Renowned children’s author Cornelia Funke inspires young Hampstead writers
Daunt Books Children's short story competition award ceremony at Burgh House with children's author & illustrator Cornelia Funke - Credit: Nigel Sutton
Popular children’s author Cornelia Funke handed out prizes to 16 children whose short stories have been selected to appear in a published book.
The award-winning author, best known for her Inkheart trilogy, presented the seventh Daunt Books Children’s Short Story Awards at Burgh House in Hampstead last Thursday.
The bookshop chain, which has branches in Hampstead and Belsize Park, received 400 entries – more than ever before – and some came from as far afield as India and Hong Kong.
“We received the most entries we’ve ever had,” said Daunt Books manager Pippa Eldrige. “Cornelia read out all the winning stories and she’s also written the introduction for the book.
“She was really inspiring. One really lovely thing she said was that there is all this talk that kids don’t read any more, but it was heartening to see that kids still write and they have this wonderful imagination. It doesn’t necessarily come from having read – it’s just there.”
The book is on sale for £5 at all Daunt Books shops and entries for next year’s competition will open in September.
