Storybox 2016 Festival Launch at Foyles

It's no secret that I love a good book event, and Foyles does some of the best ones around; from panels such as the Bloomsbury New Writers' Evening and Quick Reads 10th Anniversary Event to author specific events with the likes of Rachel Caine, Maggie Stiefvater and Matt Haig. This summer, on top of their standalone activities, Foyles is organising the Storybox Festival, which is packed full of children's and young adult fun across the UK and I was kindly invited to the bloggers and press launch in London. 


We were welcomed with deliciously cold glasses of Prosecco (perfect for the hot summer weather this week in London) and enjoyed this along with the generous spread as we chatted to other attendees, some familiar faces and some new but all with a shared passion for books and especially sharing the love for books and reading.


The Storybox Festival is aimed at children and young adults (though there is lots to enjoy for adults too) and so the launch picnic had a distinctive youthful feel to it and I loved rediscovering sweets from my childhood among the party fare. Not to mention that the colourful candy, bunting and accessories, already emitted that fun festival feel, before Storybox has even officially kicked off (which it does on Saturday, 23 July).


After much munching and chatting we were officially welcomed to the event by Megan from Foyles who spoke to us about some of the exciting activities planned for the Storybox Festival across different locations of Foyles in London and across the UK. My eye instantly fell on the upcoming Jenny Maclachlan and Sarah Crossan YA panel at the Charing Cross Road branch next Tuesday, 26 July and I have since booked my tickets, it sounds THAT good.


It wouldn't be a book event without an author in attendance, of course, and we had the joy of having Alwyn Hamilton in our midst, author of YA fantasy Rebel of the Sands (which sounds absolutely brilliant by the way! I've had my eye on it ever since it was a Books on the Underground campaign, which I'm a part of, and I hope to be digging into it soon). I loved how she spoke about her appreciation of the hard work bloggers do, the many authors she discovered through blogs, and she even said that after writing a book it'd feel as if she's sending it out into a void if it weren't for bloggers ♥


The Storybox festival officially kicks off this Saturday, 23 July, runs until 14 August and is jam-packed with fun and activities for children and young adults in London, Bristol and Birmingham. From treasure hunts and a Matilda reading (by one of the Matilda the Musical cast members), to themed activities around Beatrix Potter, Maisy, The Gruffalo, Roald Dahl, Harry Potter and Where's Wally. Tickets range from free to £8 (with an optional £5 add-on for goodie bags). Check out the full programme for the festival here: www.foyles.co.uk/storybox.