Tickets

Valentine is the 2017 Hay Festival International Fellow and a multi award-winning author of YA fiction. Her novels include Finding Violet Park and Fire Colour One. The Welsh novelist is attending all Hay Festivals for one year, working with young people to give a voice to their concerns and present a manifesto for adolescence. In this session, she explores ways in which teenagers might be better understood and empowered.

The Dutch author explains how he writes and how he chooses certain words. Is it really true that you can write something down without actually writing it down? Come and explore the magic of writing.

In English

Join us in celebrating with words and music the official opening of the International Children’s Literature Hay Festival.

Drop in to the Illustration Hub where you can watch professional artists at work, from first stroke to finished book. Join in a workshop or simply watch and be inspired.

In Danish

Three writers included in the anthology Odyssey discuss the inspiration for their stories and explore the central themes. The stories are: Distance by Salla Simukka (Finland), Lost in Transformation by Cornelia Travnicek (Austria), Everyone Knows Petter’s Gay by Endre Lund Eriksen (Norway). All are available on Gyldendal’s Danskportal.

Get sound advice on how to construct an interesting fictional character and/or narrator in this workshop, which consists of presentations and writing exercises. Please bring paper and pen.

In Danish

Three writers in conversation with Karl Fischer about their stories written for the anthology Odyssey. They will share with the audience the inspiration for their tales and discuss the central themes. The stories are: Breakwater by Michaela Holzinger (Austria), Heads or Tails by Elisabeth Steinkellner (Austria) and Mediterranean Cruise by Cathy Clement (Luxembourg).

All are available on Gyldendal’s Danskportal

In German

In 2012, Anna Woltz (The Netherlands) experienced Hurricane Sandy in New York. Here she explains how she turned this frightening episode into a Young Adult novel. How close do you to keep to reality? And how did misbehaving parents, a boy with nine fingers and a fear of bacteria find their way into the story?

In English

Three writers talk about their stories published in the anthology Odyssey. They will share their inspiration with the audience and discuss the central themes. The stories are: #Parisjetaime by Sanne Munk Jensen (Denmark), Nearly Home by B.R. Collins (UK), The Blue Well by Ana Pessoa (Portugal).

All are available on Gyldendal’s Danskportal

In Danish and English

Two authors talk about their about their very different stories commissioned for the anthology Odyssey. They will share their ideas with the audience and discuss the central themes. The tales are: What We Have Lost by Sarah Engell (Denmark) and How the Gods Came to Abandon their Mountain and go Travelling by Gideon Samson (The Netherlands).

Both are available on the Gyldendals Danskportal

In English and Danish

In this interactive workshop we will learn about Louis Jensen’s story Lakridsmanden. It’s about a boy who lives in a small village. One day he finds a magical purse with a piece of liquorice inside shaped like an arm. Other pieces are shaped like legs and a head. Can the pieces be put together to form a human? or a monster? In this workshop we will look into the boy’s notebook and create our own journey – and together we will find an ending to the story.

In Danish

Two writers discuss their stories written for the anthology Odyssey, sharing with the audience the ideas that sparked the central themes.

The stories are: RMS Titanic by Nina E. Grøntvedt (Norway) and Mine by Sarah Crossan (Ireland).

All are available on Gyldendal’s Danskportal

In English and Danish

Every story starts with a character. How does a writer create the characters we come to love so much in our favourite books? In this workshop with the Belgian writer you will use your imagination to create a central character – and a big secret. Because everybody has a secret…

In English

Two writers discuss their stories written for the anthology Odyssey. They will share with the audience the ideas that sparked their tales and explore the central themes. The stories are: Pekka-Style by Finn-Ole Heinrich (Germany), When I Open My Eyes the World’s Askew by Annette Münch (Norway).

All are available on Gyldendal’s Danskportal

In Danish and English

You have a great idea but don’t know yet how to make it into a whole story. This workshop with Finnish writer Salla Simukka will teach you expert tips on how to do just that.

In English

The author of Berørte Katrine and Pragtfuldt, Pragtfuldt talks about on his book for teenagers – his inspiration, motivation and conviction that reading is important.

In Danish

Drop in to the Illustration Hub where you can watch professional artists at work, from first stroke to finished book. Join in a workshop or simply watch and be inspired.

In Danish

Two writers talk about their stories written for the anthology Odyssey. They will share with the audience how they found the inspiration for their story, and discuss the central themes.

The stories are: Journey at Dusk by Sandrine Kao (France) and Out There by Victor Dixen (France).

Both are available on Gyldendal’s Danskportal

In French

The Danish author’s existential YA/crossover novel Nothing (2000) was first banned, then became an international bestseller, winning numerous international prizes, and is now considered a modern classic. Teller will talk about her unique passport-shaped book War, What if it Were Here? about life as a refugee, which she has adapted to each country where it is published.

In Danish

Eriksen (Norway) reveals how he wrote the book, and how much truth there is in it. He explains how he uses his memories to create fictional tales that have some truth in them. He will pass on his advice on how to write a story.

In Danish