As the host of the W&A Children’s Writers and Illustrators online festival, I’ve worked with brilliant authors and illustrators, and our 2026 line-up is no different. The opportunity to receive practical, relatable and inspirational tips on the creative process from revered names in children’s publishing is incredibly insightful for all festivalgoers. I’m always impressed by how generous our speakers are in sharing their expertise, knowledge and skills.
There are other elements to the festival, however, where I perhaps take most pride. Every year, I work with the W&A Team to assess the feedback we’ve received and tweak the festival format accordingly. As a result, we’ve introduced a greater range of ticket-types to make the weekend as affordable as possible. Personally, I think our Weekend Pass+ ticket, is a steal, offering access to the entirety of the festival weekend PLUS(!) a manuscript critique. Meanwhile, we've also moved to ensure that *every* festivalgoer has an invite to our 90-minute session dedicated to finessing a children’s book pitch, which includes the opportunity to submit a pitch for live feedback from our panel.
Our range of pricing has been well received (it's such great value given the content on offer!), and one other consistent piece of festival feedback we receive is about the ‘buzz’ of the weekend, and the invaluable opportunity it provides for writers and illustrators at a similar stage in their creative journey to share the same space. As such, this year we’ve adjusted the programme to help nurture that sense of creative community. Our first step was to arrange a preparatory session on the pitching process for a nominal fee of just £1, with well over 100 people joining us. And over the festival weekend itself, each of our exclusive pre-recorded video sessions will now be followed by live discussion forum to encourage questions and discussion from festivalgoers.
We know times are tough* for some, but if you are able to purchase a festival ticket then I know our line-up – which offers a balance of creative guidance and insight into the publishing process – and the people you'll network with throughout the weekend will be of lasting value.
See you on Saturday 21st March!
Camilla Chester
Children's author and W&A Children’s Events Manager
*And if spreading the cost helps, just email the W&A team – [email protected] – because payment instalment plans are available across all of their events and editing services.
Camilla Chester received a distinction in a Diploma for Creative Writing and Literacy, and went on to self-publish three children’s novels. She was a finalist in the National Literacy Trust New Author Award 2016 and Mslexia Children’s Novel Award 2019.
Camilla’s children’s novel, Call Me Lion (Firefly Press, 2022), centres around a boy with Selective Mutism (SM). Call Me Lion was shortlisted for the Oxfordshire and Portsmouth Awards in 2023, won the SCBWI 2023 Crystal Kite Award, was shortlisted in the 2024 UKLA Award, is part of the Books for Topics selection, and was selected in the 2023 Read For Empathy List and 2024 Summer Reading Challenge. It is widely used in UK schools, increasing understanding, compassion and awareness around SM and has been selected by the Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils list for lower KS2.
Camilla’s second book, Project Pony, delves into tricky friendships, step-dads and late bed-wetting, and is set during an own your own pony adventure holiday. It was published by Firefly Press in May 2025.
Camilla has a long history of supporting emerging writers of all ages both voluntary and through her freelance work. She has a very practical eye and likes nothing more than helping writers find their voice.
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