Top authors will inspire Renfrewshire schoolchildren as part of Paisley Book Festival

Hundreds of schoolchildren across Renfrewshire will delve into the world of writing as part of this year’s Paisley Book Festival.

Award-winning authors and poets are taking part in an extensive schools programme which will encourage and inspire young people to love reading, writing and books.

Sessions involve children aged from P1 through to S3, and include events at Paisley Town Hall as well as in 14 school and public libraries.

They will take youngsters on a literary journey through history, sport, adventure and Scotland’s amazing landscape.

The Paisley Book Festival Schools Programme will run from April 23 to 25, with the main festival taking place from April 25 to 27.

Building on the success of previous years, the schools initiative will reflect the festival’s The Lives We Live theme, considering concepts such as home and identity, travel, love and work, drawing inspiration from Paisley’s rich, creative history – celebrating the distinct personal experiences which shape superb Scottish writing and storytelling.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of festival organisers OneRen, said: “There’s something special about seeing young people realise the magic of the written word. That’s what makes the schools programme one of the most uplifting parts of Paisley Book Festival.

“We have a fantastic line-up of writers taking part, all of whom are fantastic at sharing their own love of writing in a fun and engaging way which inspires the next generation.”

The writers taking part this year are:

Tom Palmer, a children’s historical and sports fiction author with 54 books to his name.
Lindsay Littleson, a former primary school teacher and children’s author from Uplawmoor, near Glasgow. Her latest novel Ice Cream Boy has been shortlisted for Peters Children’s Book of the Year.
Barbara Henderson, the award-winning Inverness-based author of 12 children’s books, including her latest eco adventure, I Don’t Do Mountains.
David Macphail, the Perthshire writer who has written more than 30 fiction and non-fiction books, often inspired by travel adventures which saw him work as a pool waiter, a chicken farmer and ghost tour guide.
Brian Conaghan, whose new novel, Stealing Happy, is to be released this month (March) and whose last release, Treacle Town, was named the Honour Book for Fiction at the 2024 KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Award. It has also been shortlisted for the 2025 Carnegie Medal.

Joseph Coelho, the former Waterstones Children’s Laureate who is an award-winning poet, playwright and children’s author. He aims to inspire young people through stories and characters they can recognise, exploring themes including fear, courage, diversity, gratitude, empathy and loss.

Organised by OneRen, Paisley Book Festival 2025 is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Full details about the Paisley Book Festival line-up – including booking information for the main festival events – are available at www.paisleybookfestival.com.

Photo: Tom Palmer