have just returned from a weekend with my Scattered Authors' Society buddies where Rhiannon Lassiter gave a talk on the importance of keeping your website up to date. I was sliding lower and lower into my chair, ashamed and embarrassed that mine was last updated ten months ago. 'Readers don't mind how obvious or boring the things are that you write as long as they have something new to read,' Rhiannon assured us.
Obvious and boring? I can do that! Let me start with the obvious. I am in the middle of writing a book. Now that all the books in the After School Club series are out, I am back to writing a 'stand alone' novel. This one is for young adults and will come out in Summer 2007 (fingers crossed). At the moment it is called 'Then I Saw Her Face' but that is just a working title. I am really enjoying writing this - it's right rattling off the page.
My notebook!
I changed my whole approach for this one. Usually, I get an idea, do a brainstorm on a large piece of paper then start. This time I have done a lot more planning. I needed to because the story is woven around four main characters rather than just one or two. I bought a lined spiral bound notebook from Paperchase and use that as a place to write down everything; my thoughts, my ideas and my notes from things I have researched. In tandem with this I have a large sketchpad where I've roughed out each character's family tree and background detail.
oing back to the After School Club books, what do you think of the new covers?
Cool? Funky? A bit too pink? They certainly seem to be doing the trick. The 'Clubbing Together' bind-up which puts the first four stories together has flown off the shelves. It is on its fourth reprint since it was published in May. I do feel sorry for the boys when I do school visits, though. They look at the covers and think I only write for girls. This is not so but I agree it's hard to tell. The After School Club books do feature as many boys as girls. Honest!
The first of the series is out in America now. Simon and Schuster, who have bought the rights to the first four, have just issued 'Starring Sammie.' The cover is totally different from the one you buy here. They have used a real model on the cover instead of an illustration. I love the model's sweet face, though the girl shown is not at all chubby, like my Sammie should be!
The books are also for sale in Poland and Wales. These publishers have used the same UK covers but changed the names.
f course, I have been busy on school visits and attending festivals, too. In February I was invited to speak at the Federation of Children's Books Groups' (www.fcbg.org.uk) annual conference in Birmingham. Events like this for children's writers are the equivalent to film premieres for movie stars but without the posh frocks and paparazzi. I couldn't believe it when I read the programme for the day. Forget Brad Pitt. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw that among the speakers were Morris Gleitzman, only one of the best children's writers on the planet and Jacqueline Wilson, only the Children's Laureate! I'm afraid I had a bit of a groupie moment and just had to shake Morris by the hand. He probably thought I was barmy but what's a girl to do? Check out his website - www.morrisgleitzman.com. And read his new book ‘Once.'
I have had some mint (as Jolene would say) school visits in 2006 so far. I began in North Wales with pupils at Ysgol Melyd, Prestatyn, who all keep fantastic Writing Journals. The next day I visited Kinmel Bay Library further along the coast in Conwy. On World Book Day I paid my fourth visit to Linchfield Community Primary School in Deeping St James where the Y6 produced some fantastic creative writing despite being distracted by their teacher, Mr Mooney, dressed as Darth Vader to celebrate WBD.
In March I also visited Solihull Boys' School (which does have some girls, too). Again, the writing produced during my sessions here was so, so good. I do begin to worry when I see the high standard of writing so many of you attain. Stop it! There's enough competition out there! Get an X-box or something (just kidding).
Hello also to All Saints R.C. School in Mansfield. I hope if I visit again there won't be another fire drill so we can finish our session properly! Finally, I've just come back from having a great time at Flanshaw J&I School in Wakefield.
Special hello also to Caitlin who loves the After School Club series and wears her Clubbing Together t-shirt with pride and good luck to Bethany at Sullivan Upper School in Belfast helping to raise funds for Book Aid International.
In a couple of weeks I'm back in Wales but further south this time - Caerphilly. Bora da! I have also been booked in for appearances at the Birmingham Young Readers Festival in May and Lancashire Book Festival in June. Good stuff.
seem to have a stack of books I haven't read yet. These include:
(Note to self - must stop buying new books from bookshops when haven't read old ones yet...)
'd also like to congratulate Pauline Chandler on having her book Warrior Girl nominated for the Carnegie Medal. I know how hard Pauline worked on Warrior Girl and she deserves every success with it. If you haven't read it, do. It's a cracking tale about Joan of Arc told from the perspective of her mute handmaid and companion, Mariane. Suitable for 12 and above.
And that's about it. I'll try not to be so tardy next time.
Best wishes,