Malorie Blackman OBE
About Malorie Blackman
Malorie Blackman OBE has a long connection with City Lit as a former student attending diverse courses with us since the late 1980s. Having written over fifty books, Malorie is acknowledged as one of today’s most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers. She has been recognised with numerous honours for her work, including the Red House Children’s Book Award and the Fantastic Fiction Award. Malorie has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. In 2005 she was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her contribution to children’s books, and in 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children’s literature. Malorie was the Children’s Laureate 2013–2015. Her autobiography will be published on Stormzy's Merky Books imprint in 2022. Noughts and Crosses is a forthcoming BBC television adaptation of the first book in the novel series of the same name by Malorie Blackman. The series is speculative fiction set in an alternate history, where black "Cross" people rule over white "Noughts". The first episode aired on BBC One on 5 March 2020.
Malorie Blackman 'Unheard Voices' Scholarships
In 2019, City Lit announced the Malorie Blackman OBE 'Unheard Voices' Creative Writing Scholarships. City Lit will provide three annual awards worth up to £1000 each to fund study within the City Lit Creative Writing department. The awards seek to support and encourage the creative and professional development of ‘unheard voices’, and can be used to fund courses within the City Lit Creative Writing department. The final award winners will be selected by acclaimed writer, City Lit Fellow and Patron of the School of Humanities & Sciences, Malorie Blackman OBE. Announcing the Unheard Voices Scholarships in its Centenary year, City Lit want to hear from students and in particular from students in underrepresented groups.
City Lit CEO and Principal Mark Malcomson CBE said, “We are thrilled to announce the Unheard Voices Scholarships and to have our dear friend, Fellow and Patron, Malorie’s involvement in the project. Malorie’s history with City Lit just goes to show how important in a writer’s career a creative writing course can be. We’re so excited to uncover the next generation of story-tellers, bringing their unique perspectives to the fore.”
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