[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-imagine-festival-gala-launch":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"And London's \u003Cb>Imagine Festival\u003C/b> is now open! Last night the Imagine team and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk\">The Book People\u003C/a> gathered children's book people from far and wide to celebrate the start of two weeks of amazing family events on the Southbank. Check out \u003Ca href=\"http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson?filter[series]=228\">the programme\u003C/a>, \u003Cb>have you booked your tickets?\u003C/b> (Don't miss \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/535071.html\">my two events with Philip Reeve next Sunday\u003C/a>!) \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson?filter[series]=228\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imagine_logo_zps6a5b23d6-ed7d1f4b2f.gif\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nI took rather random photos on the night and missed out lots of people (including \u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidrobertsillustration.com/home.html\">David Roberts\u003C/a>, who's one of my all-time fave illustrators), \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/526667.html\">Jeff Norton\u003C/a> (whose book I reviewed recently) and \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/480558.html\">Steve Cole\u003C/a> (who's done joint events with me), but here are a few peeks at the evening. Oh look, there's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.philipardagh.co.uk/\">Philip Ardagh\u003C/a>, mucking about as always, with publisher \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/448920.html?thread=3187096\">Alison Green\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_ardaghalison_zpsa20dc324-7adabe19e1.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSome of my best mates, \u003Ca href=\"http://scribblehound.com/\">David O'Connell\u003C/a> (whose first book with HarperCollins, \u003Ci>\u003Cb>Monster and Chips\u003C/b>\u003C/i>, is launching in three weeks) and my fab studio mate \u003Ca href=\"http://www.garynorthfield.com/\">Gary Northfield\u003C/a> (whose book with Walker Books, \u003Ci>\u003Cb>TEENYTINYSAURS\u003C/b>\u003C/i>, launches in May), and our lovely agent, \u003Ca href=\"http://unitedagents.co.uk/jodie-marsh\">Jodie Marsh\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_davegaryjodie_zps62cbadf6-4aee0fcc8e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more photos under the cut!-->\\r\nShowing off my fancy hat with super-prolific writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.alisparkes.com/\">Ali Sparkes\u003C/a>! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_ali_sarah_zps711e9133-bbbb204c07.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.babette-cole.com/\">Babette Cole\u003C/a> and I adopted young illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.samusher.com/\">Sam Usher\u003C/a> and spent all evening doing our best to embarrass him. He took it very well. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_sam_babette_zpsdec254a0-46ce76a89e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_ardaghsambab_zpsaa7575e3-65e63df98e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWriter \u003Ca href=\"http://www.mrgum.co.uk/author.htm\">Andy Stanton\u003C/a> with Book People chair \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thebookseller.com/profile/last-handsellers.html\">Ted Smart\u003C/a> and writer \u003Ca href=\"http://anthonymcgowan.com/Hello.html\">Anthony McGowan\u003C/a>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_andtedant_zpsc8f642d3-03547dcb79.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWriter and reviewer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.nicolettejones.com/\">Nicolette Jones\u003C/a>, writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.jezalborough.com/\">Jez Alborough\u003C/a>, writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.nicola-davies.com/\">Nicola Davies\u003C/a>, Ardagh and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thirstforfiction.com/\">Thirst for Fiction\u003C/a> YA book blogger \u003Cb>Rhys Jones\u003C/b>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_nicjezphil_zps996e2bf4-a47064b432.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nWe were all asked to bring along our favourite word and make a badge of it; here's illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.garryparsons.co.uk/\">Garry Parsons\u003C/a> with 'SPLAT': \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_garrybutton_zps4124c2d6-d3381a0c8a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nGarry with an agent (named Alice, I think?) and illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.worldofadam.com/main.htm\">Adam Stower\u003C/a>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_garryaliceadam_zpsab30dfc4-b07737a979.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSam Usher with writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thewritegirl.co.uk/\">Holly Smale\u003C/a>, whose first book, \u003Cb>\u003Ci>Geek Girl\u003C/i>\u003C/b> launches the same day with HarperCollins as Dave O'Connell's. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_sam_holly_zps16a8ebea-4dda4e91a9.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIllustrator-writer team \u003Ca href=\"http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/children/illustrators/illustrators-gallery/43\">Emma Dodd\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.templarco.co.uk/fiction/gerrard_dodd.html\">Kelly Gerrard\u003C/a>. There were quite a few Americans about, and I somehow didn't manage to get a snap of \u003Ca href=\"http://www.carolinelawrence.com/\">Caroline Lawrence\u003C/a>, who last time I saw her was in full cowgirl outfit.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_emmakelly_zpsa9d7e9ce-48d63c2362.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nA big thanks to organiser \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Marielairre\">Ruth Huddleston\u003C/a>, for all the hard work she's putting into organising the Imagine Festival! Here she is with her daughter, \u003Cb>Lydia\u003C/b>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_ruthlydia_zps6351b2d4-483dc7c946.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOh dear, it's that Ardagh again! I need a longer photo to fit him in.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_ruthardaghlydia_zps259ee246-5c1164265f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd a big thanks to the Southbank's Performance and Dance Programmer \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/TamsinAce\">Tamsin Ace\u003C/a>, who's also been putting in huge efforts to get this festival rolling! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_tamsin_sarah_zps5456cb2a-7622cbc8fa.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nGary Northfield, writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.alexmilway.com/\">Alex Milway\u003C/a> and David O'Connell. They drank beers but I stuck to the mojitos. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_garyalexdave_zps63e06702-3d80bb7a50.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI found myself sitting right behind writer \u003Ca href=\"http://www.ashmistry.com/\">Sarwat Chadda\u003C/a> during the speeches.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_sarwat_sarah_zps67528adc-fbda7f3448.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nHere writer \u003Ca href=\"http://laurenstjohn.com/\">Lauren St John\u003C/a> and I are trying to decide on a proper photo face.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_sarah_lauren_zps340944da-9170382a83.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nCartoonist and writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.joeberger.co.uk/\">Joe Berger\u003C/a> with his partner \u003Cb>Charlotte\u003C/b>, and writer-illustrator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.edvere.com/\">Ed Vere\u003C/a>:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_charjoeed_zps121c8ccf-861365bba3.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nPoor \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axel_Scheffler\">Axel Sheffler\u003C/a>. Every time I've seen him, I've taken a photo of us looking more and more terrified (for some reason), but I think we've plumbed the depths of terror and must come up with a new expression for festival photos.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/imaginefest_axelsarah_zps6eff516c-b0e2e5ca9e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThanks so much, Ruth, Tamsin, all of the Imagine team, Book People and the evening's great performers for a lovely night! Bring on the festival!","2013-02-12T09:22:00.000Z","imagine-festival-gala-launch",[],"imagine festival gala launch",1776628724767]