Yes, I do know the difference! (spot my deliberate error on previous entry)

Did you see the inauguration yesterday of America’s 44th president?  What a spectacle!  The crowds, the pomp… Aretha Franklin’s hat. It stuck me as being part wedding (Michelle Obama’s mother-of-the - bride outfit set that train of thought going, plus the endless shaking of guest’s hands the couple endures before getting to the high table) part pop concert (the fans below) and part church service (the numerous prayers and references to God and the Bible). Overall it was as impressive as it should have been and needed to be.

The speech was the thing we were all waiting for. I must admit, after poor Obama fluffed the oath, I worried for him.  If he’s messed that up, what’s he going to be like in his much longer oration?  I should have had more faith. Here is a leader with a clear, smooth voice; easy to listen to, easy to understand. He’s up there among the gifted and articulate orators of our time.  But the pressure was on. Would he come out with a soundbite, like JFK had, the TV coverage kept wondering.  Would there be an equivalent to the line: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country’ ?  In today’s Times, Gerard Baker reckons there wasn’t. ‘The speech that failed to fly’ he called it. I disagree. True, the overall speech wasn’t particularly poetic but Obama said what he had to say. Like Earl Spencer during Diana’s eulogy, it was hard hitting and unapologetic.  It reflected the times in which he lives which is why I particularly liked two phrases.  ‘the time has come to… choose our better history’ and (in reference to the USAs many enemies) ‘...we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.’

The time has come to choose our better history. Brilliant. Come on then guys, let’s do it, together.

Good luck President Barack Obama. Your going to need it.

Accidental Friends, my teen book published last year, has been nominated for two more shortlists. The first is run by Birmingham Libraries and is called the KS3Chills Award. This is one voted for by readers using an X-factor type system. Every week, the two titles with the least votes are ’splatted.’  Readers’ opinions about the nominated titles are also available to read.  This is a fresh and innovative way of getting kids interested in the award but not so brilliant for us thin-skinned authors.  Some of the comments are ‘well harsh’ you guys! Alan Sillitoe once told me writers should ignore all criticism about their work, good or bad. I agree.  For the sake of my fragile ego, I shan’t be logging on again!  For those of you braver than I am, the website is www.bgfl.org/ks3.

The second award isn’t formally announced until later in the year so I cannot divulge which one it is at the moment. I might get shot or something…

Needless to say I am chuffed to bits to be on both lists. I always had faith that Accidental Friends would do well.  Was I right or was I right?

Signing out from Big Headed Bertha xx

1. Libraries will be in the news. More and more branch libraries are closing as councils look for easy targets to make their cutbacks.  Reasons given are that books are so cheap now everyone goes to Waterstone’s or Tesco’s so what’s the point of maintaining stock or buying in new books?  Crazy. Libraries serve a multitude of needs for a multitude of people. Older people needing large print books, students needing to study, the unemployed, migrants, asylum seekers, historians carrying out research, writers, parents with toddlers choosing new picture books… I could go on…

It’s not only public libraries that are being downsized, either. Many secondary schools don’t have trained librarians and some have disbanded their library area altogether in favour of IT suites.  How short-sighted is that? Bet the same schools have lousy GCSE results.

But help is at hand. Children’s writer Alan Gibbons is spearheading the Campaign for the Book. For details go to his website www.alangibbons.com where you can sign his online petition. Children’s librarians might be interested in attending the conference for the Campaign for the Book on June 27th in Birmingham.

2. The EURO 2009 Women’s Football Finals will be won by England after they beat either USA or Germany in the final.  You read it here first.

3. As a result of England’s win, sales of my *new series, Girls FC, will soar. At the same time, the number of girls aged 8-11 wanting to participate in the sport will increase dramatically, thus eliminating two of the major problems of British society - childhood obesity and indifference to reading - in one swoop. Go me! Go England Women!

* Out in August

Have a brilliant 2009

Helena