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Award-winning author to inspire adventure story-telling

Tour dates are included in this release. If you are interested in an interview with Ciaran Murtagh or would like a reporter or photographer to attend one of the events please contact: [email protected] or 0131 524 0184.

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour brings award-winning children’s author and screenwriter Ciaran Murtagh to schools in East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Falkirk during 11 – 15 September. He will help pupils in P4 – P7 to create their own adventures, demonstrating how to build a story from scratch. The tour is sponsored by Scottish Friendly and run by Scottish Book Trust.

Ciaran Murtagh is an exciting star in the world of children’s literature. He currently lives in London and to date has over thirty books to his name, including The Genie and The Dino series. Ciaran has written for some of the most best-loved TV shows, including Dangermouse, Mr. Bean, and The Legend of Dick and Dom.

His most recent series, The Fincredible Diary of Fin Spencer, stars twelve-year-old aspiring stuntboy-rockstar, Fin Spencer. In the first book in this series, Stuntboy, Fin is given a magical and mysterious diary which changes his life in the most unexpected and often hilarious ways! The Fincredible Diary of Fin Spencer won the Leicester Best Book Award, and prior to that Ciaran won a Riveting Reads Award for Genie in Training.

Commenting on the tour, Ciaran said:

“Scotland is a land full of stories and I'm thrilled I get the opportunity to devise some more alongside the children I meet on tour!” Every year there are six Scottish Friendly Children Book tours – four in Scotland and two in England, visiting a vast range of different communities: from rural schools with an eight pupil roll in Mouswald to 400 seat theatres in Glasgow. The tour visits both primary and secondary schools and has enthralled over 90,000 children since it began in 1998.

Commenting on Ciaran’s tour, David Strain, Scottish Friendly’s Community Manager said:

“We are excited to have Ciaran touring with us for the first time.  Not only will pupils get to meet a star author, Ciaran is sure to leave a lasting impression as he shows pupils how to create stories for themselves.”

Scottish Friendly has sponsored the programme for the past 19 years, touring some of the finest children’s authors and illustrators including former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, Malorie Blackman, Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson, Melvin Burgess, Steve Cole, Michael Morpurgo and Sophie McKenzie.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, added:

“Bringing an author into schools is hugely inspiring for pupils and we are delighted to work with Scottish Friendly to share this magic with young people in East Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Falkirk.  Ciaran’s visit will generate excitement about reading and inspire the children to write their own stories.”

Monday 11 (Renfrewshire)

Newmains Primary School 9-10am

Todholm Primary School 1.30-2.30pm

 

Tues 12 (Renfrewshire)

St James Primary School 9-10am

Heriot Primary School 1.30-2.30pm

 

Wed 13 (East Ayrshire)

Crosshouse Primary School 9.30-10.30am

Barshare Primary School & Supported Learning Centre 1.30-2.30pm

 

Thurs 14 (Falkirk)

Kinnaird Primary School 9 – 10am

St Francis Xaviers Primary School 1-2pm

 

Fri 15 (Falkirk)

Comely Park Primary School 9.15-10.15am

St Margaret’s Primary School 1.30-2.30pm 

 

Download a PDF of this press release here

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