26 To team up with student illustrators

Forty members of writers collective 26 are to team up with student illustrators from the London College of Communication in a project that hopes to see a series of children’s books come to publication.

The writers and illustrators will work in pairs, producing concepts for a children’s book. Publisher Faber & Faber is providing editorial, design and marketing support in X-Factor style mentoring, according to 26 founder John Simmons.

‘Contributors will be able to present their progress to a panel that includes editorial, art direction and marketing specialists from Faber & Faber, who will provide a reality check, with guidance and advice over a number of weeks,’ says Simmons.

A publishing deal is not part of the arrangement, but Simmons says, ‘It would be nice to get a book out of this.’

Concepts can encompass fiction, non-fiction or reference books and target any age group from pre-school to teenagers, says Simmons. The project launches on 6 December and final presentations are expected by March 2007.

An exhibition of the work from the project will take place in the spring and Simmons hopes other publishers will attend and take an interest in the concepts. The project will count towards student degrees.

26 was launched in September 2003 and has more than 300 members. It focuses on the written word, covering everything from business writing to poetry, and forges creative alliances with other like-minded organisations.