The first virtual open day will be for writers on 12th October and the second one will be for illustrators on 13th October. The days will give talent from the North and Scotland the opportunity to engage directly with a publishing team from Hachette Children’s Group and receive industry feedback and direction on their work.

Attending the days will be picture book development director, North, Emma Layfield (based in Manchester) along with other picture book editors and designers from the Hachette Children's Group.

The days are open to writers and illustrators over the age of 18 who are living in the North of England (North West, North East and Yorkshire) and Scotland and are previously unpublished in children’s books.

Entries must be text or artwork for children. Writers should submit one complete picture book text (maximum 1,000 words), writer-illustrators should submit one complete picture book text plus three pieces of their artwork (in colour), and illustrators should submit three pieces of their picture book portfolio (in colour).

All submissions should be emailed as a PDF or Word document to picturebooksubmissions@hachettechildrens.co.uk and Hachette asks entrants to include their name in the file name and also whether they are a writer, illustrator or writer-illustrator.

Details here

Deadline: Submissions open 10th June and close on 1st September 2020