More Books On Their Way

Right now I'm busy researching and writing about dinosaurs - as well as working on some other little books. 

Schools have finished for summer so I won't be doing school visits for a while - though I am looking forward to getting back on the road in September. Hopefully I'll get chance to get out from behind my desk over the next few weeks - we will certainly be spending a day or two dolphin watching along the coast of Wales. When we do I'll post some pictures here in my diary for you to see. 

Right now I thought I'd share some of the wonderful book covers of the little stories that I have been working on recently. These are retellings of tales from around the world, published by Franklin Watts. Look out for them appearing in you local library over the next few months. These books aren't quite finished yet as the illustrators are still busy working on the artwork - but I think you'll agree, the covers look great. Not only are the stories from around the world, but the wonderful illustrators that have worked on them are from different places around the world too.

The Fire Spirit is an old Korean story (originally called The Great Stone Fire Eater) and it's been illustrated by Gaby Verdooren, an illustrator from Brooklyn, New York.  The Fisherman and the Genie is a tale that was included in the 1001 Arabian Nights and has been illustrated by two sisters from Georgia, Tika and Tata Bobokhidze. I've always wanted to write a story with a genie in and writing this one has given me an idea for another. 

The Boy who Wanted More Cheese is a story from the Netherlands and it has been wonderfully illustrated by Richard Watson who comes from North Lincolnshire in England. Richard also illustrated my Little Turtle and the Coyote story.  

The final book cover for now is The Glass Mountain. This is an old Polish tale that has been illustrated by Kiki Kita. Kiki is a Japanese and Asian American illustrator that grew up in Dallas, Texas, but now lives in Brooklyn, New York. 

(Hmm! I wonder if she knows Gaby Verdooren?)

Coyote Tales from North America

I'm busy doing lots of writing at the moment - lots of little books and a couple of bigger books too. 

It's great seeing a new book come together with the covers and internal illustrations. Here are two of the latest little books that I've done. Little Turtle and the Coyote (illustrated by Richard Watson, a British artist), and Crafty Coyote and the Fox (illustrated by Simone Fumagalli, an Italian artist). As you an see, both illustrators have very different styles - but I love what both of them have done.  

These are both retellings of old North American tales in which 'Coyote' is a trickster - though his tricks don't always prove to be beneficial for him. 

It's always interesting retelling old stories and trying to make them your own in some small way, whilst still keeping the basic story and meaning as it was. 

These two books will be published by Watts in October, along with a few other tales from around the world. I'll be adding them to my website soon, along with some fun activities to link to them.

Rhyl Library Visit

 

I've just finished writing the fourth book in my Global Heroes Series which, at the moment, is called Rising River Escape. The story is set in Madagascar and the young heroes are sent in to rescue animals that have been left stranded by rising water levels following a tropical cyclone. I can't really say any more about the book right now but I can tell you that it's full of action and adventure - and the artwork is being done by the wonderful Alex Patterson. It's great to see how the series of books are coming together and I can't wait to share them with everyone soon.

Right now I'm working on a bigger, mystery adventure book that is full of creepy goings on.

Tomorrow I will be visiting Rhyl Library where I'll be talking to keen readers from Ysgol Emmanuel and Christ The Word Catholic School. I can't wait to meet everyone.

Hello Burghill Community Academy

I've had a busy couple of weeks writing - working on some retellings of old folk tales from around the world (Native American and Icelandic). I've also been working on the 4th Global Heroes book which is set in Madagascar (more about that soon). 

Tomorrow I'm getting out from behind my desk to spend the day with everyone at Burghill Community Academy in Burghill, Hereford. I'll have to be up early in the morning to make sure I get there on time - so it'll be early to bed tonight. 

See you all soon...

 

Denbighshire Libraries and Writing

Over the past few months I've been busy working on some new books. They won't be published until later this year but I thought that you might like to have a sneaky look at the covers.

The first one to be published this year is this little non-fiction book about Lizards. I love the picture of the Komodo Dragon on the cover which has been done by Bruno Robert - an illustrator that lives and works in Normandy, France. 

I have also done a retelling of the popular fairy tale, 'The Elves and the Shoemaker', which will be published later this year - but I am most excited about a series of books called Global Heroes. The covers, and the artwork inside, has been done by a brilliant British illustrator called Alex Patterson. Alex has illustrated lots of great books including Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree books. I'm delighted that he's illustrating The Global Heroes - they aren't finished yet as I'm still writing them and Alex is still illustrating them, - but here's a couple of the covers.   

These books will be coming out later in the year but I will tell you more about them soon.

After a couple of years of not being able to visit schools and libraries like normal, it's exciting to be returning to libraries in Denbighshire this month. 

Here's a HUGE HELLO to everyone in years 3 and 4 from Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gwernant - see you soon at Llangollen Library. Everyone in years 4 and 6 from Christ the Word School in Rhyl - visiting Rhyl Library. Everyone at Ysgol Caer Drewyn and Ysgol Carrog - visiting Corwen Library ... and finally everyone who will be coming along to Rhuddlan Library. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.   

Our Lady and St Anselm's

Next week I will be visiting Our Lady and St Anselm's RC Primary School in Whitworth, Rochdale - and I can't wait. 

A huge HELLO to you all - I'm really excited about coming to meet everyone. 

I've never been to your school before but just before Christmas we went for a walk very close to your school. 

Perhaps you will recognise where it was from the pictures that I've included here. 

I love visiting schools to share stories, talk about what I do and to meet lots of keen and eager readers and writers. 

Over the last couple of years I have done a few virtual visits - talking to readers in Spain, Greece, Scotland, England, Brazil and a few other countries in South America. It was great doing that but nothing beats actually visiting a school in person. I just hope I can remember what I do...

See you all very soon.

Hello...

Hello to the students at Monaita School in Grenada. I'm really looking forward to meeting you all tomorrow morning - and to the students at El Romeral School and Sierrablanca School in Malaga - I'll see you soon. 

I can't to hear what you thought of The Flip Side.