Dan Morelle

This week saw the beginning of something magical – the inaugural Bath Children’s Literature Festival was launched and I am here in Bath rubbing shoulders with some the most creative and influential people in the Children’s Literature…business – but wait, I can’t saddle this world with the words ‘industry’ or ‘business’ because it clearly is so much more than that…

You see although children’s books are a big money maker – this close community all feel passionate about reading and literacy and the sentiment is shared by everyone I have talked to from the managing director of Scholastic Children’s Books to writers and salesmen.

Author Melvin Burgess summed up the persistent and almost deranged single-minded approach to achieving a dream on Friday night in a debate with Allan Ahlberg, Jaqueline (Jackie) Wilson and Sam Leith when he let slip that it took him fifteen years to get his first book published! It is that very same zeal that has bought this awesome 10 days of festival greatness from an idea in to a reality.

To me that drive and self-belief is the one thing that makes the difference between settling for mediocrity and achieving your dreams. If these are the kind of people our children can aspire to be like I don’t think we have a problem.

My personal highlight so far has got to be giving Julia Donaldson’s (she of The Gruffalo fame) sister a ride on a trolley whilst singing the oft performed in my household “steering a great big trolley all round a great big shop” with Julia Donaldson grinning in the background!

There is loads going on this week at the festival in the beautiful city of Bath and you should be here too.

More information: www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk