Car Trouble and a Great School Visit

Had a good day yesterday at the Lamplugh School in Cumbria talking about writing, sharing stories and showing how I go about writing a story. There were lots of great ideas flying around and Class One had lots of fun working on a story together (about Captain Fancy Pants the Pirate) and writing stories of their own. Class Two came up with a horrible old woman called Mrs McFeegle that I'm sure Roald Dahl would have been proud to include in one of his stories. 

I had about three hours to myself between the last session in school and an evening session with parents. In this time I'd planned to go and get something to eat and perhaps do a bit of writing on my laptop. Unfortunately, however, it was raining so heavily that the tiny roads around school were full of huge puddles. Driving through one of the puddles my car decided to stop and have a rest - and wouldn't get going no matter what I did. I thought I was going to be stranded in the middle of nowhere (200 miles from home)... luckily the car dried out and I got it going again just in time to chug back to school to meet some of the lovely parents that were keen on helping their children write stories - not sure if I managed to offer any good advice but it was a nice evening.


Just made it home in time for a quick bath and then straight to bed. Phew!!!


Today I'm catching up with lots of emails, letters and a bit of writing... More schools in the week to come.

It's been too long...

since I wrote in my diary and lots have people have been telling me off about it.


I'm back now and have lots to tell you about and lots to keep telling you about. Over the last few weeks I've been busy working on some new stories and visiting schools and libraries. A new picture book story has gone to my agent and is now sitting with a publisher awaiting a yes or a no - always a nail biting time (but while I'm waiting for their thoughts I'm busy working on new stories).


Before half term I spent a few days visiting schools and want to say a BIG HELLO to everyone at Aragon Primary School in Morden. It's been great reading all your letters and looking at the Mudcrust pictures you have drawn.

Library Visits

I've got lots to tell you about in my diary but haven't had chance to do it yet... but here's a quick bit of news before I fill you in on what's been going on...


Today we're off to Rhuddlan Library for a session at 10.30, and this afternoon we're going towards the coast to visit Rhyl Library for a session at 2.00. Everyone's welcome so if you're in the area why not pop in.


See you soon....

Waterloo Sunset and Ironing out the Kinks

Just in case you thought I'd completely disappeared I thought I should let you know that I am definitely still here and am very busy writing... I'm currently ironing out the kinks in chapter one of my latest book. I'd love to tell you what it's called but it hasn't got a proper title yet. So far it's called MUM... but that is definitely not going to be the finished title.


I really should make more of an effort to keep up with my diary writing but it can be difficult at times :-(   Perhaps that could be my New Year resolution... Write more in my diary... Hmmm... I'll have to think about that as I'm sure there are far more pressing things to resolve. Such as FINISH THE BOOKS I'M WRITING!!!


On Saturday Vicky and I spent a lovely morning at Buckley Library where we met the award winning crime writer Martin Edwards... a very nice man whose mind is full of murder and deceit - all fictional stuff of course. Martin kindly signed a copy of one of his novels for us - Waterloo Sunset - and we can't wait to read it...

Saturday night was Vicky's brothers 40th birthday - Happy Birthday Chris - and we spent the night partying.
 
Back to work now... I'll write soon... 

Writers In Schools and Libraries

As well as sitting at home writing, authors and illustrators get the chance to go out on the road to visit schools and libraries everywhere. I love doing this as it gives me the chance to meet fans and readers and hopefully encourage other people to start reading and enjoying books and stories.

I've had a busy week so far visiting schools around the country and it hasn't finished yet. Today, we're off to Cardiff ready to visit the new Central Library where lots of children will be coming along as part of the Capital Reads festival. If you're in Cardiff why not come along. I'll be there from half two until four... See you soon.

School Visits

Had a great day today at Saint Aidan's CE Primary School - here's a BIG HELLO to everyone there. Lots of great questions from everyone today - and good to talk to keen readers of Robo-runners...


Tomorrow I'm off to visit Billinge Chapel End Primary School in St Helen's - so here's a BIG HELLO to you too... then it's home for tea and off across to Nottingham ready to visit St Peters CE Junior School... Hopefully squeeze in a bit of writing somewhere along the way too.

Cats, Cats Cats...

Many thanks to all the authors that have taken the time to send me pictures of their cats... I will certainly be putting some of these pictures on my blog/diary... but I've received so many emails that I will probably create a new page for my website to house all the pictures that I've received...


Thank you, thank you,  than you...


Back on the road again next week to visit a few schools around and about... New of those coming soon...