What a week we've had at Seven Stories!

This week has been extra specially busy with so much to celebrate.  Before we go for a lie down...here is what has been happening at Seven Stories...

Westminster

Many of our team headed down to Westminster in London to a prestigious event at the House of Commons as part of our 10th birthday celebrations. Joined by authors, illustrators, publishers, politicians and longstanding friends of Seven Stories, it was wonderful to be in the capital to showcase the uniqueness and remarkable work that is happening here in Newcastle.

This was also an opportunity to launch our very first publication - Drawn from the Archive - if you haven't seen this book yet, you must!

"It is utterly fascinating and also beautiful. And it tells us so much we didn’t know before. I know how much I will treasure it as a celebration of the brilliance that is picture books." - Julia Eccleshare, Children's Book Editor.

Buy your copy for £9.99 from our website. 

Welcoming Walliams

On Tuesday we ushered in the biggest children's book author of the millennium. On his extremely whistle-stop tour of the North East, David Walliams delighted an attic of local school children as he read an extract from his brand new book Grandpa's Great Escape. His impromptu reading was met with much excitement:

"We are all still on a total high after yesterday's visit to Seven Stories! Meeting the man himself was wonderful, but an important part of the afternoon was the treatment we received from your staff. We all felt like VIPs!! The children can't wait to tell the whole school about their experience and are going to put up a display in the library and speak in assembly. One of our children has been inspired to write her own story after her conversation with David and we intend to send a copy to him."

Glynn Welsh, Deputy Headteacher, Diamond Hall Junior School

During the brief Q&A that followed David's brilliant story time (which mainly consisted of questions about a certain Mr Cowell), David told us how he gets new ideas for his stories:

"Sometimes people tell you a story and that gets your mind whirring.  You need to keep your eyes and ears open and you'll soak up ideas."

Maybe one of us will be the next big author - get those note pads out this weekend and start scribbling! Once down in the bookshop - David signed books for 300 fans as mums, dads, gangsta grannies and children snaked their way around the bookshop to meet David, get their books signed and help themselves to one of his Malteasers! The bookshop was buzzing with excitement, children reading and people chatting about their favourite books. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rGfVp3ba9I Thanks to our friends at HarperCollins and to David for visiting, see you again soon! 

Winning

Hooray! We are absolutely thrilled to have won Gold at this year's North East England Tourism Awards and be dubbed Largest Visitor Attraction of the Year joint with the rather fabulous Beamish Museum. Representatives from all the departments enjoyed a swanky soiree at Newcastle Civic Centre full of delicious food, live music and even a very impressive and unexpected rendition of Come Fly With Me from everyone's favourite BBC radio presenter - Alfie Joey! [gallery ids="509,508" type="rectangular"] Congratulations to all the winners at the event which was a fabulous celebration of the breadth of culture, arts, restaurants and hospitality we have here in the North East.

What next...?

Next stop is our fundraising event this December with the wonderful Michael Morpurgo.  The On Angel Wings concert promises to be a festive wonder complete with storytelling from Michael himself, guest appearance from acclaimed actress Juliet Stevenson and beautiful accompaniment from Voices at the Door a cappella choir.  With the enchanting backdrop of Newcastle's stunning cathedral - this is a Christmas event to be part of. Buy your tickets here. Enjoy your weekend...we're off for a lie down!