THE TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN'S FICTION COMPETITION - SHORTLIST 2016

Are you a writer with an original and exciting story for 7-to-18-year-olds? If so, we  the Times/Chicken House run an annual competition. Every entry will be read by our team of experienced readers in order to draw up a longlist of the very best submissions. Barry Cunningham and the Chicken House editorial team will then narrow these down to a shortlist of five.

Here is this years shortlist:

ASTERIX CLEMENTINE by Janine Barnett-Phillips (@smithereens69)

A gritty love story between two teens with an unexpected twist. A contemporary YA tale about having the courage to live what you believe.

THE FIREFLY CAGE by Nicki Thornton (@nicki_thornton)

A middle-grade murder mystery with a magical twist: kitchen boy Seth must solve a murder at a convention of magicians in order to prove himself innocent.

FROSTSLIVER by Jamie Smith (@jamiehbsmith)

The story of one girl’s extraordinary survival when caught in a mountainside avalanche atop a sentient glacier. A highly original, wintry fantasy for ages 12+.

MILO AND OPERATION STEPDAD by Tracy Darnton (@tracydarnton)

Suitable for ages 7+, and follows Milo’s funny and heart-warming quest to find a partner for his single mum.

PROJECT CAT'S AWAY by Julie Mee (@meejuliemee)

Follows 12-year-old junior CIA agent, Emma, who struggles to maintain her work-life balance when a friend discovers her secret. Action and hilarity for middle-grade readers.

We're very excited to have such a stellar shortlist - look out for the winner announcement, coming in June. A huge congratulations to all our shortlisted authors!

Website: http://www.chickenhousebooks.com

Twitter: @chickenhsebooks 

The Big Idea Competition - Barry Cunningham/Tess Daly - Have You Got One?

GREAT NEW IDEAS FOR CHILDREN’S STORIES GET THE CHANCE TO BE TOLD!

Tess Daly joins nationwide search to discover the next big story idea for children

Judged by experts from the book, film, TV and theatre world

Challenging convention on how great ideas become stories today

Britain has created some of the greatest children’s stories in history. From J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the nation has produced ideas that have become part of our cultural heritage and captivated audiences around the world. 

Now the search is on to find Britain’s next ‘big idea’ with a major new competition to discover original story ideas for children. The Big Idea will be encouraging the nation to get creative this summer, giving participants the chance to see their ideas nurtured and developed by experts in the world of family entertainment. The competition challenges convention on how ideas can be brought to life and made into new narratives in book, film, TV, theatre or gaming.

The Big Idea is working with six respected judges who have a wealth of relevant industry experience between them:

·               Tess Daly – TV broadcaster

·               Neil Blair –  J.K. Rowling’s agent

·               Barry Cunningham OBE – Children’s publisher

·               Debra Hayward – Film producer

·               Sonia Friedman – Theatre producer

·               Philip Ardagh – Children’s author and literary critic

The judges will work together to choose six winning ideas. The winners will each receive £1000 plus the chance to see their idea come to life, with one overall winner offered the prize of a publishing contract and the promise of their idea being nurtured, developed and written by a well-known author. As Neil Blair explains, ‘The Big Idea is an exciting new way to bring new children’s stories to life by going to the heart of every one of them: the big idea at their core.’

The overall winner’s publishing contract will be in line with industry standards, with a shared royalty on every copy sold. The six winners could additionally see their idea work across a variety of media platforms, including film, TV, gaming, websites, apps and stage, with a commensurate royalty share.

Entering couldn’t be easier, and creative writing ability isn’t a requirement – entrants simply need to outline their original idea in up to 750 words, describing what happens in the story, who’s in it, where it takes place and the type of audience it’s intended for. Entrants can visit the website at www.thebigideacompetition.co.uk for creative advice and look out for top tips and inspiration on The Big Idea’s social media channels. The competition opens on Monday July 7^th and the winning ideas will be announced in early November.

Tess Daly adds, ‘All the best children’s books come from a great idea, and a great idea can come from anywhere! I’ve joined forces with The Big Idea to celebrate Britain’s talent for storytelling and creativity. There are so many people who have a seed of an idea for a book, film or TV programme but don’t know what to do with it, so this is their chance to get support from the best. I love sharing and making up my own stories with my children – so I can’t wait to help uncover the next big story idea to be loved by adults and children alike.’

Competition closing date: 2nd September 2014

Film News: Relativity Signs Mikael Håfström To Direct Epic Adventure Film Tunnels Written By Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

                                           

THE BEST NEWS SO FAR THIS YEAR - Congratulations Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams.

Relativity Media announced today they have signed Mikael Håfström (The Tomb, 1408) to direct a film based on the New York Times' best-selling, internationally-acclaimed fantasy adventure book series Tunnels. The script by Andrew Lobel is based on the adapted screenplay originally written by Joel Bergvall & Simon Sandquist. Tunnels is the film adaptation of the first installment of the novel series from Scholastic/Chicken House publishing, by authors Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, which has sold over one million copies and has been published in nearly forty countries worldwide.

The authors have already completed five sequels with the sixth and final book in the series, Terminal, to be published in the U.S. this fall. The property was unearthed by Barry Cunningham, the man credited with discovering "Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling and whose boutique Chicken House imprint is part of Scholastic, the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and the U.S. publisher of the "Harry Potter" and "The Hunger Games" series.

Tunnels is a thrilling, epic fantasy adventure for all ages. Beneath the streets of London, two teenage boys discover an incredible, hidden underground world where a secret civilization has been desperately waiting for a hero to save them all. The deeper they go, the closer they get to unearthing an evil that could destroy the world above and put an end to the lives they once lived.

Tunnels is being produced by Mark Canton (300, Immortals), Neil Canton (Back to the Future) and Danny Davids alongside Relativity's CEO Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter). Relativity's President Tucker Tooley (The Fighter) will executive produce with Kelly Dennis (1408). Atmosphere's David Hopwood will serve as co-producer.

Cunningham said, "Only a few times in my life have I felt that rush of imagination in a story that I know is going to sweep up an audience in its grip, 'Tunnels' made me believe in adventure, bravery and a new world."

Tooley said, "Andrew has written an incredible script and Mikael brings a creative and powerful vision to this project. The 'Tunnels' novels have proven to be one of the most immensely exciting adventure series in recent years and we can’t wait to translate that excitement to the big screen."

"The originality of the book and its sequels, which uniquely combine the adventure of Indiana Jones with the magic of Narnia, along with its franchise potential, is what attracted Relativity, Neil, Danny and myself to 'Tunnels' and I'm delighted to be producing it with them," Mark Canton added. "Having just finished 'The Tomb' with Mikael Hafstrom, I know first hand that he's the perfect person to direct this epic fantasy, and Andrew Lobel's script has captured every bit of the incredible world that Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams have created."

"Barry Cunningham clearly has a keen eye for spotting authors whose epic stories appeal to readers of all ages around the globe," said Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade. "Scholastic is proud to be the American publisher of the bestselling 'Tunnels' series, and we look forward to seeing this underground and imaginative world expand through film."