Pathways Plus Webinar: Working with Writers

Smriti Halls is an internationally bestselling children’s author, published in 40 languages worldwide. Her best-loved titles include picture book classics Rain Before Rainbows, I Love You Night and Day, Elephant in My Kitchen and the I’m Sticking With You series. Smriti is a full-time writer, was Writer in Residence for BookTrust in 2020/21 and has helped judge several prizes including the Costa Book Awards and the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award. South Indian by birth, British by nationality and London-loving by heart. Smriti lives near Richmond Park with her husband and their three sons.

Smriti has won many awards including: The Sheffield Book Award (2022), The English Association Award (2018) and the Sheffield Book Award (2021).

Steve Small has worked in animation for over 30 years as a director, designer and animator. The work has varied from working on Disney features to designing and directing shorts, TV series, title sequences and commercials. I’m Sticking With You is the first picture book he has illustrated. Steve lives in London and when he’s not painting and drawing you’ll likely find him feeding the crows on Blackheath common.

Elorine has been working in publishing for over 30 years. She is currently Art Director for HarperCollins Publishers Children’s Department. Elorine has the great privilege of working with some of the most talented authors and illustrators in the business: Michael Morpurgo, Judith Kerr, David Walliams, Michael Foreman and Steven Lenton to name a few. She feels passionate about children’s literacy and believes a book is a ’pathway’ to the world and beyond; that they should reflect a diverse range of people and experiences.

Steven Lenton is a multi-award winning illustrator, working from his studios in Brighton and London. He has written his own illustrated fiction series called ‘Genie and Teeny’ and has illustrated many children’s books including ‘The Hundred And One Dalmatians’ adapted by Peter Bently, The ‘Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam’ series by Tracey Corderoy, David Baddiel and Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s fiction titles and ‘The Nothing To See Here Hotel’ series by Steven Butler. 

He has illustrated two World Book Day titles and regularly appears at literary festivals, live events and schools across the UK.

Steven has his own ‘Draw-along’ YouTube Channel, showing how to draw a range of his characters, and a podcast interviewing illustrators called ‘Studiomate Steve.’ Steven has won the  ‘Octopus Shocktopus 2020 Early Reader Awards’ and the ‘FCBG overall and picture book awards 2022.’