Two of the UK’s bestselling female writers – Joanna Trollope OBE and Dame Jacqueline Wilson OBE – will be spotlighted as part of this year’s Author of the Day programme at The London Book Fair (10-12 April 2018). The two authors were announced today alongside David Baldacci, who will join the fair as a special guest.
This announcement completes the programme which includes Mihkel Mutt (Estonia), Nora Ikstena (Latvia) and Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (Lithuania) who will represent The Baltics as Market Focus Authors of the Day.
Every year, the Author of the Day programme brings some of the most acclaimed, successful writers working today to the world’s creative capital, showcasing their work and celebrating their achievements.
The London Book Fair 2018 Authors of the Day are:
Tuesday 10th April: Joanna Trollope, General Trade Author of the Day
Wednesday 11th April: Mihkel Mutt (Estonia), Nora Ikstena (Latvia) and Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (Lithuania), The Baltics Market Focus Authors of the Day
Thursday 12th April: Jacqueline Wilson, Children’s Author of the Day
Jacks Thomas, Director, The London Book Fair, said:
Writers are an essential part of The London Book Fair and we are delighted to showcase such an outstanding group of authors as part of our 2018 programme. As we celebrate their work, we are reminded of the amazing breadth of talent and range of literature being produced around the world that brings our global publishing industry together.
First introduced in 2006, the Author of the Day programme is now established as a key element of the fair, with previous participants including: Boris Akunin, Malorie Blackman OBE, William Boyd, Anthony Browne, Julia Donaldson, Bi Feiyu, Sun-mi Hwang, Peter James, Elif Shafak, Valeria Luiselli, Deborah Moggach, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Ness, David Nicholls, Liz Pichon, Sir Terry Prachett, Axel Scheffler, Michael Morpurgo and Claire Tomalin.
The London Book Fair remains the leading global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. Taking over Olympia London from Tuesday 10-Thursday 12 April 2018, the fair is a unique opportunity to explore, understand and capitalise on the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future.
Book your ticket to The London Book fair 2018
ABOUT JOANNA TROLLOPE
Joanna Trollope is the author of twenty highly acclaimed and bestselling novels, including The Rector’s Wife, Marrying the Mistress and Daughters in Law. She was appointed OBE in 1996, a trustee of the National Literacy Trust in 2012, and a trustee of the Royal Literary Fund in 2016. She has chaired the Whitbread and Orange Awards, as well as being a judge of many other literature prizes including chairing the BBC National Short Story Awards for 2017. She has been part of two DCMS panels on public libraries and is patron of numerous charities, including Meningitis Now and Chawton House Library. In 2014, she updated Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility as the opening novel in the Austen Project. An Unsuitable Match is her twenty-first novel.
ABOUT JACQUELINE WILSON
Dame Jacqueline Wilson is a former Children’s Laureate and a multi award-winning, bestselling author whose books have sold over 40 million copies in the UK alone and have been translated into 34 different languages. Jacqueline Wilson is the Chancellor at the University of Roehampton where she is also a visiting Professor of Children’s Literature. Jacqueline also holds Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Bath, Dundee, Kingston and Winchester.
ABOUT THE BALTIC COUNTRIES
Baltic Countries Market Focus: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all celebrating the centennial of their independent republics in 2018, introduce the exciting chance to discover epic past and vibrant, inventive present through the strong voice of modern literature. Three countries share the beauty of the Baltic sea’s coastline, brave history and inspiring contemporary culture. Cherishing all that they have in common, the three Baltic Countries Market Focus countries are joining intellectual and creative forces to express unique experiences through unique stories.
ABOUT SPECIAL GUEST DAVID BALDACCI
David Baldacci is one of the world’s bestselling and favourite thriller writers. With over 130 million copies in print, his books are published in over 80 territories and 45 languages, and have been adapted for both feature-film and television. He has established links to government sources, giving his books added authenticity. David Baldacci’s first novel, Absolute Power became a movie directed by and starring Clint Eastwood and his King and Maxwell novel were adapted into a TV series. Whilst researching his novels, David Baldacci has been inside the buildings of some of the world’s leading intelligence agencies, meeting real-life spies and intelligence leaders. David writes two new thrillers a year and his Autumn novel is the start of a new series featuring a female protagonist FBI agent. He lives in Virginia.