Monthly Archives: January 2010
Writers who lunch…
I had to go to London yesterday for a CWIG (Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group) meeting. As the meeting didn’t begin until 3.00 pm I arranged to meet up with fellow writers Catherine Johnson, Joshua Lacey and Lily Hyde for … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
To IBBY with love…
Last year I had a request from Nikki Gamble, who helps run the fabulous and informative Write Away website (www.writeaway.org.uk), asking for a contribution towards the grand IBBY auction of 2012. IBBY (International Board for Books for Young People) was … Continue reading
Filed under IBBY, Scattered Authors' Society, Uncategorized
Bravery
After posting yesterday’s piece on Miep Gries I’ve been thinking about bravery. I write about bravery a lot. Nika’s story, ‘What’s Ukrainian for Football’ is about bravery. In it, Nika re-tells the true story of FC Start, a Ukrainian football … Continue reading
Filed under blogs, Uncategorized
Miep Gies (1909-2010)
I was delighted to read of the death yesterday of Miep Gies, the Dutch woman who helped to hide the Frank family and friends in a secret annexe during World War Two. I was delighted because she lived to be … Continue reading
Filed under books
Futility
As a writer, I am sometimes asked by journalists, publishers or bloggers to list my favourite things. Books, films, paintings and so on. I always find this difficult, if not impossible. How can I name one painting out of all … Continue reading
Filed under blogs, poetry, Uncategorized
What’s wrong with this picture?
Guess how old this little girl is. Go on, guess. She’s two. TWO! She’s called Savanha and was posing for a children’s beauty pageant in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m sorry but her parents should be taken outside and slapped hard. What … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
What’s wrong with this picture?
Guess how old this little girl is. Go on, guess. She’s two. TWO! She’s called Savanha and was posing for a children’s beauty pageant in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m sorry but her parents should be taken outside and slapped hard. What … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Winter Morning
Winter Morning Winter is the king of showmen, Turning tree stumps into snowmen And houses into birthday cakes And spreading sugar over lakes. Smooth and clean and frosty white, The world looks good enough to bite. That’s the season to … Continue reading
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Public Lending Right (library books)
Accidental Friends at #1 23,241 UK writers are happy today. That’s because their PLR (Public Lending Right) summaries have arrived, telling them how many of their books were borrowed from participating authorities in the past year. For every library book … Continue reading
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