...to book your place at the SCBWI conference.

If you're a budding Children's Author or Illustrator I can't recommend this conference more highly. It is absolutely superb. I have also just sorted my costume for the party - hope to see you there!

More Information and/or Book SCBWI Conference Here

Great school visit today in Newham, London at Maryland Primary School.

This was a freebie I did as part of the Grenfell Tower Author Auction that raised over £10,000 as part of the Red Cross Appeal to help the victims of that terrible fire.

The school was very warm and welcoming and the Y6ers were buzzing with ideas and enthusiasm. Doing the story building workshop I was presented with a new one - the goal of the hero was to find true love. It sent a titter through the kids but I was blown over. This was fantastic and the story was one that could definitely work. I hope they have a go at writing it up.

You go Maryland and don't forget your secret code for a discount on a personalised book:

​Buy your book here

My modern re-telling of the fairy tale The Snow Queen didn't make the long list of The National Literacy Trust (sniff). 

If you would like to know more about the competition and who did make it (some fellow SCBWI members on the list - hurray!) please click on the link below:
National Literacy Trust Fairy Tale Competition

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the reading I have going on at the moment.

You may know that I review books for Talking Newspapers. These are usually adult novels and at the moment that includes: Halloween Party by Agatha Christie (very apt for this time of year), The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (brilliant but harrowing book about a dystopian future) and The Dry by Jane Harper (a detective novel set in Australian Outback).

I am also going to be reviewing two very different children's book for a bookshop site called Can't Put It Down. When I start on these I'll do another blog post about them. Can't Put It Down is worth a look if you're searching for something a little less mainstream. If your sick of David Walliams and want something else then check it out.

In addition to all of this, I have bought myself the second book my Patrice Lawrence, which is a Young Adult (YA) novel called Indigo Donut. Plus, a friend has just lent me a 'must read' called Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hood. This is the first book of a trilogy!

All of this means that even though I've not put up a picture of me reading for a while you can rest assured that I have my nose in a book very regularly, but then when don't I?

What are you reading at the moment? Any good?

Had a great birthday today. Feeling very special and grateful and happy and wonderful and everything! Xx

I'm looking forward to my visit to Raynes Park Library in London tomorrow at 2pm.

I'm going to be doing all sorts, so hope you can make it. I won't be able to sell books on the day I'm afraid, but as an exclusive to those attending the talk/workshop you will receive a unique 20% discount code which you can use to order from my website. This will only be valid for one week, expiring on Saturday 21st October.  

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Yesterday I visited Cunningham Hill Junior School for the second time. I was there this time last year and the Y5s who are now Y6s remembered not only me and my first book, but also the name of my dog. Very impressive.

There was an assembly for Y5 and Y6 followed by a workshop for Y6. From the 'Box of Wonders' activity, the two Y6 classes created the bones of their very own story with a Working Title of 'The Memory Storer'. 

The story is our hero has to find the memory storer that has been stolen by the cruel antagonist who wants to implant a false bad memory into the world so that he/she can take control. Our hero not only has to find the source of the device's power but also reclaim the memories that are being lost to their close relative who is beginning to forget everything that is important.

There's a bit of...okay...a lot of work to be done, but definitely the start of something there. I look forward to reading any stories that emerge from either the assembly or the workshop.

If you have something to send make sure you get permission to do so then contact me

Read and be inspired to write.