GLL Literary Foundation's launch event celebrates children's authors
Children’s authors, librarians and notables from the publishing world gathered at Battersea Library in South London yesterday (20th March 2025) to celebrate the launch of the GLL Literary Foundation.
Speakers at the event included GLL’s CEO Peter Bundey, who emphasised the importance of collaboration in protecting, supporting and growing library services. Isobel Hunter MBE, CEO of Libraries Connected talked about the unique role of libraries in uniting publishers, authors and audiences, GLL's Head of Libraries Rebecca Gediking shared the vision and purpose behind the newly established Foundation, while Wandsworth Council’s leader Councillor Simon Hogg, highlighted the borough’s continued support for libraries as London’s 2025 Borough of Culture.
Authors across all genres of children’s literature were encouraged to apply, including picture books, early readers, chapter books, poetry, non-fiction, novels graphic and verse novels.
Entries were assessed by a board of trustees drawn from GLL libraries, children’s librarians and the publishing world. The successful authors for 2025 are:
• Marcela Ferreira – Bromley – OUP UK
• Alex Falase-Koya – London – OUP UK
• Adeola Sokunbi – London – Nosy Crow
• Alom Shaha – London – Scribble UK
• Jesse Kaur – Dudley – Mantra Lingua
• Janelle McCurdey – London – Faber and Faber
• Sharada Keats – London - Scholastic
• Robert Pearce – London - Graffeg
• Hannah Moffatt – London – Everything With Words
• Rachel Cooke – Lincolnshire – Mama Makes Books
• Bethany Walker – Lincolnshire - Scholastic
• Helen Hancocks – Lincolnshire - Walker
• Nathanael Lessore – London – Hot Key Books
• Fay Evans – London – Flying Eye Books
• Olivia Wakeford – London – Harper Collins Children’s Books
• Nadine Wild-Palmer – London – Pushkin Children’s Books
• Jack Meggitt-Phillips – London - Farshore
Each of the successful authors will receive a bursary of £750 alongside in-kind support worth up to £4,000 each, that includes being partnered with a local librarian mentor who will help deliver a series of author events and provide networking opportunities with local booksellers, publishers, literary festivals and schools. Authors will also be offered three online training courses on brand identity, marketing and business planning.
Visit the GLL Literary Foundation page to read more about the Foundation and supported authors.