Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2017

This year was my first time at Bologna Children’s Book Fair and it exceeded all my expectations.

Within the first hour of arriving, whilst putting some of my work on the illustrators’ wall, I had given two TV interviews and had been approached by various publishers from around the world.

My posters’ tear off strips were going faster than I was able to connect print-outs of MAXI MOO AND THE RED THREAD with a red string across the illustrators’ wall …

As I was only there for two days, I was literally running around the football field sized exhibition halls trying to meet all the publishers and agents I wanted to show my various picture book dummies to as well as the publishers and agents that approached me during the fair.

In between all this, I was also offered representation by one of my top choice agents.

I had some truly overwhelmingly beautiful responses from publishers which literally left me in tears! Smaller publishers made me offers there and then and I’m thrilled to say that the big ones I managed to speak to at Bologna are currently considering my proposals within their wider teams.

Was Bologna worth all the hard work and gallons of midnight oil running up to it? More than anything!