Picture Books and Starfish on the Beach

I've been busy catching up on some writing this week, as there's a short story (about 6000 words that needs finishing - and then another one starting), but today I took a little break from that to try and finish off a picture book story that I've been working on for quite a while.


Unfortunately, I didn't get the picture book finished but I did get quite a lot of it done. I just need to put the finishing touches to it now before I can send it off. Some parts I'm really happy with and other parts... not so happy. I think I'll have to put it away for a good few days and then take a fresh look at it later. This often helps.


This evening we went for another walk on the beach (lots of starfish around today so we had to watch where we were walking) - and did a bit more paddling. Off to bed now. Goodnight...

Hello Hannah

Over the past few weeks I’ve been out and about visiting schools and libraries to talk about books and share stories. I’ve had a great time and have met some wonderful people, but it’s nice to have a bit of time now where I can stay at home and get some writing done and catch up with a few other things.

On Saturday I received a lovely letter from Hannah – HELLO HANNAH and thank you for the excellent picture of Crank and Al. I hope you enjoy reading The Tin Man.

On Sunday I helped my brother and Sue tidy his loft (lots of fun there) then had a little walk along the beach. Sunday was Father's Day and I received a fantastic present from Lorraine and our girls - tickets to see Fleetwood Mac in November... I can hardly wait.

The Corner Bookshop

Tomorrow I'm off to Garstang - only about half an hour away - to visit a few schools as part of The Independent Booksellers Week.

There's a big Robo-runners display in one of the shop windows - which is great.

In the morning I'm joining up with Mary from the Corner Bookshop and we'll be visiting three schools in the area - St Thomas's CE Primary School in Garstang, John Cross CE Primary School in Bilsborrow and then Garstang Community Primary School (I hope I've got that right) in the afternoon.

Here's a big hello to everyone at the schools in Garstang and Bilsborrow - I'll see you soon.

Now I'm off to bed... Goodnight.

Catching Up...

Last week I visited St Mark’s CE Primary School in Scarisbrick, Lancashire for part of their big book week that had been organised by their wonderful librarian Debbie – thank you for inviting me in and for looking after me during the day...

There were lots of exciting book activities during the week – including a visit from John Malam – the author of lots of great non-fiction books (Hi there John) – and the chance to see a book that had been written in braille and hear it being read out loud.

I visited the school on Thursday and had a great time talking about books and sharing lots of stories. At lunchtime there was a delicious buffet and at the end of the day I got the chance to meet everyone again and sign a few books for the keen readers. It was great. On Friday evening Lorraine, Deanna and I drove up to the North East of England to visit Lorraine’s mum for the weekend – and on Saturday we drove up past the Angel of The North and spent a few hours at the Metrocentre (a huge shopping centre near Gateshead).

This week is Independent Booksellers week and on Monday I drove over to Yorkshire with Laura to visit the Saltaire Bookshop and talk to everyone from year three at Saltaire Primary School. A big thanks to everyone for coming and making it such a fun morning and thanks to David and Yvonne for inviting me in.

After stopping for some lunch we arrived home late in the afternoon but I just had time to put some carpet tiles down in the shed and put my desk together. The shed is already starting to look a little bit less like a shed and more like an office.

On Thursday I'm off to Garstang (only half an hours drive) to spend the day at some primary schools with the wonderful people from the Corner Bookshop in Garstang.

A Quick Hello to Saltaire

I've not had chance to catch up with my diary since last week but I'll have to do that later on today, because after a great day spent with the wonderful people at St Mark's CE Primary School in Scarisbrick (hello to you all), I've been down in the Midlands and up in the North East of England over the weekend. (I'll go into more detail later)

So for now it's a big HELLO to everyone who's coming to visit the Saltaire Bookshop this morning... must dash - don't want to be late.

Excitement at Canon Evans CE Infant School

Yesterday I was in Bedworth, Warickshire, visiting Canon Evans CE Infant School - there was a lot of excitement at the school when I arrived, but that's because some of the teachers had been to see Take That the night before... in fact, I think all of the teachers will be seeing Take That by the time they finish their three nights at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. I hope you all have a great time and don't lose your voices screaming and shouting.

Thankfully, there was also lots of excitement about books and writing too... I had a great time talking to Reception about dinosaurs, Year 1 about Pirates and Year 2 about Heroes and Villains. At the end of the day I was honoured to be the person asked to cut the ribbon and officially open the new school library - It Looks Great. I singed loads of books and even had time for a cup of tea and an iced bun, YUM!

Thank you to Miss Sherwood for organising the day and for looking after me while I was there...

