DO you have a big enough imagination and the writing skills to be the new JK Rowling, Roald Dahl or David Walliams?

It’s International Literacy Day and the quest begins today to find the best-selling authors of the future.

“Little did I know…” is an exciting children’s story-writing competition with big prizes, launched by Darlington Building Society with the support of The Northern Echo and TFM Radio.

And there’s guaranteed to be a happy ending because the two winners will each receive £500 worth of books for their school library, plus their own height in books, and a magical mystery ride.

Darlington Building Society is proud to be “Big on Education” so they are looking for big ideas that can be turned into tall tales of no more than 500 words, starting with the phrase Little did I know…

The plot thickens because the judging panel will comprise some big North-East figures from the literary world, including:

• Sheila Graber, award-winning Paddington Bear and Rudyard Kipling animator

• Stuart Trotter, Rupert Bear illustrator and the owner of Rockpool Children’s Books

• Jessica Shepherd, whose celebrated Grandma books have been praised for helping children understand dementia

• Liz Million, prolific Darlington-based author and illustrator

Earlier this year, Darlington Building Society launched its own children’s book, Darly’s Magical History Ride, written by former editor of The Northern Echo, Peter Barron, who will also be on the judging panel. Profits from the book go into the Darly Children’s Foundation, supporting literacy in North-East schools.

The competition is split into two categories – primary school age and secondary school age. However, it is not exclusive to schools and entries are welcome from other young people’s organisations as well as individuals.

Three finalists will be chosen for each category and their stories will be read to the judges, families, and VIP guests at Darlington’s Theatre Hulllabaloo on Friday, February 15, in the week leading up to World Book Day. The authors can either do the readings themselves or nominate a reader.

The winning entries will be published in The Northern Echo and broadcast on TFM Radio.

The deadline for entries is February 1, and they can be submitted in the following ways:

• By email to story@darlington.co.uk

• By post to Darlington Building Society, Sentinel House, Morton Road, Darlington, DL1 4PT.

• By hand at any of the Darlington Building Society branches, which are located at 8 Tubwell Row, Darlington; 20 West Auckland Road, Cockerton; 26 Market Place, Barnard Castle; 116 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland; 8 Westgate, Guisborough; 47 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough; 124 High Street, Northallerton; 9 High Street, Redcar; 21 High Street, Stockton; and 81 High Street, Yarm.

Name, age, and contact details must be clearly provided. Please refer to the Society website where there will be information on how to enter along with full terms and conditions – www.darlington.co.uk/story.

So, come on kids, get writing! In the words of the BFG, it’s going to be phiz-whizzing, or even whoopsy-splunkers.

And little did you know…this could be the start of something BIG!