{"id":1135,"date":"2019-09-23T08:12:49","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T07:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cool-banzai.185-132-38-6.plesk.page\/?p=1135"},"modified":"2019-09-23T08:12:52","modified_gmt":"2019-09-23T07:12:52","slug":"a-host-of-childrens-authors-join-big-wig-for-her-fun-filled-festival-in-wigtown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cool-banzai.185-132-38-6.plesk.page\/?p=1135","title":{"rendered":"A Host Of Children\u2019s Authors Join Big Wig For Her Fun-Filled Festival in Wigtown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Authors, illustrators and storytellers from all over the country will be joining Big Wig \u2013 a large, friendly blue creature who lives in the woods \u2013 for the annual children\u2019s book festival named in her honour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among them will be Alan Windram, from near Oban, who will be joined by Saffanna Al-jbawi to read his book One Button Benny<\/em> in English and Arabic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Button Benny, <\/em>the winner of this year\u2019s BookBug Picture Book Prize, tells the story of a robot with a single red button on his stomach with the words \u201cOnly Press in an Emergency\u201d written next to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alan, a former theatre nurse and pop musician, sees the Wigtown Book Festival, and the Big Wig children\u2019s festival which forms part of it, as a great way to stimulate young minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cChildren go into their own rooms and their own worlds when they are reading. So it\u2019s something very special to go somewhere and meet the person who created the story and the characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd in Wigtown there is so much for them to see and do \u2013 the variety is inspirational. What we are aiming to do is help encourage the next generation of readers, writers and illustrators.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alan believes the fact that Wigtown is for all ages and interests also gets the message across that a love of stories and books is something everyone can share. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alan\u2019s events are highly interactive, with a mix of storytelling, pictures, music and song, that children love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Button Benny<\/em> is also a great story for children because it emphasises that everyone has their special qualities and has a valuable contribution to make \u2013 as the other robots, which have lots of buttons, discover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And before the festival got underway Councillor Adam Wilson, Dumfries and Galloway\u2019s Events Champion, dropped in to meet some of those involved in the festival, to see how preparations were going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there he discovered more about the festival\u2019s 2019 themes \u2013 which include an emphasis on the Dark Ages with events about epic tales like Beowulf and about Galloway\u2019s ancient archaeology, history and place names. He also had the chance to meet BIG Wig \u2013 the children\u2019s festival mascot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cHelping nurture children\u2019s imaginations is one of the most important responsibilities adults have. It is clear that the authors within the Big Wig programme are able to do this with their wonderful creations, that adds fun and creativity to the experience of family visits to Wigtown. The council is proud of our work supporting the festival over close to two decades to fund children\u2019s book events at the Wigtown Book Festival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big Wig opens up a huge world of imagination for children aged up to 14 and starts with a party to celebrate The Very Hungry Caterpillar\u2019s 50th<\/sup> birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other attractions include Shalla Gray and Saffanna Al-jbawi telling the story of Big Bill the Beltie Bull <\/em>as he goes to his local agricultural show. Then there\u2019s Debi Gliori with The Bookworm<\/em> the light-hearted tale of Max\u2019s pet worm, which suddenly grows spikes and breathes smoke! Dragons don\u2019t exist, do they? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renita Boyle will entertain with The Strange Visitor<\/em>, a traditional tale in Scots and English, which features a wily old woman, wide-eyed cat, wild weather and a weird newcomer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vivian French will present The Steam Whistle\u2028Theatre Company<\/em>, the adventures of a family theatre-troupe struggling to avoid financial ruin and a story filled with dark deeds and piratical plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youngsters will also be able to pick up a pile of drawing skills with Shoo Rayner at a session entitled Shoobedoodling Cats and Dogs<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anne Barclay, Wigtown Book Festival Operational Director, said: \u201cThe children\u2019s festival will be loads of fun and some lucky visitors will also get to meet Big Wig herself who will be coming in from the woods where she lives to listen to some of the stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alan Windram will also be leading another event, along with Sara Sheridan, aimed at young people and adults called So You Want To Be a Children\u2019s Author?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sara is an author and Alan is a publisher as well as being a writer. Together they will share tips on how to develop characters, drive a story and take the next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cSome people want to write for themselves, some want to tell their own story, others would love to became children\u2019s authors. The important thing is to get it down on paper, it doesn\u2019t have to be perfect, but you have to to get the story out there. And I only began writing books in my 40s, so it\u2019s worth remembering that it\u2019s never too late to start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n