Five Fabulous Years!

Five years of Fabulous Fiction were celebrated in style at the Foundling Museum in London last night by Peter Usborne and Usborne books. It was a balmy summer evening and as the invited guests mingled and wandered around the amazing Foundling Museum with glasses of champagne there was a lively hum.

Short speeches from Peter Usborne, Megan Larkin, the commissioning editor who set up the list and Emily Maitlis the news reader thanked everyone for their support over the last five years, celebrated the joy of reading that brought us all together. Peter and Megan commented that they may not yet have discovered a Rowling or a Pullman but it is early days and Emily recounted how she had been kidnapped the night before by a four year old demanding more stories! They went on to announce the Usborne Young Writers Award 2009. This award will encourage children to have a go at writing for themselves, we encourage them to read, now is the time to encourage them to write too! They have been given a starting point by five of Usborne's fabulous fiction authors and will have to submit a story of no more than 1,00 words letting their imagination's run wild with a choice from murder mystery to fairytale adventure.

With around 125 books published over the last five years and translated into many languages Usborne are now taking time to encourage new storytellers to find their own voice. Thsi is a wonderful opportunity for young people, young readers and the potential authors of the future. For more information see www.usborne.co.uk/youngwritersaward