You can now enter the competition to become a dancer at the book launch of Call Me Lion! All the information is on my book launch/competition page and you can watch the video all about it below,  which is now on YouTube.

​Don't forget that you do not have to enter the competition to get tickets for the launch. They are now available on Eventbrite - the link to which is on my book launch/competition page too. 

Good luck if you're entering!

The most amazing part of this retreat is how I came away feeling part of something important. We're all trying to do something incredible; to write powerful, inspirational stories that get into the hands of children. We want them to feel motivated to read more and maybe even write their own stories. We want our books to help children understand themselves and others better, to show and feel empathy. It is incredibly important work because well-read children lead fuller and happier lives. The retreat reminds me of the bigger picture of what we are all trying to achieve and I feel very privileged to be part of something so wonderful as the SCBWI British Isles. 

Did you manage to make it all the way to my blog page without seeing this image? I very much doubt it as I have literally splattered it all over the place. 

Designed by Becka Moor at Firefly Press and illustrated by the talented Irina Avgustinovich, the cover for Call Me Lion was officially revealed on Twitter by Vicky Bishop, Teacher, Blogger and Reviewer. 

If you're on Twitter you can see the Tweet here: Cover Reveal

As you can tell I'm thrilled. This is totally how I imagined Lion and Richa. The warmth of the heatwave and the joy from their dancing is bouncing out of this stunning image.

If you would like to pre-order the book which is out on June 16 you can do so by asking for it in your local bookstore, or by visiting Waterstones. 

This means that reviews of the book may start to come at any time. In fact I spotted the first one on Goodreads today. It's absolutely magnificent because it's 5 stars and says all wonderful things about the book. You can read it here: Call Me Lion Goodreads Review.

This book didn't just come from me. It tells an important story that we could all benefit from remembering but it's full of wonderful dancing and a happy dog to make sure it's fun too. I hope you will enjoy it as much as this reviewer did when it's your turn to read it.

Thanks so much everyone!

Call Me Lion is due to be published on 16 June 2022. The cover reveal will be sometime towards the end of February and there may be all kinds of exciting things happening leading up to the launch which I will share with you all here and on social media. If you want to find me on Twitter or Insta I'm @camillacauthor. I'm not hugely active as it fries my brain to spend too long on my phone, but I do dip in and out. I'm also on Facebook and Linked-In. 

Always the best thing about events is meeting with fellow writers. I feel like I have a whole new group of people now going through the same exciting adventure as me. Everything is much better when you don't feel alone.

Onwards!

This festive photo represents the best thing in my life to have come from the pandemic. These wonderful fellow women writers are from top left; Sarah Broadley, Mandy Rabin, Me, Suzie Wilde, Susan Bain, Charlotte Teeple-Salas and Kitty Kettle (we're missing our eighth member Linda Nelson) and represent the most supportive, encouraging and writing friends ever! 

When the first lockdown cancelled our writing retreat we started meeting daily via zoom. We still  try to meet every day to talk writing and motivate one another, but over time this has spilled into general friendship and support.

Instead of gifts this year we made personalised bookmarks for one another, which is what we're waving in the photo. 

Here's to 2022, may it be filled with stories that we create for you, our readers.

All the best and I'll see you on the other side!