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My Journal |
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Returning to my own blog almost a month after my last entry. How time flies! So what's been happening? Wrote a "Florence Nightingale" story for Watts Hopscotch Histories, called FLORENCE & THE DRUMMER BOY. A hectic weekend of researching, although the kind editor at Watts sent me some information herself. Discovered that Mark Bostridge's new & detailed biography of FN had just come out (now being serialised on Radio 4) so I had a busy 48 hours of reading to do, all for about 400 words!
I am currently working on a revision of my "big tome". The editor wanted some of the text moved from present to past tense, so I am working steadily away on the text & grammar. However, how blind one can be to one's own words after a while! More news on this book once contracts are signed, but this isn't a title for 2009, I fear. 2010, more likely!
Three times three cheers for super KING'S SOMBORNE C.E. PRIMARY SCHOOL, near Stockbridge in Hampshire.!!!They had made my long journey south exceedingly worthwhile because THIS WAS A SCHOOL THAT HAD READ SEVERAL OF MY BOOKS BEFORE I CAME TO VISIT THEM!!! Oh frabjous day! Calloo, callay! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
It is really hard to explain just how invaluable such preparation is to an Author Visit. The shared "book knowledge" makes it so much easier for the author to do good & meaningful sessions for the children, and makes the visit feel like a magical meeting. Sadly, with schools being busy places, this pattern seems to happen so rarely but last Friday it did - and we had fun! Thank you!
I am currently working on a revision of my "big tome". The editor wanted some of the text moved from present to past tense, so I am working steadily away on the text & grammar. However, how blind one can be to one's own words after a while! More news on this book once contracts are signed, but this isn't a title for 2009, I fear. 2010, more likely!
Three times three cheers for super KING'S SOMBORNE C.E. PRIMARY SCHOOL, near Stockbridge in Hampshire.!!!They had made my long journey south exceedingly worthwhile because THIS WAS A SCHOOL THAT HAD READ SEVERAL OF MY BOOKS BEFORE I CAME TO VISIT THEM!!! Oh frabjous day! Calloo, callay! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
It is really hard to explain just how invaluable such preparation is to an Author Visit. The shared "book knowledge" makes it so much easier for the author to do good & meaningful sessions for the children, and makes the visit feel like a magical meeting. Sadly, with schools being busy places, this pattern seems to happen so rarely but last Friday it did - and we had fun! Thank you!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I must admit that my ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL Sunday session on "Writing for Children" was rather too alarming! As part of my usual pacing around, checking out the venue so I knew it well before the group of adult writers arrived, I opened a door - an unmarked door, please note - only to find I'd set off an alarm that shrieked for about fifteen minutes. At last a policeman turned up and the thing somehow got switched off. At least the noise didn't happen when the students were there, I thought thankfully.
Well, the students were great, and I hope they enjoyed the session, and will maybe develop one or other of the exercises we did in their own time. Your ideas were terrific! Their work was extra well done as the man who resets the alarm came into the building and set it off again - twice! - though thankfully for a shorter time.
However, today I have had a nice time visiting some Reception and Key Stage one children in three schools. A happy hello from me to the excellent listeners of SEVEN HILLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, ASQUITH PRIMARY SCHOOL, and SAINT FRANCIS CATHOLIC PRMARY SCHOOL, all in MORLEY, near LEEDS. I was visiting them as part of the schools programme for MORLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Hope you all had fun!
Tomorrow is an even earlier travelling morning as I am off to WAINSTALLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, near HALIFAX, for a visit I couldn't do last week because of my creaking back. It will be a three alarm clock morning, I fear!
Well, the students were great, and I hope they enjoyed the session, and will maybe develop one or other of the exercises we did in their own time. Your ideas were terrific! Their work was extra well done as the man who resets the alarm came into the building and set it off again - twice! - though thankfully for a shorter time.
However, today I have had a nice time visiting some Reception and Key Stage one children in three schools. A happy hello from me to the excellent listeners of SEVEN HILLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, ASQUITH PRIMARY SCHOOL, and SAINT FRANCIS CATHOLIC PRMARY SCHOOL, all in MORLEY, near LEEDS. I was visiting them as part of the schools programme for MORLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Hope you all had fun!
Tomorrow is an even earlier travelling morning as I am off to WAINSTALLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, near HALIFAX, for a visit I couldn't do last week because of my creaking back. It will be a three alarm clock morning, I fear!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
To tell the truth, I wasn't on Ilkley Moor, but in the town of Ilkley, though there were mists on the moor top as I arrived. Two sessions today. One was on writing SPOOKY STORIES. I heard some excellent pieces from a busy and thoughtful group of young writers. Thank you!
The afternoon session was about my own writing and stories, especially about THE THIRD ELEPHANT. Really nice audience - though I felt rather jealous of the two children who told me they had actually ridden on an elephant, which is one of my secret ambitions.
