Further Information
The programme is designed to give Mentees a robust understanding of quality live literature events for children and young people, and how to develop and execute them. It will connect Mentees to a welcoming community of writers, illustrators, publishers and booksellers as well as to their fellow Mentees. It will give them all the tools, support and information they need to help them present themselves and their work to a school, library or festival audience and to shape their event practice.
We are conscious that Mentees may face financial barriers. The Mentorships are fully funded and include travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for the training days and Children’s Books Ireland conference weekend. A fund to cover childcare costs is also available where needed.
Who is running the Live Literature Mentoring Programme?
The Live Literature Mentoring Programme is facilitated by Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde. Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council. It is managed and delivered on Council’s behalf by Children’s Books Ireland, and also supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Children’s Books Ireland will be the organisation leading the programme.
Am I eligible for the Live Literature Mentoring Programme?
The Live Literature Mentoring Programme is for writers who:
- Write fiction for children and young people aged 5–18 years old, in English or Irish
- Have either had one book for children and young people professionally published, or who have recently signed a contract with a professional publisher for publication of their début novel for children or young people in 2025 and have a manuscript to share
- Writers with a book currently professionally published in 2024, and with a new title being published with a professional publisher in 2025 are also eligible
- Live permanently in Ireland or Northern Ireland
We are aware début and soon to be début writers might have previous experience of live literature events, and some may have none. This is entirely up to you if you feel you would benefit from these tailored supports
We are happy to answer questions in relation to eligibility. We welcome applications from writers who are from marginalised and/or underrepresented communities, and will endeavour to ensure that all writers on the programme are supported in line with their specific needs. If you have any additional questions please email Ruth Ní Eidhin, Laureate na nÓg Project Manager, info@childrenslaureate.ie (Please note: working days are Monday to Wednesday).
When will it take place?
The Live Literature Mentoring Programme will commence in February 2025 and run until September 2025. Please take note of the dates of the in-person training and events offered (all dates take place in 2025)
Training Days – Galway
15th–16th February, Saturday & Sunday weekend event
24th May, Saturday one-day event
2 x school events (including shadowing session) – efforts will be made to locate these events within close proximity to Mentees homes
March and April, one-day events – dates and venues TBC with Mentees
Event pitch document critique during Summer 2025 (dates TBC with Mentees)
Attendance at Live Events – Culture Night* and Children’s Books Ireland International Conference – Dublin
19th–21st September, weekend events
*expected to take place on Friday, 19 September 2025
Is there a cost involved?
No, the Mentorships are fully funded. All mentoring and other support received will be free of charge to mentees. Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs will be covered for training days and for attendance at the CBI conference. A fund to assist with childcare costs is also available.
I write in a language other than English/Irish; can I apply for the Live Literature Mentoring Programme with this work?
Unfortunately not; we can only accept applications from writers working in English and as Gaeilge.
Where do I apply for the Live Literature Mentoring Programme?
Please click here for the application form. Applications will be accepted until 5pm, Friday 29th November 2024.
Mentees will be selected by the Laureate na nÓg Office and Children’s Books Ireland, along with one external reader (a published writer who has experience in live literature events). Successful applicants will be contacted by Friday 16th December 2024.
If you have any additional questions please email Ruth Ní Eidhin, Laureate na nÓg Project Manager, info@childrenslaureate.ie (Please note: working days are Monday to Wednesday).
Notes
- There will be four Mentorships available.
- As part of the Mentorship, Mentees will be required to share their published work or unpublished manuscript in full with other participants in the scheme in January 2025. Please consult with your publisher before applying to confirm that this is possible. We are happy to commit to signing NDAs.
- Please note as a Mentee you may be required to sign an NDA in relation to another Mentees’ work.
- Applications from writers working in the Irish language are welcome and school visits as part of the scheme can be facilitated in Gaelscoileanna where applicable. Please note that the training will be conducted in English only. We will request that a 500–word summary and three chapters be provided in English as well as the full text in Irish.
- The impact of the programme will be evaluated by Children’s Books Ireland’s Research & Evaluation Officer, who will conduct a short interview with each Mentee at the end of the programme.
- Please note, in the event that a large number of high quality submissions are received, a follow-up Zoom interview may be required in order to assess applicants’ suitability and to understand how the programme may best serve their needs.