Out And About With a Camera

In my last diary post I said that, as well as working, we had a few days out over the summer holidays. Not only does getting out and about give you a nice break from normal work days but it is also a great way of filling up your mind with sights and sounds that can give you ideas or things that can be use in stories. Whenever we go anywhere we  always make sure we have a camera with us so we can take lots of picture of interesting things.

Over the summer we've had trips out: Tenby, Chester Zoo, London (including a day spent at the Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter Tour)... We saw lots of things and took lots of pictures. Doing all this gave Vicky an idea for a new little story about a boy taking pictures of animals with his camera. 

Just Like Me! is a very short story for young children - it only has 50 words but it's lots of fun and I'm sure very young children will enjoy sharing the story and looking at all the pictures. The book doesn't get published until May next year so it isn't even finished yet but this week my editor sent me a finished copy of the book's cover - illustrated by Federica Nuccio and Roberta Vottero - and I think it looks great. I wonder how two people do the illustrations together?

Summer Holidays in Tenby

It's a wet Wednesday here in North East Wales... amazing how quickly the summer holidays have flown by and it's already time to go back to school and work... not that I haven't been working of course. Over the summer I've been busy writing but we've also had time for some really good days out. I will write and let you know about some of the things we've been up to over the next week or so.

Last week we were in Tenby, one of our favourite places to go. We had a great time with days of beautiful sunshine mixed in with a few heavy rain showers. For most of the week we had quite a lazy time just wandering around the town and along the beach - dodging the odd rainstorm like this one that had moved off over the sea.

I took my camera everywhere we went as there's always something interesting to photograph... great for helping you get ideas for stories or for adding interesting little details. One day we spotted these strange things washed up on the beach and had no idea what they were... 

And they look even stranger up close...

 

After a bit of research we discovered that they are Pelagic Gooseneck Barnacles. They are normally found in warmer parts of the world but they get carried around on the bottom of boats and on pieces of driftwood.

There's lots of interesting things to see around the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast. The coastline is impressive enough with it's beaches, cliffs and caves but there's lots of wildlife too. 

This Kestrel spent a lot of time sitting at the top of a mast while it kept it's eye out for something to eat... as soon as it spotted something it took to the air. I was just in the right place to get this picture as it glided by one afternoon. 

It was Vicky's birthday while we were away from home and as a special treat we planned to take a boat trip and go dolphin spotting (I will write more about that soon)...

A Quick Hello...

To everyone at St Saviour CE Primary School in Bolton who sadly weren't able to join in with all the fun yesterday... hopefully I will be able to meet you all in the future.

Right now I have to get on with some writing but later today I will write all about yesterday's visits. It was fantastic meeting everyone and a real honour to be asked to officially open the brilliant new library at St Stephen's...

More soon...

Summer Reading Challenge 2015

This year's Summer Reading Challenge is getting ready to start. You can find out all about it at your local library and by visiting the Summer Reading Challenge page. The theme this year is RECORD BREAKERS - so go and join the fun at your local library... I'd love to hear how you are doing in the Challenge so why not send me an email and let me know what you are reading.

Tomorrow I will be visiting St Michael's CE Primary School, St Gregory's RC Primary School and St Stephen Kearsley Moor CE Primary School in Bolton to talk about the Reading Challenge and to share stories and have lots of fun. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone.

This week I'm busy working on some very short stories for a publisher - and they need to be finished and sent off by the end of the week so I had better get on with them.  

 

Working Away from Home

A couple of weeks ago I visited a couple of lovely schools, one in Repton and one in Burton Upon Trent. The schools were great but the view from my hotel wasn't so great....

This week things are different though...
It's ten o'clock in the evening and it's getting dark outside. It's been a beautiful sunny day today and quite warm too. Right now I'm sat on the bed in my hotel room at the University of Northampton. My window is wide open and I can hear birds singing and the gentle rhythm of the rain on the leaves outside. The air smells fresh and clean. A little rabbit has been sat on the grass for the last hour nibbling and enjoying the cool evening.

On the way down here I drove through the beautiful little village of Naseby and I couldn't resist stopping off to take a look at the Cromwell Monument that stands on the Naseby Battlefield.

The Battle of Naseby, probably the most important battle of the English Civil War was fought on the 14th June 1645 between the Parliamentarian New Model Army commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir Oliver Cromwell and the Royalist Army of King Charles I and Prince Rupert of the Rhine. The Royalist army were defeated and most of the King's army was lost.

It looks peaceful here now and it's hard to imagine that such a huge battle took place here. You can find out more about the Battle of Naseby by clicking HERE.

Think it's time to close the window and get some sleep... got a busy day tomorrow.

Creative Writing Festival

Here's a BIG HELLO to everyone that's coming along to the University of Northampton for the Creative Writing Festival... I'm looking forward to meeting all the keen readers and writers from Lumbertubs Primary School, St James CE Primary School, Bridgewater Primary School, Thorplands Primary School and everyone else that's coming along... big apologies if I've missed your school out but these are all the names I have at the moment. Leave me a message and I will add you to the list...

A while ago I said that we had been on a little tour of the Scottish Highlands over half term. Getting away for a few days is relaxing but it's also a very useful way of filling you head with little ideas that can be used in stories. There was a lot of driving involved in our little trip but were saw some really interesting and beautiful sights.

We set off from our home here in Wales early in the morning and headed toward the Scottish city of Stirling - overlooked by Stirling castle. On arrival we were greeted by this statue of Robert the Bruce who was king of the Scots from 1306 to until his death in 1329. You can find out more about this great Scottish King, and all about William Wallace HERE.


Before heading off to our hotel we took a look at the William Wallace monument which we could see from Stirling Castle. The monument is a very impressive building that towers over the landscape giving William an excellent view of the countryside around.
Wallace is a great Scottish hero and defeated the English at the battle of Stirling bridge in 1297. This statue of him stands high up on the tower... unfortunately we didn't have time to climb the tower ourselves so we will have to save that until our next visit.

The next morning our trip took us up into the Scottish highlands, down into Gelcoe, Fort William and finally all the way up to Inverness and its famous Loch.

On the way we took lots of photographs - like this one of a highland cow... and this statue in memory of the commandos who trained in the highlands about Fort William.

That's all I've got time for right now but I will write more soon...

Robbie's Robot

Today sees the publication of my latest little book and the postman arrived with a few copies for me... always an exciting time. The book, Robbie's Robot is out today in Hardback and the paperback version will be out next year (published by Franklin Watts - part of Hachette Children's Books). 

It's always exciting to receive copies of a new book - no matter how big or small the book is... It's great seeing the story all together with the artwork. Robbie's Robot has been illustrated by the wonderful Rory Walker and he's done a great job of it too.

Robbie loves nothing better than lazing on his bed, reading comics, playing games, eating crisps and drinking pop. The trouble is, he hates tidying his bedroom and it gets messier and messier. Mum tells him that if he can't keep his room clean then he won't get any pocket money. Tidying his bedroom is hard work, but then Robbie has an idea. He looks on the internet and orders himself a robot... just the thing for keeping his room tidy.

 

Writing the little story I tried not to imagine how the robot would look so it was fantastic to see what Rory came up with... I love it. Robbie loves it too.... but if you were a robot would you be happy tidying Robbie's room?