I was so busy at school that I didn't get chance to take a photograph of anything so here's a picture of the baby rabbits lazing around on the grass (they're about five or six weeks old now - it's amazing how quickly they grow).

A Place To Work

I've been going on about it for quite a while now - but today's the day - it's finally here - a place to call my own - a place to work... My Shed - or perhaps I should call it an office or studio (what do you think?).

When I visit schools and libraries I'm often asked if I have a special place to work. I used to work in the loft (but that has now been given over to my daughter who wanted a bedroom of her own) I have been trying to work at the table in our front room - which is great when everyone's at school and work, but not so great when they're at home. But today my shed is being built in the garden HURRAH!

I've been taking a few sneaky pictures so that you can see the building process as the shed goes up. I will be itching to get my desk out from under the stairs and set up as soon as I can but first I'll have to get the floor sorted out - so I'll have to be patient. I will also have to get someone to run electric wires up to it so that I can have a light, a heater for the winter, and somewhere to plug my laptop in...but I think I can leave that part until the end of summer.

Tonight I'm off to Bedworth in Warwickshire ready to visit Canon Evans CE Primary School in the morning - and on Thursday I'm visiting St Mark's CE Primary School in Scarisbrick, Lancashire - so here a big Hello to all of you.

This morning it was nice and sunny but as the day has gone on it's got cloudy and a little but chilly - but luckily, it's stayed fine all day and the shed has been finished.

As you can see, Laura seems to like it - and so does Figaro... purrrfect for a spot of bird watching.

See you soon...

The Ghost Sea and Aquanauts

Friday saw the paperback publication of Robo-runners Book 5 - The Ghost Sea, and Book 6 - Aquanauts. Hurrah. That means you can now rush out and add these two exciting tales to your collection.

Although each of the Robo-runner books is a complete story in itself, the books do link together in that they follow Crank, Al and their friends in the search for Robotika - a safe place for old robots to live in peace... so it's best if they are read in order (though not really necessary). Books five and six are the only ones in the series that I would really advise people to read in order as they are more closely connected. Books for and six are also the ones that I enjoyed writing most of all.

For these two books I had lots of fun creating the setting and the new characters that the robot friends meet; especially the villainous robot Gore, and the his band of robot pirates, and the dreaded Crodilus.

Happy Birthday Deanna

Today it's Deanna's birthday and we have planned to have a barbecue in the garden with some family and friends. Of course, this means that the sunny weather is about to come to an end. At the moment I'm sat out in the garden writing this... it' starting to get cloudy and I can even feel the odd spot of rain. Hopefully it will just blow over.

A little while ago I wrote about about a magpie that I spotted stealing the cat's food from in front of the window- well today there has been a seagull pinching food. The seagull is even naughtier than the magpie. It landed on the fence - jumped down onto a box - hopped onto the floor and then jumped up the steps and into the kitchen doorway.

The seagull then ate the last of the cat's meat, scoffed a few of their biscuits, fell into the litter tray, hopped back out of the kitchen and flew away.

I'm going to have to keep my eye on that bird.

Bye for now... I must get some shopping or there will be nothing to eat at the barbecue.

Fun at Brindle Gregson Lane Primary School

The week has absolutely flown and it's Friday already. I've had a couple of great school visits and have managed to get lots of work done but haven't managed to write much in my diary - so here goes...

On Monday I had a great day at Asfordby Captain's Close Primary School - near Melton Mowbray (famous for its Melton Mowbray Pies and its Stilton Cheese) - it took 3 hours to drive back but it was glorious sunshine all the way and I enjoyed the drive.

On Wednesday I visited a school a little closer to home - Brindle Gregson Lane Primary School - and what a wonderful school it was too... packed with enthusiastic book loving staff and pupils.

The wonderful and talented illustrator/animator/writer Curtis Jobling was also at the school - visiting years 3 and 4 while I was with the excellent writers in years 5 and 6. At the moment Curtis is most famous for being the designer of Bob the Builder and creator of Frankenstein's Cat - but he's done loads of other great stuff too (go and take a look at his website) and is busy doing more.

It was great meeting Curtis and everyone else in school. At the end of the day we sat outside in the sun and signed books and autographs - I came away with a wonderful signed book and DVD. At the top you can see my Frankenstein's Cat fridge magnets (now on our fridge) which come with the DVD. Thanks Curtis...

Year 5 and 6 had been busy reviewing books for Lancashire Libraries Fantastic Book Award - so they all knew about robo-runners, which was great. They had also been busy doing artwork connected with the books they had been reviewing. This is just one of the fantastic pictures they had done.