New committee members join SoA's children’s writers group

11 January 2019

We were delighted to welcome new committee members to our Children’s Writers and Illustrators (CWIG) group last month.

The group said goodbye to committee members Lucy Coats, Miriam Moss and James Mayhew, and welcomed Robin Stevens, S.F. Said and Steve Antony in their place, who were elected unopposed on 12 December 2018 and will continue to campaign for children’s writers and illustrators in the UK.

Robin Stevens is the award-winning author of Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries and The Guggenheim Mystery. Author S.F. Said’s first book, Varjak Paw, won the Smarties Prize for Children’s Literature and the sequel, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, won the Blue Peter Book of the Year. Steve Antony is an award-winning illustrator and writer of 16 picture books, having won London Evening Standard’s Oscar’s Book Prize and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for The Queen’s Hat.

Meet the rest of the CWIG commitee here.

Here’s what they had to say:

Robin Stevens:

“I’m thrilled to be serving on the CWIG committee, and I really hope that I can help make a difference to the UK author community.”

S.F. Said:

"I believe strongly in the work of the Society of Authors, and whole-heartedly support the Children's Writers and Illustrators Group in their mission to raise the profile of children's books – so I am delighted to serve on the CWIG committee!"

Steve Antony:

“I am delighted and honoured to be joining the committee and looking forward to playing an active role.”

What does CWIG do?

CWIG was formed to address the issues particular to those working in children’s publishing and bring those members together professionally and socially.

The committee advise on industry standards, terms and fees offered to our members and hold regular meetings and events on various aspects of the industry.

In recent years the group has campaigned for better contract terms, such as those offered for special sales; to support libraries; and for the promotion of literacy, including establishing a Reading for Pleasure Award that Society of Authors members can immediately give to schools that are inspiring children to read.

Find out more about our special interest groups including CWIG.