Come and hear award-winning authors Patricia Forde, Dave Rudden and Alex Dawson discuss writing for young people at Kennys Bookshop. They will join Tomás Kenny in conversation, and all are welcome!

If you’ve ever considered writing for young people, this is the event for you. Hear these authors’ horror stories, bring your burning questions and hear them discuss writing for young people – from their inspirations to redrafting to navigating that submission process.

Tickets for this event are free.

About the Authors:
Patricia Forde is Ireland’s seventh Laureate na nÓg. Her first novel, The Wordsmith, won a White Raven Award and is an American Library Association Notable Book for Children. She also writes picture books, children’s television and middle-grade novels in Irish.

Dave Rudden is the author of the Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy, as well as multiple works in the Doctor Who universe and the new 9-11 horror series, Tales of Darkisle. He is DCU’s Artist-in-Residence and regularly mentors students in Ireland and abroad.

A veteran theatrician and bookseller, Alex Dawson is the only professor of creative writing in Rutgers University who regularly employs puppeteers and sword-swallowers to get his points across. His debut novel, Welcome to White Hart, will be published by Little Island in 2026.

If you have any questions on this event or would like to be notified of other events at Kennys Bookshop, please email martha@kennys.ie.