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CHILDREN’S author Amy Sparkes and illustrator Susie Tyler are coming to a festive market with a difference this year.

And they plan to use their skills to show children and adults how to illustrate, colour and write their own stories.

Events venue Colliton Barton, which is on the main road between Cullompton and Honiton, is playing host to the market on Sunday, November 15, and as well featuring high quality craft items for sale the organisers are inviting visitors to take part in workshops throughout the day.

Helen Bottrill, one of the organisers of the event, said...

Ten year-old Holli Williams wasn’t much of a reader – in fact – she wasn’t enjoying reading at all, until she visited her school library and discovered a book by Michael Dahl – and in that moment, she became hooked on reading.

Holli wrote a letter to Michael and her teacher emailed it to him in Minnesota in the United States, where he lives.

Michael received the letter and was so inspired by Holli’s enthusiasm and love of reading that he decided to make a special trip to meet her and find out more about the great reading initiatives going on at Marpool Primary School,...

As part of Dyslexia Awareness Week 2015, Tom McLaughlin, children’s author and illustrator will be hosting a story time session at Waterstones in Exeter (High Street branch).

Tom will be showcasing showcasing two of his children’s books by Bloomsbury Publishing, as well as sharing his own personal experiences of dyslexia on Monday 5 October.

At the story session, Tom, who is local to Exeter, will be reading from The Story Machine and The Cloudspotter.

The Cloudspotter tells the story of a young boy called Franklin, but everyone calls him The Cloudspotter. He doesn’t...

Some of the UK’s best-known authors have been sharing their memories of the books that made them fall in love with reading, as part of an online competition for the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival.

Paula Hawkins, Helen Lederer, David Lloyd, who will all be appearing at this year’s festival, plus Kate Mosse, Jessie Burton, Sadie Jones and Carol Drinkwater are just a few of the famous names who have joined in the discussion to tell fans about the book that was their first or most memorable read.

The #MyFirstRead competition was launched by the Budleigh Salterton Literary...

A budding local author, Kristie Herd, 29 from Exeter, is on the hunt for pledges in a bid to release her debut novel, Love’s Vindication.

Kristie, a Helpdesk Officer at Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, has approached a number of publications but as yet, has had little success. That was until she discovered Kickstarter, an organisation dedicated to finding new ways to fund innovative projects, big or small.

The projects are supported by pledges from those who wish to back an idea.

Until now Kristie has reached out to family and friends for pledges and...

Graeme Smith, born in Exeter in 1957 is an accomplished exponent of Kenpo karate and is a Fourth Degree Black Belt. He is fascinated by the Bronze Age and has found many artefacts from this period whilst out metal detecting. His other hobbies include collecting knapped flints, dog walking and meditation. He currently works for the NHS.

His mother; Trena served with military intelligence, sadly; two of her brothers were killed in action in World War II. The family home and business were also destroyed in bombing raids on Paris St, Exeter. During WWII Graeme’s father saw action in...

Devon author Derek Tait has published a new book which tells the story of the city of Exeter and its people during the First World War.

Exeter played a vital role during the First World War, supplying men for the army and raising funds to help troops overseas.

The mayoress and her team played a key role by collecting money to aid homeless Belgian refugees in the city while also supporting other worthy causes, both at home and overseas.

The city even had its own battalion, 'Exeter's Own', and thousands of servicemen passed through the city on their way to northern...