The Trustees at Shrewsbury Bookfest are delighted to announce that Piers Torday, award winning children’s author of (amongst many others) The Last Wild, The Dark Wild and The Wild Beyond joins the organisation as Patron alongside Martin Brown and Ian Whybrow with Jacqueline Wilson as President.

Since arriving on the Shrewsbury Bookfest Book Award shortlist in 2014, it was instantly obvious to all that Piers was a hugely respected individual in the world of children’s literature.  Since then pupils, teachers, schools in Shropshire, and Shrewsbury Bookfest, have been fortunate to be able to call upon Piers for brilliantly engaging workshops, school visits, advice and of course for beautifully crafted stories.  Piers says of Shrewsbury Bookfest and this appointment; “I was first fortunate enough to encounter their work, in 2014, when The Last Wild was shortlisted for their Bookfest Award in 2014, and was struck by how inclusive, creative and child-led their work was. They invited children to choose their favourite books, to create art, poems, dramas and films about them, as well as responding critically, and go away beyond the brief of many regional books awards and festivals. The breadth and depth of their work across their community is inspirational.  Thank you very much to you all for inviting me to become a Patron of Shrewsbury Bookfest, please let the Trustees know how honoured and thrilled I am to accept.“

Together with Piers on board as Patron, Shrewsbury Bookfest is looking forward to a new and exciting phase in the coming months and years, as its projects with schools and families across Shropshire evolve and grow.

To visit Piers Torday’s website, please click here.