This week is going to be super-exciting for South African writers as the annual (and fabulous!) Franschhoek Literary Festival runs from Friday to Sunday, with panel discussions, workshops, talks and all kinds of literary arty-fartyness. I adore the Festival - it's held in perhaps the most beautiful town in South Africa, between the mountains and the vineyards, and there's glorious food and wine in addition to the writerly battery recharge that results from listening to the great and talented discuss their craft and the state of writing and publishing in the world.
As part of their resolution to get children reading and involved in the festival (Yes!), the organisers have, for the first time, launched a Children's Festival. From Wednesday to Friday, a range of wriiters from the SA literary spectrum will be visiting schools in the valley, doing reading, workshops and presentations. I am so delighted to be one of them! I'll be presenting "Teens, tweens and Turtles" (Turtle Walk's eco plus psychological messages) to two groups of grade 6's at Bridge House School on Thursday, and on Friday, I'll be doing readings of Jemima Jones and the Revolving Door of Doom to the Grade Grade 2's at Groendale Primary - expecting much noise and hilarity... :)
This is such an important initiative. As a psychologist, I know just how vitally important it is to instill an ease and love of reading early on in childhood. Not only do readers fare way better on every academic measure throughout life, but their connection with books gives them a friend, support and resource for life. This is my kind of transformation!