hen I am Children's Laureate, which I calculate will be around 2015 (ha!) I know what my 'big idea' is going to be. Anne Fine's, if you remember, was bookplates, designed by top artists, which could be downloaded from the Internet. I'm not sure what Michael Morpurgo's big idea is but mine will be to award a prize to the best children's librarians. Think about it - they're always giving writers prizes - the Carnegie, for instance - but who gives them prizes? Exactly - nobody. They work their socks off all year round thinking up new ways of getting kids to read. They run book clubs and do assemblies and review the latest titles and hold shadowing groups and invite writers like me in to schools and libraries. They must be exhausted.
Thus as Children's Laureate (pending) I am delighted to announce, well in advance, The Writer's Librarian of the Year Award. There won't be a cup or money or anything because most writers are broke but I'm sure Korky Paul will draw up a fantastic certificate for the winner.
The reason I'm banging on is because I've just had two months of very varied and enjoyable experiences provided by library services. First of all, I was asked to visit North East Wales for three days. During the first two days I worked with children who had been selected to be part of a 'Writing Squad'. These are children who show a talent for creative writing and are withdrawn from school and invited to work with a writer for a day once or twice a year. Great idea - pass it on. I have done something similar with Surrey Library Services and individual schools but I don't know many other regions who have them.
I worked in Ruthin Library with Year Five and Six pupils from Denbighshire on the first day and older pupils from around Flintshire the next. What a talented bunch the participants all were - and how fantastic for them to have such forward looking library services to nurture them. Let's hear it for Bethan Hughes and Frances Jones!
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Oh, and I've just thought of another award - best library in which to work with an author. St Deinol's Library in Hawarden where I met the Flintshire Squad has got to get that one - fantastic - though Ruthin comes a close second. But that wasn't even the best bit of my visit. That came on the third day when I was asked to be a judge on the North East Wales English Books Quiz.
OK, you can tell I don't get out much but it was great fun. Schools from four counties had been given a selection of ten book titles to choose from. They had to select two of these books, one upon which to give a five minute presentation and one about which to be grilled by three mean and nasty judges.
Competition was tough - the finalists had put a lot of effort into costumes and sound effects for the presentation and really knew their stuff when it came to the question and answer session. I don't think I would have been so confident at eleven years old. So a big well done to every ysgol (school) who made it to the final: Ysgol y Llys, Dewi Sant, Barker's Lane, San Sior, Bryn Coch, St Winefride's, Bwlchgwyn and Ffordd Dyffryn. I had such a good time I drove home with a smile on my face, despite having to go via the Manchester ring road and up the dreaded M62.
Another event I took part in was the first Lincolnshire Young People's Book Award on July 17th Children's community librarians Kim Cooper, Wendy Bond and Margaret Peacock among many others organised this one. I was in my element because I was asked to open The Golden Envelope and announce the winners. I had my hair done and brushed my teeth twice especially - well, you have to, if golden envelopes are involved.
In first place was Eion Colfer with Artemis Fowl - the Arctic Incident, second was Anthony Horowitz with Skeleton Key and third was Tim Bowler with Stargazer (go, Tim!). Unfortunately all three were unavailable to receive their accolade which was a shame but meant more cake for everyone else. Prizes are important to writers and I'm sure all three would have got there if they could. I have to say I like the Askew's Book Award method - the winners are announced beforehand. It takes all the pressure off the actual event, though I suppose there's no 'big moment' for the crowd.
So what else have I been up to apart from admiring librarians? I have actually done some writing! I finished the fourth book in my After School Club series - Starring Jolene and launched the first two - Starring Sammie and Starring Brody. Sales are going well, apparently but I have noticed that when I am doing signings Starring Brody goes quicker than Starring Sammie. I'm not sure why, unless it's the cover. Both designed by the brilliant Melanie Williamson, the difference is Sammie is a chubby girl and Brody is a skinny model. Please don't tell me my readers are influenced by such shallow things? That whole reason I made Sammie chubby in the first place was I was fed up of the 'fat' kids in books being either nasty, greedy, slow-witted or on a diet. Sammie is kind, good fun and loyal. What she looks like isn't central to the story. Of course I could be wrong - people might just like the colours of the Brody cover best! Let me know.
I have also finished a Christmas short story for Usborne (due out in 2004). Why didn't anybody tell me short stories are just as difficult to write than books? Perhaps if I had not ignored all the advice I give out in workshops and brought in too many sub-plots and fancy details instead of paring the story down to its bare essentials I would have finished it faster. I'm quite nervous waiting ot hear whether they like it or not. Despite having been a writer for fifteen years and published for five, I still get the jitters and all the self-doubt creeps in. Writing is a learning curve. Like teaching, it doesn't get any easier the longer you do it.
Anyway, have a good summer. Try this year's Carnegie winner if you are going on holiday. Sharon Creech's Ruby Holler - it's a 'feel-good' read. Ask any librarian!
