farshore, 2021), Happy Here: 10 stories from Black British authors & illustrators (Knights Of, 2021) and The Place for Me: Stories about the Windrush.
E. L. Norry’s books will be available to buy on the day. For more details about Fablehouse and her other books visit here.
Tickets are £5 for children with one adult free and an additional adult £5. Tickets available here.
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