Yes, it is completely TRUE!

Call Me Lion received enough nominations to go through the first round of the very first Write Blend Awards. 

I'm absolutely thrilled that I get to use such an amazing sticker and to know that Lion is already making waves in the book world. 

If you're on Twitter you can help by voting for Call Me Lion. Sadly, I am up against fellow debut authors so if I don't get through to the next round I'll at least be happy for my friends! 

To vote: Go to Twitter, search for @WriteBlendbooks and in their pinned tweet Call Me Lion is in the 2nd round of MG titles. Or you can try this link: Vote For Call Me Lion

​Thank you so much!

With the help of my amazing friend Sarah Broadley, I am going on a tour of Scottish Book Shops to promote Call Me Lion. Sarah and I will be visiting Glasgow, Dundee, Broughty Ferry, Aberdeen, Inverness, Aviemore and Edinburgh where I'll be seeking out copies of Call Me Lion and signing them.

In addition, Sarah has worked really hard to organise specific events, which are all free to attend. All the details of this are in the image above.

I'm so excited to return to Scotland, (I was born in Aberdeen) but as a published author. If you're around do come along to one of the events as I'd love to meet you. 

You can follow our adventure on social media using the hashtags: #CallMeLion #CMLScottishBookShopTour 

​Let's go!

What...Instagram Live interview with Luke Palmer not enough for you? Well, part of The Book Chain Project means I am interviewing not one, but two authors - Katharine and Elizabeth Corr. Sisters and joint writers, they have a new book - Daughter of Darkness - due for release with Hot Key Books. My interview with them will be on Instagram live on Wednesday 27 July at 7.30pm. As before just follow me on IG @camillacauthor and tap my picture at the time our interview goes live.

Next in the fabulous journey of all things Call Me Lion I am to be interviewed by fellow Firefly Press author Luke Palmer. Luke wrote the Carnegie shortlisted book, Grow and will be asking me all about Call Me Lion and my writing journey on Instagram Live this Wednesday (20th July) at 7.30pm. To watch all you need to do is follow me (@camillacauthor), Luke (@lukethepalmer) and/or @TheBookChainProject and click on the 'watch live' link at the right time. If you miss it or my foolproof 'how to' instructions don't work then FEAR NOT as the interview will be recorded and made available once edited on YouTube. I will share the link widely once I have it. That's all for now folks!

The radio recording went smoothly, so I am told, although it felt alarming to walk straight in after a fairly long drive. I was reassured that John's editing skills would ensure it would all sound fantastic. Tim was a great interviewer and if you would like to hear the radio recording then you just need to visit the Shine Radio website and click on the Talking Books programme. Or click here: Talking Books July 2022

I did workshop work with two different classes, signed books, ate a school dinner with the Y5s and best of all I had the entire school up disco dancing! Teachers, kids, governors - even the chef came out of the kitchen to join in! It was totally magical.

Obviously it's all about the summer holidays now (which you will know is when Call Me Lion is set) so school visits are not happening again until the new term, but if you would like to get involved please do get in touch. I would love to visit your school and will if I can. Until then - keep dancing everyone!

Sensitive to the light, here I am up and awake and ridiculous o'clock telling you all about another magical connection from the wonder that is Call Me Lion.

Regular readers will know the story of how Call Me Lion came about; how I feel that I cannot take credit for the book being out in the world because it began with a voice, the voice of Lion, who chose to speak to me. Thing is - it was only when I searched for help and found real people that the magic truly began.

Now the book is a real and beautiful thing, the magic is growing, ever stronger and more powerful. Like a lucky skimming stone, it bounces across still water, each bump creating positive ripples that span out wide. 

Yesterday I had a message through Facebook from someone I'd not met. I won't name this person as they don't know I'm writing this blog and it concerns their daughter but this a copy and paste of the message I received:
Thank you thank you thank you for writing this book my 12 yo has been sat reading it since she got home from school every few pages she says Lion is like me! And will explain how she feels about SM she has never opened up like this before! Thank you so much!

Obviously I've replied because... well how amazing?! This is the book working. This is Call Me Lion in action - doing the work it's supposed to be doing. This book can only create positivity, connections, empathy and understanding. It can only do good work. This is not about me or my ego as a writer, this is about connecting people through compassion. Please tell everyone about Call Me Lion because look what a difference it can make to real people and real lives. 

I'm left stunned and dazed after every positive ripple and feel incredibly proud to be part of something so powerful as Call Me Lion. 

That's all I have to say for now. Thanks for reading my extremely early morning, magic-related blog post!

The wait is over. Call Me Lion is finally available to buy, everywhere! If it isn't in your local bookshop then demand firmly that they stock it and refuse to leave until it is available.

Here I am excited as always and celebrating the publication with my dear writing friends, Linda, Suzie, Sue, Kitty, Sarah and Charlotte. We're sadly missing Mandy, but otherwise the HGs are all present and correct. 

I do hope to see you at the launch party on Sunday (lion ears optional).

​xx