Happy Anniversary to us

8 Years ago today, Vicky and I got married so I thought I would share a few pictures from the day with you. 

We should have been going away together for a few days but unfortunately - like everyone else - we can't go anywhere. We still have a nice day planned though and I definitely won't be doing any work.   

Virtual Visits

Over the past few months I've been very busy writing (I will tell you more about this later in the week) but it feels strange not going into schools and libraries to share stories and to talk about writing. I really love doing this and it is something that I am missing...

I'm delighted to announce that I am now available for Virtual Visits to you classrooms... I will be adding a new page to may website very soon which has more details about this but for now I can tell you that I will be able to share stories, talk about writing and being a writer, answer all of your questions and lots more... If you are interested in a Virtual Visit please get in touch by emailing me  author@damianharvey.co.uk

Take off to the Moon

51 years ago today at 2:32pm, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldren and Michael Collins made history by blasting off from the Kennedy Space Centre on their voyage to the moon.

Neil and Buzz landed on the moon on the 20th July at 20:16 in the Eagle Lunar Module - Michael stayed behind, orbiting the moon in the Columbia Command Module. 

Neil Armstrong had dreamed about going to the moon and in 1969 he became the first man to step foot on its surface.

You can read all about Neil Armstrong and how he became an astronaut in my History Heroes Book - brilliantly illustrated by the wonderful Mike Philips.   

Click HERE to download a Neil Armstrong Wordsearch

Imagine how it would feel to be sitting in a rocket that was about to blast off to the moon... Perhaps you could write about how you would feel. 

Think about what you would hear and see... 

What would you be thinking as you heard the countdown?

What would it feel like as you took your first step on the moon?

Or how about Michael Collins? Imagine you are the one that is left in the Command Module as your friends go down to the moon. How would you feel about that?

Hello Sandilands

Today I'm sat at home working on the first chapter of a new book - but tomorrow I'm getting let out again so that I can spend the day with everyone at Sandilands Community Primary School in Manchester. 

Here's a HUGE HELLO to everyone at Sandilands - I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

During the day I will be sharing stories and rhymes, talking about what I do as an author and lots more with everyone from Nursery to Year 6... I'm sure that you've got lots of questions ready to ask and I hope I've got all the answers...

See you soon...

St Andrew's International School - Bangkok

It is always disappointing when plans that you have made don’t get to go ahead. Next week I was all set to visit St Andrew’s International School in Bangkok, Thailand. The visit has taken months to arrange and I was excited about traveling around the world to meet and work with everyone in school.

Sadly, my visit has had to be postponed for now due to worries about the coronavirus. That means I am going to have to ubpack my suitcase and put all of my clothes and books away...

For now … here is a HUGE HELLO to all of my friends at St Andrew’s International School…

Not only was looking forward to meeting everyone so that I could share stories and hear about the brilliant books that you have been reading – I was also looking forward to seeing the amazing work that you have been doing in school. 

I have been told that the work you do in school is fantastic so it would be great if you would like to send me some of your writing and your pictures to have a look at.

AND … 

... if there is anything that you would like to ask about me or about writing book then you can also send me your questions. I will do my best to answer them as soon as I can.

I am so very sorry that I cannot come to see you all next week but I hope to see you very soon. Until then, I look forward to hearing from you all…

Bye for now

Damian 

This is Sam, The Awful Astronaut - illustrated by the wonderful Davide Ortu 

World Book Day and More

As a writer I spend most of my time sat at my laptop - either at the table or on the sofa/settee/couch. There's more room at the table so it's ideal for working when I need to do research at the same time and really spread out. At other times I can just sit with my laptop on my knee and make myself comfortable.

When I'm not sat writing I can be found traveling around visiting schools and libraries all over the place. This time of the year is an especially busy one as next week is World Book Day and everyone will be celebratig books and reading. This year I will be travelling thousands of miles to visit different schools and also fitting in a bit of writing wherever and whenever I can. Over the next few weeks I will post pictures here in my diary and on my twitter @damianjharvey account so you can see where I've been.

This week I will be spending the day with everyone at Compass Primary Academy in Kettering and then at Malvern Parish C of E Primary School in Malvern... I can't wait to meet everyone.

And here's a huge hello to everyone at Mosspark Infant School in Trafford, Mossy Lea Primary School in Wrightington, St Winifrede's RC Primary School in Neston, Kingshott School in Hitchin, St George's Primary in Chorley, St Anne's Primary in Nantwich, Sandilands Community Primary School in Manchester, St Andrews International Schools in Bangkok...

See you all soon.

St Peter's RC Primary School - Stockport

A very quick hello to everyone at St Peter's R C Primary School in Stockport where I will be spending the day tomorrow. I can't wait to meet everyone and to hear what your favourite books are...

It's going to be a fun day - see you all soon.

Since Christmas I've been busy writing about a schoolboy superhero and planning out some new, bigger books. It's going to be nice to get out from behind my laptop for a while...

Newall Green Primary School

My plans to write in my diary ever week have not got off to a good start this year... it's already February and this is the first thing I've written. So far, the year has been spent catching up with things and writing.

Tomorrow I will be spending the day at Newall Green Primary School in Manchester to lead an Able Writers' Day with year 3 and 4 writers from Newall Green Primary, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, The Willows Primary School, St Wilfred's Church of England Aided Primary School and St Anthony's Catholic Primary School ... A HUGE HELLO to you all. 

It's going to be a fun day and I can't wait to meet everyone. Writing workshops are always interesting as I never know what kind of story we are going to create - and it's also fantastic to see what all of the talented writers come up with when they let their imaginations fly. Some of the writers even surprise themselves.   

In my next diary entry I will let you know what I've been up to...