TEENS SORTED FOR APP-Y ENDINGS THIS
WORLD BOOK DAY!
· New app launched with free, exclusive new stories from nine top YA authors
· App powered by Movellas.com for download to iOS and Android devices
An eclectic and exciting mix of exclusive new stories from some of the country’s hottest Young Adult (YA) writers has launched on a brand new app for World Book Day.
Available to download for FREE on iOS and Android devices in the UK and Ireland, the app has been developed in partnership with online teen reading and writing platform Movellas.com, with contributions from Sarah Alderson, Josephine Angelini, Dave Cousins, Will Hill, Sarah J. Maas, Patrick Ness, Dawn O’Porter, Chris Ryan and Alex Scarrow.
And joining the top line-up of YA writing talent are a clutch of aspiring young authors from the Movellas community, whose stories have been added to the app after receiving nominations from their peers.
From comedy, friendship and romance, to fantasy, horror and espionage, the app includes something for every teenage reader, whatever their favourite genres or interests.
Broadcaster, author and YA contributor, Dawn O’Porter said, “I’m proud to have my World Book Day story sitting alongside the cream of the country’s young writing crop. I hope members of the Movellas community will be inspired by the new app to continue dreaming up exciting ideas and characters, and developing their own unique voice.”
There are five exclusive stories on the app on release and a further four will be released on World Book Day on 7 March, and available to read on the app for two months.
Yvonne Biggins, Community Director at Movellas commented, “The opportunity to appear alongside their writing idols on the YA app has been a brilliant way to encourage teenagers to develop their own writing skills. Not only have we seen thousands of brilliant entries posted on the site but we've also seen even more voting and commenting on the stories.”
Kirsten Grant, Director of World Book Day said, “The new app and our partnership with Movellas is just one way of getting great book content to Young Adult readers who have a hunger for new stories from top authors. Delivering content digitally and talking to teens in the spaces they like to visit and socialise also allows us to offer a taste of the brilliant fiction that’s out there and hopefully, turn more young people on to reading.”
A brand new space for teens has been developed for the World Book Day website, packed with book recommendations, activities and information on YA book events, while new initiative The Word Herd has launched to give young people creative ideas for sharing their passion for books with schoolmates.
Alongside the World Book Day YA app, a special ‘Story Chain’ game is also being hosted on www.movellas.com, where eight of the app authors have suggested the first line of a new story for members to continue.
Yvonne Biggins said, “Our partnership activity with World Book Day is seeing a brilliant response from our community, and I hope providing a platform for teens to engage in this way sees many more fulfilling our joint mission to keep up the practice of reading and creating throughout the year.”
Visit www.worldbookday.com for more information, the latest news and to subscribe to the free monthly World Book Day e-newsletter.
- Ends -
For further information please contact Fiona Bruce or Emma Wall at Consolidated PR on 020 7781 2300 or email worldbookday@consolidatedpr.
Notes to Editors
The World Book Day YA app, powered by and with original content from Movellas.com young writers, is available for both iOS and Android platforms, from iTunes and Google Play.
The full line-up of stories on the World Book Day YA app is:
·Turning Amber, Sarah Alderson (Simon & Schuster)
·Starcrossed City, Jospehine Angelini (Macmillan)
·Department 19: The Secret History of a Teenage Vampire, Will Hill (HarperCollins)
·Magpie Soup, Dave Cousins (OUP)
·The Assassin and the Quest, Sarah J Maas (Bloomsbury)
·Bully For You, Dawn O’Porter (Hot Key)
·Agent 21: The Wire, Chris Ryan (Red Fox)
·TimeRiders: The Nearly Girl, Alex Scarrow (Puffin)
·This Whole Demoning Thing, Patrick Ness (Walker Books)
About World Book Day
World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.
World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books and reading for the personal enrichment and enjoyment of all. A main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. World Book Day is sponsored by National Book Tokens.
To mark the day, school children are entitled to receive a World Book Day £1 Book Token (or equivalent €1.50 Book Token in Ireland). The £1 Book Token can be exchanged for one of eight specially published World Book Day £1 Books, or is redeemable against any book or audio book of their choice costing £2.99 or more at a participating bookshop or book club. The World Book Day £1 Book Token will be valid from 25 February to 24 March 2013.
The full list of £1 books for 2013 is:
· Alfie’s Shop, Shirley Hughes (Random House)
· Giraffes Can’t Dance: Colouring and Puzzle Fun, Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees (Orchard Books)
·Horrid Henry’s Guide to Perfect Parents, Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony Ross (Orion)
·Tony Robinson’s Weird World of Wonders: Funny Inventions, Tony Robinson (Macmillan)
·The Diamond Brothers in… Two of Diamonds, Anthony Horowitz (Walker Books)
·Hang In There Bozo: The Ruby Redfort Emergency Survival Guide For Some Tricky Predicaments, Lauren Child (HarperCollins)
·Tom Gates: Best Book Day Ever! (so far), Liz Pichon (Scholastic)
·The Chocolate Box Girls: Bittersweet, Cathy Cassidy (Puffin Books)
The Republic of Ireland £1 book for 2013 is:
· Ask Eva, Judi Curtin (O'Brien)
About National Book Tokens
National Book Tokens are the perfect gift for book lovers everywhere and are the only gift cards sold and accepted in bookshops across the UK and Ireland, including all the major chains and local independents. As proud sponsors of World Book Day, National Book Tokens supports lifelong learning and improving literacy and access to reading for everyone. Visit <http://www.
About Movellas.com:
Movellas is a community site where everyone can share their passion for great stories. You could call it a YouTube for young writers. You can publish your own stories – or movellas as we like to call them - so that everyone can read them and give you feedback, you can find lots of fantastic stories to read in every genre and on every topic, and you can talk directly to the authors and the rest of the community about writing and stories. With Movellas, it is possible to read anywhere, anytime. You can download movellas as ebooks to your computer, tablet, iPad, iPod Touch, e-book-reader or smart phone. Quick, easy and totally free! At Movellas everyone can be a writer and publish their stories. Neither age nor experience is essential. All that we require is that you love to write and share your stories.