Tomorrow is my third Ilkley session, and that will be on WRITING FOR CHILDREN, which I am sure will be fun as well. This time it's a workshop for adults, so rather different to my familiar school audiences. Hope they behave themselves!!!
The afternoon session was about my own writing and stories, especially about THE THIRD ELEPHANT. Really nice audience - though I felt rather jealous of the two children who told me they had actually ridden on an elephant, which is one of my secret ambitions.
Tomorrow is my third Ilkley session, and that will be on WRITING FOR CHILDREN, which I am sure will be fun as well. This time it's a workshop for adults, so rather different to my familiar school audiences. Hope they behave themselves!!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
An annoying week. (Reminder: I must stop carting so much stuff around with me on school visits!) Monday's twinge-y back got worse and worse. Felt so stupid not being able to do anything, and even sitting to work for any length of time made it worse.
Grumble, grumble, grumble. Very cross face! Big sulky lip! Lots of hot, hot water bottles, as well as puzzling the cat by lying flat on her floor. The close inspection rather made me wish I'd done some vacuuming lrecently.
But - oh joy! - today I can report I'm in working order again - and all a great relief, as this weekend I have three sessions at ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Today I'm packing those bags again - but very carefully!
Grumble, grumble, grumble. Very cross face! Big sulky lip! Lots of hot, hot water bottles, as well as puzzling the cat by lying flat on her floor. The close inspection rather made me wish I'd done some vacuuming lrecently.
But - oh joy! - today I can report I'm in working order again - and all a great relief, as this weekend I have three sessions at ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Today I'm packing those bags again - but very carefully!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
A different direction, as I drove down the A1 yesterday, followed by miles along the M62, M18, M180 and more, to end up at MORTON TRENTSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL to begin their Book Week. Thank you for welcoming me. I enjoyed chatting to you all! Extra thanks to several strong children and helpful Mrs H, who helped carry my talk-bags between sessions.
Discovered that a friend, the author DAMIAN HARVEY, had visited the school for their last Book Week - which reminded me that THE TIN MAN, the first of his great six-book ROBO-RUNNERS series, was in the stack of books by my bed. Luckily, today's "twingey" back gives me an excuse to do some resting and reading.
Discovered that a friend, the author DAMIAN HARVEY, had visited the school for their last Book Week - which reminded me that THE TIN MAN, the first of his great six-book ROBO-RUNNERS series, was in the stack of books by my bed. Luckily, today's "twingey" back gives me an excuse to do some resting and reading.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Yesterday was exciting and scary: my first event for ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2008. I wasn't in Ilkley at all, but at the pleasant Skipton Building Society HQ in Skipton, being looked after by two helpful people (thank you Liz & Cara!) and running writing workshops for juniors.
So, good morning greetings to Year 5 children & staff of WATER STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL and to Year 5&6 children and staff of PARISH CHURCH PRIMARY SCHOOL. Thanks for all your brilliant ideas, and good luck with working on with your stories. Really great to meet you all, and hope you enjoy reading my books.
So, good morning greetings to Year 5 children & staff of WATER STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL and to Year 5&6 children and staff of PARISH CHURCH PRIMARY SCHOOL. Thanks for all your brilliant ideas, and good luck with working on with your stories. Really great to meet you all, and hope you enjoy reading my books.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Drove up the A1 yesterday to WAVELL JUNIOR SCHOOL at Catterick, North Yorkshire. Thank you, everyone in Class 6H & Class 6M, for all your work during our "Victorian" Writing Day. Came back to some odds and ends of good news:
*Two of the short animation scripts I've written recently are now in production, and a third is almost there.
*A publisher that doesn't want something I'd submitted (Sigh!) does have another project she wants me to write for. (Cheer!)
*NAWE's Writing in Education magazine now wants an article I sent them ages ago.
*I was almost going to be on BBC TV this Sunday, but with the remains of a grotty cold about me, I'm quite pleased to have just made contact there.
*A copy of my lovely new RED RIDING HOOD RAP book from Franklin Watts arrived in the post. So beautifully illustrated by Desideria Guicciardini!
That's it, for now - apart from some exciting news that will have to wait a while. Bye for now!
*Two of the short animation scripts I've written recently are now in production, and a third is almost there.
*A publisher that doesn't want something I'd submitted (Sigh!) does have another project she wants me to write for. (Cheer!)
*NAWE's Writing in Education magazine now wants an article I sent them ages ago.
*I was almost going to be on BBC TV this Sunday, but with the remains of a grotty cold about me, I'm quite pleased to have just made contact there.
*A copy of my lovely new RED RIDING HOOD RAP book from Franklin Watts arrived in the post. So beautifully illustrated by Desideria Guicciardini!
That's it, for now - apart from some exciting news that will have to wait a while. Bye for now!
