It has been a super-busy autumn of book tour events with Skycircus. I visited lots of schools in Birmingham, Bristol and London, with Usborne and also with Pea Green Boat Books. As well as performing at events like Broughton Hall literary Festival, and doing their school events programme with Caboodle Books and Authors Abroad, I performed at the Beanstalk Literary Festival in London for hundreds of lovely Beanstalk readers and reading helpers.
Looking back I see I have been terrible at taking photographs over the months, but luckily lots of lovely teachers have taken pictures, so here are a few…
SKYCIRCUS BOOKTOUR.
Salsibury Lit Fest
Salsibury Lit Fest
Sidcot School Birmingham
South Kensington Books
Redfield Edge Academy
Carshalton High School for Girls
Carshalton High School for Girls
Carshalton High School for Girls
Carshalton High School for Girls
SCBWICON 18
Last weekend I was at the SCWBI conference – SCBWI stands for the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators. It is a fantastic weekend for author and illustrators to hone their craft. I got to see a lot of my favourite writing people and Scbwi members, and I also got to be part of their fancy dress party and mass-book launch party with Skycircus. And I got to see my crit group buddy and ace author, Lorraine Gregory win the prestigious Crystal Kite Award for her fab debut novel ‘Mould and the Poison Plot’ It was such a brilliant weekend and I intend to write some more about it later, but in the meantime, here are a few pics…
In the SCBWI mass book launchWith my SCBWI crit group: Tania, Gail, Meira and CRYSTAL KITE WINNER Lorraine Gregory! No Miriam 🙁SCWBI Party 2018Lorraine wins the Crystal KiteWith Gail and Meira from my SCBWI crit group.
It is nearly a month since Skycircus first came out and I have been busily travelling all around the country to tell children about the book on a booktour. But I have just this week had a few calm days at home, so I found the time to make a short video to tell you all a little about the books. And here it is (*warning it does contain a few spoilers about the opening act of the book, so if you hate to know ANYTHING!! about something before you read it, you may not want to watch!)…
In which I explain a little of the plot of #SKYCIRCUS the newest book in the #CogheartAdventures series. Find out what happens to Robert and Lily and Malkin in this spectacular showstopper…
And if you enjoyed that brief introduction to the book, then allow me to read you the prologue…
Two weeks ago I went to do a workshops with A Tale Unfolds as part of a new Readingzone project that will be coming soon to help children create book trailers for their favourite books in classrooms. We had a fantastic time at Copenhagen School in Islington working with the kids to create a trailer for Cogheart
Afterwards Dom from A Tale Unfolds asked if I would like to do an interview for their ongoing youtube series: The Secret Staff Meeting, which is aimed at introducing authors to teachers. Here are the results. We chatted about how I got my start in writing, my background in film, the books and how I write them, things I think should be taught in schools, and my new book Skycircus. You can check out the interview below…
I am absolutely delighted to announce that The Cogheart Adventures Trilogy is to be published in the U.S by Jolly Fish Press, which is a division of North Star Publishing Ltd. I am so excited to work with everyone at North Star and Jolly Fish Press, and the plan is to bring the first book in the series, Cogheart, to the U.S. for Spring 2019. Here is the official announcement…