I’m writing this, content and full of cooked breakfast, in my hotel room – just adjacent to the tea and coffee making facilities.
Christopher Edge has had a cooked breakfast, too – but he has an extra reason to feel content today… last night he won the Stockport School’s Book Award Key Stage 2 category with Twelve Minutes to Midnight!
The dress code was ‘Glamour’ – a bit of a push for me after 4 days without any post-storm power, but effortlessly carried off by Chris, who looked exceedingly dapper. And the venue was the Plaza Theatre, Stockport. And WHAT a venue. Recently completely restored – and staffed by – volunteers, it was every bit as glamorous as the beautifully dressed audience and organisers.
Winning authors were presented with artwork inspired by their books and all the shortlisted titles were presented perfectly and considerately by children.
Chris was obviously delighted with his award – and fantastic artwork – and in his speech told everyone about the first award he ever won – not 10 miles away from where we were sitting… and almost 30years ago. It was a prize for the most library books read – very fitting!
The key notes of Chris’s award acceptance speech, though, was the importance of reading for children and what it could do for them…where it would take them… the endless possibilities every book – and every reader – held. AND how pleased he was that the children themselves had voted for this award. A prize from children shows an author more clearly than anything that they’re doing something right – that all those children who pick up that book, wanting to be entertained/ scared/ excited/ made to laugh ARE. As indicated by Chris’s HUGE signing queue after the ceremony, where Shadows of The Silver Screen sold out.
It was such a fun evening – a brilliant blend of occasion and HEART – and many, many thanks and profound admiration go to Rachel Hodgson, Kay Olgivie and Wendy Griffths – and everyone at Stockport Schools Library Service.
Congratulations, Chris! If you’re new to the Twelve Minutes to Midnight trilogy, you can read chapter one of the first book below – the final book in the series, The Black Crow Conspiracy, will be published in January and is available to pre-order now.
