Camilla Chester - Children's Author
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Welcome to my blog, a place where you can keep up to date with everything I'm up to!

Author Headshot - my professional pic!

29/6/2017

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Emma Carroll

25/6/2017

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This is what I'm reading at the moment. What are you reading?

I've been out and about meeting readers and signing books. I was at Waterstones last Saturday and Crabtree School Summer Faire yesterday. Tomorrow I'm at The Priory School in Hitchin, then The Lea on Wednesday and Sir John Lawes on Thursday.

If you can't catch me then perhaps you can make the 52 Stories event in central Cambridge on Saturday 8 July? I will blog again when I have more details.
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Authors for Grenfell Tower

20/6/2017

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I am joining in with the heroic fundraising efforts of The British Red Cross. You can find out more by clicking on this link: school-visit-from-childrens-author-camilla-chester

In summary, lots of different authors have come together to offer various gifts for auction. The money raised will all go to the people affected by the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London. 

Please help by bidding for anything you like the look of and TELLING everybody you know about it.

​Many thanks!
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Waterstones Book Event

18/6/2017

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Yesterday I was in my local Waterstones Book Shop, doing an author event/workshop. 

I am pictured on the left with the original illustrations for EATS. Here I'm telling the children a little bit about the two main characters; Lucas Larks, the budding vegetarian chef and his best mate, Brian Tucker.

The session also involved a creative writing task based on keys, that I shamelessly stole from fellow children's author, Emma Carroll (sorry Emma!). She'd be glad to know it worked a treat. I even heard from a parent afterwards to say her daughter had spent the rest of the afternoon creating a story based on what she had thought of during the activity. Fabulous!

Thank you to everyone who came along yesterday and hello to the new faces I met too. Remember you can email me any completed stories if you'd like me to read them by using my contact me page on my website.

​Don't forget that I am available to visit your school and/or library. I also do author visits to social groups such a Brownies. You just need to contact me.

If you'd like to know more about my visits, please go to my Author Visits page.

Thank you!
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Carnegie Award

18/6/2017

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Just started to read another book from the Carnegie shortlist. Find out on Monday who the winner is!
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Herts Advertiser

16/6/2017

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I am in the local paper today. I had a fantastic article that was supposed to go in, but apparently politics is more important than culture (who knew?!) so I only got a couple of lines that went in the 'What's On' section. Boo!
Who needs newspapers? Here is the article in it entirety: 

Inspiring local children’s author Camilla Chester celebrates the release of her second book “EATS” with a signing at Harpenden Books on Saturday 17th June at 2-3pm.
 “Bulging out of his dinner jacket, his white-streaked hair combed up and back with waxy grease, the chef looked like a fat badger. Lucas thought Leonardo was the greatest, because no matter how much cheese he ate he would never, ever be as big as him.” Chapter 1 “EATS”
“EATS”, suitable for 8+ year olds is a culinary adventure tale full of twists and turns that will have kids on the edge of their seat.. It features two boys trying to make is as celebrity chefs even though one of them can’t cook. It is very accessible, with witty dialogue, strong characters tapping into the national obsession with competition television.
“A delicious story with all the best ingredients - friendship, fun, adventure - and a bone chilling twist." Helen Moss, Author of Adventure Island series
“EATS”, published by Matador follows Camilla’s debut novel “Jarred Dreams”, which was shortlisted for the National Literary Trust New Author Prize 2015. “Jarred Dreams” is a dark thriller about a gutsy heroine Sade who moves into a sinister new neighbourhood and has to put things right. 
Through both novels, Camilla demonstrates a skilled use of descriptive language and a real stylistic range which is exciting for young readers. Camilla explains “I aim to create stories for children that they can fall into with characters that they remember. I try to write books that children will want to keep so that they can read them again and again and share them with their friends.”
“I believe that if you learn a love of reading from an early age, the joy of books will stay with you forever” Camilla continues.  This is why she works hard to circulate around local schools with inspiring writing workshops. She has even involved them in naming a character in her new book. Camilla was one of the judges of the St. Albans Literary Festival 2016 Junior Short Story competition which she found very rewarding. She is also a regular on Radio Veralum’s book discussion programme “Talking Bookshelf” aimed particularly at people with visual impairments. 
I asked Camilla what her secret is for beginning a new book. “I usually start with the idea of a baddie and what that he or she wants to do. I then build up from there. I'm a planner - I can't just write straight onto a blank page, I have to know who is who and what is happening.” .Camilla who is a busy mother of two, horse rider and dog walker is currently finishing her third book “The Thirteenth Wish”  which she hopes to publish next year. 
Deborah Heath
Good eh? Deborah is a writer herself, she has just finished a junior play all about Boudicca and she is very much involved in the St Albans Literary Festival.

Don't forget to come to Harpenden Books this Saturday between 2-3pm if you're local. It is a free author talk/workshop suitable for 8-12s. Hope to see you there!

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Robin Stevens

14/6/2017

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Last night I was at a SCBWI event entitled "What Makes A Bestseller". One of the three panelists was Robin Stevens, author of the Murder Most Unladylike series. 

I am kicking myself that I didn't get a selfie with her, or her autograph. Now, nobody is going to believe me and my daughter Sasha (who LOVES her books) is very disappointed. Oops. 

She seems very nice by the way...warm, friendly, not the kind to investigate grisly murders at all!
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Meeting Auj Usman

8/6/2017

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Yesterday I met the winner of the Name The Dog Competition, Auj Usman.

Auj won the competition with her excellent suggestion of the name, Fuzzles.

I was invited to meet Auj at her school, STAGS where she is currently in Y7.

It was lovely to meet Auj, and her friend Caitlin and to return to such a wonderful school where I had visited to do an Author Talk back in March. 

If you would like to read more about the competition please visit my Competition Page
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    Camilla's Blog

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  • Home
  • About Camilla
  • Camilla's Books
  • Author Visits
  • Blog
  • Buy Books
  • Teaching Resources
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  • Book Launch
  • Empathy
  • Aspiring Authors