Pictures of the week

The Bright Group’s commercial and fiction agent Nicky Lander and Templar Publishing’s Katie Haworth, Carly Blake and Ruth Symons attended a private view opening of the new exhibition of Bright illustrators’ work, The Bright Collection, at The Bright Emporium gallery in London on Tuesday 6th September.

The Observer’s Nick Cohen (left) chaired a debate on The Battle for British Islam by Sarah Khan and Tony McMahon (Saqi Books) on Wednesday 7th September.

Virgin Trains launched children’s story, The Girl Who Had Never Been On a Train, written by comedian and children’s author David Baddiel in his role as Virgin Trains’ ‘Summer Author’, with illustrations by Jim Field on Wednesday 7th September. 

A joint launch party for Natasha Farrant’s Lydia (Chicken House) and Time For Jas (Faber Children’s Books) at Waterstones Piccadilly on Thursday 8th September, with attendees including Catherine Clarke of Felicity Bryan Associates, Farrant, Barry Cunningham of Chicken House and Leah Thaxton of Faber Children’s Books.

On Monday 5th September, Sheffield's Off the Shelf Festival of Words was launched with support from (l-r) poet Genevieve Carver, Arts Council England’s Pete Massey, musician Nat Johnson, the University of Sheffield’s Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Sheffield Hallam University’s Chris Wigginton, author Richard Hines and Sheffield City Council’s Mary Lea.

Head of Zeus author Ken Liu visited the UK and took part in a signing at London’s Forbidden Planet store on Saturday 3rd September.

Jilly Cooper launched her new book Mount! (Transworld) at a party at the Mandarin Oriental in London's Knightsbridge with guests including Paul O'Grady and a white stallion.

It was the launch of The Glass Wall by Sue Unerman and Kathryn Jacob (Profile Books) on Wednesday 7th September.

On Wednesday 7th September, Hodder Children’s Books held a launch for Babette Cole’s Princess Smartypants and the Missing Princes and celebrated the 30th anniversary of Princess Smartypants at The Illustration Cupboard in London. Cole came dressed as Princess Smartypants and the party also featured a multi-tiered cake adorned with edible characters and frogs and original artwork by Cole displayed on the walls.

World Book Day 2017 launched with support from (l-r) Peppa Pig, authors Jacqueline Wilson, Francesca Simon, Liz Pichon and Steven Butler, and World Book Day director Kirsten Grant.