Talk to Jessica Townsend

The publisher of the award winning Nevermoor series, Hachette Australia, has teamed up with the Sydney Opera House and NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to offer schools an exciting digital experience with award winning children’s author, Jessica Townsend.

On the release of Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow, primary and secondary schools across Australia will have the opportunity to stream a digital in-conversation event with the record-breaking Australian author to celebrate the launch of the second book in the wildly popular series.

From today, schools will be able to sign up to one of two sessions which will be streamed live from beneath the sails of the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday, 31st October. Classroom resources and activities on the Nevermoor series will be available via the Sydney Opera House websites, and schools signed up for the sessions will also be able to submit questions for Jessica in advance of the session.

Jessica Townsend says: ‘My absolute favourite thing about being a children’s author is connecting with young readers. Being able to share a love of reading and writing, to celebrate imagination, and to talk about what inspires me to be creative is a joy and privilege, and I’m so excited that these digital sessions will allow me to reach classrooms I wouldn’t necessarily be able to visit in person.’

The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge will also donate a copy of Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow and Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow to the libraries of schools who contribute questions that are chosen forthe sessions. Tamara Rodgers, NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge Officer, says: ‘We love stories here at the PRC, and we’re thrilled to be joining with Hachette and the Sydney Opera House to bring this wonderful new Morrigan Crow adventure to students!’

Sydney Opera House Head of Children, Families and Creative Learning, Bridgette Van Leuven says: ‘Our digital creative learning program offers live and interactive cultural experiences to school children ensuring Sydney Opera House is accessible to rural and remote Australian communities. We are delighted to stream into classrooms, bestselling author Jessica Townsend for a live author talk as she shares insights into the Nevermoor series by answering questions from students and fans in real time.’

Schools can sign up for the sessions on The Sydney Opera House Digital program website here.

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend will be released October 30

(image of Jessica Townsend by Emma Nayler)