The awards recognise the best and most promising literary voices of the year, with more than £100,000 awarded for novels, non-fiction, children’s books, short stories and poetry. The winners of nine prizes will be announced at an event at Southwark Cathedral on 18 June.  

Cerrie said:

“I’m ecstatic to be presenting this year’s keynote speech for the Society of Authors’ Awards and Summer Party. Storytelling is such a crucial and vibrant part of our cultural heritage. In a time where reading for enjoyment is dipping and there are many competing factors, I couldn’t be happier to be championing the necessary magic and power of books, celebrating authors from all different genres at a legendary summer party that looks to raise the bar for literary joy.”

Cerrie is perhaps best known for her work on CBeebies, a role which earned her critical recognition and a devoted fan base. During her time on CBeebies she has broken down barriers, challenged stereotypes and overcome discrimination to become one of the most visible disabled presenters on children’s television.  

She is also the author of 16 children’s books. Her nonfiction book I Am Not A Label was an Amazon US Twenty Best Children’s Nonfiction Book of 2020 and was the overall Children’s Choice winner of the SLA Information Book Awards 2021. Wilder Than Midnight, Cerrie’s inclusive fairytale retelling, was Indie Book of the Month and Blackwell’s Book of the Month for May 2022 and was shortlisted for the first ever Adrien Prize and the Sheffield Children’s Book Award.  

Her first young teen duology, The Princess And The Thief, comes out in September. 

Alongside her writing, Cerrie is the founder and creative director of Stories By The Lake Literary Festival, which champions inclusion and celebrates diversity and storytelling. She created the one woman show The Magical Playroom, has appeared in the BBC drama Doctors and made the eye-opening documentary Silenced for the BBC. She also spent a year behind the scenes as the BBC’s ambassador for disability with the creative diversity unit.

We’re delighted that Cerrie will be joining us for our Awards and Summer Party and we hope you will join us too. As well as celebrating our prize winners, it’s a wonderful opportunity to gather with fellow authors for an evening of festivities.

Buy your tickets to the SoA Awards and Summer Party here | Register for the ceremony’s Livestream here

The SoA Awards Ceremony is generously supported by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS).