Ilkley Literature Festival, in partnership with Bradford Grammar School, presents Malorie Blackman: Just Sayin’.
Before her BAFTA award wins, her OBE and appointment as Children’s Laureate in 2013, Malorie Blackman was a young girl from South London who fell in love with books and found a home in her local library and a world of words at her fingertips.
From embracing her alternative way of seeing the world and all its fascinating differences and possibilities; to her desire to share that passion with others by becoming an English teacher but being told no by her careers advisor because of her race; to the doctor who told her she would be dead by thirty when she was diagnosed with sickle cell, and the eighty plus rejection letters she received from publishers before her first ever children’s book was published. Her life’s journey – has been an eventful one – marked by trauma, trials, and triumph, yet in spite of all the many setbacks in her life, she held fastidiously on to her dream of becoming a writer.
Malorie charts her life not in a succinct order of events, but against the principles which have motivated her journey and reasons for becoming a writer – wonder, loss, anger, perseverance, representation, and love. Each tenet has played a unique role in inspiring her writing, her deep resolve and infectious zest for life.
Malorie Blackman’s life story is a testament to hope, humour and honesty. Funny, frank, and full of life lessons, Just Sayin’ is the deeply personal and vividly compelling story of a natural storyteller, her incredible life which defied expectations and inspired a generation.
For more information on this year’s Ilkley Literature Festival programme, visit: www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/whats-on
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