Finally back from my amazing adventures. I wrote NOTHING whilst I was away, but I've had loads of advice, help and support from some amazing people in Singapore.

The first picture is Marian Mariano. She was my sister-in-law, Nicola Harayda's (pictured with Marian in the photo below) helper. She lived and worked with the family in Singapore for many years, becoming a close friend.
 
Marian's help with the fourth book has been so valuable and I'm very grateful to her for everything she has given me. She is a kind, warm, generous person, full of life and I hope that she will stay in touch even now she is off on her own new life adventure which has taken her away from Singapore. 

Nicola has always been supportive and encouraging of my writing and without her help this fourth book would not have come to life. The idea stemmed from a trip to Singapore two years ago and I've been playing around with it ever since. Nicola is one of the very few who has read the book in its' current draft. I was quite nervous of her opinion, but thankfully she loved it.

Nicola also told me all about HOME, an organisation in Singapore that helps migrant workers. Through HOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics) I met Karien Van Ditzhuijzen (pictured left below). Karien used to manage HOME and is an author. She read the story and has given me some excellent advice to improve the book and make it more authentic. I'm very grateful to her. 

I visited the HOME office and met with Desiree Leong (pictured below to the right). She is a Legal Consultant at HOME and helped me with some of the details of the book.

I'll be quiet on my blog for the next few weeks as I am off on another adventure. This time it is back to Singapore, a country I have visited a few times, as I have family there. 

For those of you who have been part of any of my recent school visits, you will know that my latest book (not out yet) is set in Singapore. It is difficult for me to tell you anything else about the book as it is currently doing well in a competition and it is important that I remain anonymous. The results of the competition are to be announced in June, so watch this space and keep your fingers crossed for me!

Part of the Singapore visit will be to check details and make sure the new book is authentic and accurate. It is also to see family and visit the amazing sites of Singapore.

It is an incredible place to visit, I love it. We're also going to Vietnam for a few days AND stopping in Dubai for a few nights on the way back to the UK. What an adventure!

I'm hoping to bring back even more characters and story ideas.

To make you all even more jealous of my travels here are some pictures that I took whilst on my last visit to Singapore a couple of years ago. The first is one of my favourite places: Gardens by the Bay, as featured in David Attenborough's Blue Planet series.

,I have just returned from a SCBWI Writing Retreat here, at Holland House, near Evesham in Worcestershire. Gorgeous isn't it? 

The long weekend gives a chance to relax, think, write, attend workshops and have a one-to-one with a professional in order to talk about whatever you are writing at the time.

The house was gorgeous, the food amazing and although I didn't write that much, I laughed so  hard I cried! I learned a whole heap of useful stuff from the masters.  

It has been AGES since I've blogged about what I am reading and, as usual, I have reads lots of books. The children's books I've read that you might be interested to know about are: The Boy Who Grew Dragons trilogy by Andy Shepherd, The Confidence Code for Girls by Katty Kay, The Last Chance Hotel by Nickie Thornton, The Golden Acorn by Catherine Cooper, Artemis Fowl (the first one) by Eoin Colfer, and Sky Chasers by Emma Carroll. I've also read a few adult books. 

Can't tell you how much I'm enjoying working on the Catching Words Project with the schools in East London.

Being part of the Discover Children's Stories Centre in Stratford feels like an honour and a privilege, particularly as there are so few story centres in the UK. The ethos is all about inspiring creativity with words.

For those of you not in the know, World Book Day always falls on the first Thursday in March and it is the busiest time of year for Children's Authors. Here I am on Friday last week, ready and waiting to start my assembly at the fantastic Skyswood Primary School in St Albans.  

I hope you're all having a lovely half-term holiday. It was quiet yesterday at the story-time session at Bill's on Chequers Street, St. Albans but the good news is that if you were away and wanted to come they have invited my back for another session.

Catch me at Bill's on Tuesday 26th February 4-5pm.

The event is totally FREE and even though my books are aimed at 8-12s the session is open to all ages. 

The idea is for families to come in for hot chocolate and cake and listen to some stories whilst they are there. I have a whole collection of different books to read from and stories to tell, something to suit all tastes, so do come along and say hello, it would be great to see you!

Today was a first experience for me and completely wonderful. 

I was asked to come along and do the honour of snipping the ribbon surrounding the brand new library at High Beeches Primary School.

It was such a privilege to be able to talk about the importance of libraries and our shared love of books, then take hold of the enormous scissors (aka garden shears) and declare the library officially open.

I was even lucky enough to be asked back at school closing to meet the children and parents and sign some copies of my books.

Here's wishing all the best for all the users of High Beeches Primary School Library. What a wonderful thing to be a part of, especially in this day and age when we hear about the death of books and libraries.

It is so important to get behind our local libraries and support them in every way we can. It's a right to be able to read for free and libraries are the only way we can do this. Books make a difference on so many levels. It's not just about literacy, books are freedom to travel, to be someone different, to gain knowledge, to gain power and insight. They help us to communicate and to empathise with others. Books are brilliant.

Go borrow a book now and thank your librarian as you do!

All the best High Beeches Primary School Library - oh and a special mention to Annemarie who remembered me from Y4 when I visited the school during World Book Day week. It made my day that you loved Jarred Dreams so much you bought my other two books!