The London Book Fair (LBF) has today announced its Author of the Fair line-up, comprising of: Rachel Bright & Jim Field as Children’s Creatives of the Fair; Booker-prize winner and global best-selling author Bernardine Evaristo; award-winning author of adult and teen novels Holly Jackson; and Japanese writer and YouTuber Uketsu as the Market Focus Author of the Fair.
Emma Lowe, Director of The London Book Fair, said: “We are over the moon to announce the incredible line-up of authors and creatives who will join us as Authors of the Fair next March. From a Booker-winning novelist to celebrated creators of children’s books, and from a New York Times best-selling author for all ages to the mysterious writer and YouTuber who got the world talking about his unique craft – what a stellar array of talent! We are genuinely looking forward to welcoming them all at Excel next year, and hearing about their work, inspiration and upcoming projects.”
A writer and illustrator, Rachel Bright has created countless bestselling books for children, including Love Monster, The Lion Inside, The Koala Who Could and The Worrysaurus and has won many prestigious awards including The Lollies, The Evening Standard Oscar’s Book Prize and The Sainsbury’s Book Award. Her books have been translated into 47 languages and have sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
Jim Field is an award-winning illustrator, character designer and animation director. He has won multiple awards including the BookTrust Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Oscar’s Book Prize, Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards and The Lollies Book Award. He regularly collaborates with Rachel Bright (The Lion Inside), Kes Gray (Oi Frog!) as well as writing and illustrating his own bilingual books in the Monsieur Roscoe series.
Rachel Bright said: “I believe stories can change the world. One word, one sentence, one book at a time. Creating that change through books is an almost unfathomable symphony – an intricate ecosystem across the world of people in every walk of publishing and education and creativity who believe in putting the right books in the right hands at the right time. The London Book Fair is at the heart of that symphony and it’s an enormous privilege to be invited to be Children’s Creative 2027 alongside my co-creator, Jim Field.
This feels like a milestone I couldn’t have imagined when I began as an children’s author and illustrator, over 18 years ago, visiting The London Book Fair, starry-eyed, for the first time…in awe of it all! This time, I return with almost two decades of creating and more than 50 books under my belt and now even moreawe for it all.
Together, Jim and I hope to celebrate every aspect of what this Fair does best – connect people who care with ideas that matter, so ever more readers can experience the magic of stories – from as early on in life as possible – and to shout from the rooftops that our world needs more of the new ways of seeing that stories bring – perhaps more urgently than ever before!”
Jim Field said: “What a huge honour and a real ‘pinch-me’ moment to be chosen alongside Rachel as the creatives for The London book Fair 2027. I left London 12 years ago as a relatively unknown children’s book illustrator, so to return for my very first London Book Fair as the creative for 2027 is deeply special. I’m really looking forward to seeing friends and peers and meeting fellow book creators and book lovers from around the world. It doesn’t matter how old you are or where you’re from, the love of sharing stories unite us as humans. And the diversity and energy of London is the perfect place to host us all.”
Bernardine Evaristo won the Booker Prize 2019 with her eighth book, Girl, Woman, Other, the first black woman and black British person to win it. The novel is a global bestseller and had been translated into nearly forty languages. The author of essays, journalism, literary criticism, poetry and drama, her other books include her memoir, Manifesto, On Never Giving Up (2021), and her award-winning novel, Mr Loverman (2013), which was adapted into a BBC miniseries in 2024, winning two BAFTAs for the leads.
Bernardine Evaristo said: “I’m deeply honoured to be appointed Author of the Fair 2027 for this essential, dynamic and unique gathering of literature professionals. I look forward to talking about my work and backstory, and meeting with my industry colleagues and readers. I’ve only attended once before and the atmosphere was electrifying. Books are one of the foundational pillars of our civilisation and now more than ever, we need to support and promote literature, literacy and the great pleasures and rewards of reading.”
Holly Jackson is an award-winning author of adult and teen novels including the #1 New York Times bestseller A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, adapted for TV by the BBC and Netflix, with Season 3 currently in production. Her debut adult novel Not Quite Dead Yet, which first published in 2025, was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller.
Holly Jackson said: “I’m honoured to be an Author of the Fair for LBF 2027. It will also mark my very first time attending the fair which I am very excited about. I know The London Book Fair is the beating heart of global publishing and I am eternally grateful for how international markets have championed my previous books. So it’s a privilege to be at the centre of proceedings this year, both looking back at my career and looking ahead to the many stories yet to come.”
Uketsu is an enigmatic Youtuber and author, specializing in horror and mystery, who has exploded onto the literary scene in Japan and around the world, becoming an international bestseller. He only ever appears online, wearing a mask and speaking through a voice changer. His true identity is unknown. His books Strange Pictures, Strange Houses, Strange Buildings and Strange Maps are all available from Pushkin Vertigo.
Uketsu said: “I am truly honoured to be participating in the London Book Fair for the first time. I am deeply grateful that so many people in the UK are reading my books Strange Pictures, Strange Houses, and Strange Buildings. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on this, as well as my general perspective on books and the ideas behind my upcoming release, Strange Maps— I hope to cover as much as time allows. Thank you, and I look forward to our time together.”
The Authors of the Fair will take part in ‘In Conversation’ events on different days throughout The London Book Fair.Rachel Bright and Jim Field will be attending and speaking at the Fair on Tuesday 16 March. Holly Jackson will be on the Main Stage on Wednesday 17 March, while Bernardine Evaristo will be coming to the Fair on Thursday 18 March. More details will be announced shortly.
The London Book Fair (LBF) is the world’s largest spring book trade and publishing event and will take place at Excel London from 16 – 18 March 2027. Registration will open in November, and more information is available here.
