First Order for Hero Required

Today the very first order came in for 'Hero Required'! So exciting to know that people want to read my book ... and unless they read my blog or look on other sites, they'll be completely unaware that said book is sitting next to me still being proof read!

First Proofs Have Arrived!!!

A nice fat padded envelope arrived today - first proofs of Hero Required. Just 309 pages to wade through! Interestingly, I have to correct any errors with a RED pen which is quite ironic as in school we're not supposed to use red pens. It's apparently a throw back from the old school days when everything was crossed through and marked in red, leaving the poor pupil quite traumatised! So what about me then - what if I become traumatised whilst correcting it?? Heigh-ho!

Wednesday writing workshop

So the writer's workshop went well. About twenty children turned up which was a good number to work with. I used characterisation as a focus which is a fun way of getting children to talk to each other and stimulates their thinking.
I just have a box of bits and pieces i.e. scarf, glasses, travel brochure, candle, an orange etc. You need around fifty items to share between groups of four children. I give a mix of 'artifacts' to each group and a large piece of paper with marker pens. Then I get them to talk about who the character could be, based on the artifacts they have. After a quick chat they draw out the character and make notes around the figure. Finally they present their characters to each other. Great fun! In longer sessions I ask the children to come up with a story summary using two or three of the characters. It certainly seems to inspire story writing which is why I like doing it!

Writing workshop

Have a writing workshop at school tomorrow. I shall go through how to create good characters using different artefacts to help. Hopefully, I'll sell some books too!

Book launch

After placing my order with the printers for the new book, I'm now turning my head towards the book launch. My local Waterstone's have kindly offered to host it. I'm probably going to have a small gathering for friends and family during the week with an author signing on the following Saturday. Just need to tie the printers down to a firm delivery date ...

Another school talk

Gave an author talk to years 3/4/5/6 at Cuddington Croft Primary School today. They were a fabulous audience and listened really well. Sold loads of books. The staff were great too. Thank you!

The interview I was doing about self-publishing has just gone live! Look really good and the book covers look great!

Have a look and let me know what you think!

http://talltalesandshortstories.blogspot.com/

New Book Gone!

Crikey, that feels good! The third book, Hero Required, is completely finished and has gone off to the printers - at last.
It has taken so long to get this one out as I have been writing other books in between. I feel really pleased as its written in a completely different way.
It's due out in July - not sure what date, but will let everyone know as soon as I do.

New book cover!

Hooray! The cover for the third Aggie Lichen book 'Hero Required' has finally been finished. The cover has been sent to the printers for a sample print just to test out the colour and to see if the white print stands out enough. The designer, Tara Bush, has done a fantastic job and I'm really pleased. What do you think?

School visit

Today I gave an author talk to 100 Yr3/4 pupils at Northolmes Junior School in Horsham, Surrey. They are looking at British writers for their literacy topic. It seemed to go down well and the children were very interested. Sold a few books too which is always good news.

Had some fabulous questions asked:
Who is my favourite author?
What's the longest story I have written?
Did I draw the cover too?

But my favourite was:
If I didn't have a talent for writing, what talent would I wish for?

Today I am responding to questions from Tracy Baines about self-publishing. I found out that Tracey was blogging a series through SCBWI. She had some great self-published authors already on the blog and kindly agreed to let me rant and rave about the trials of self-publishing so I am just in the middle of explaining what it all entails. Do look out for it either through SCBWI or Jacketflap. Hopefully I will come across as sophisticated and knowledgable ...

Finished!

So the third Aggie Lichen book is now finished. Hero Required should hit the shelves July 2009 - well, that's the plan. It all takes a while to pull things together, but I feel confident that the date will be hit!

Hopefully, there will be a launch party at my local Waterstone's branch in Sutton. If you would like to come, please forward me your email address so that I can send you an official invitation nearer the publication date.

Not just yet ...

Well, to date no publisher has been bashing down my door to get me to sign with them. I'm not too downhearted as I have many other things occupying my brain at the moment. With 'Hex Marks the Spot' finished, I am now concentrating on the third Aggie book and I'm determined to have it published by Feb 2009. I get a lot of emails from people asking about it so I have decided that it is my duty as a writer to get the book finished!! The third book of the series will be called 'Hero Required' and picks up from the end of book two 'Arty's Revenge'. It's written differently in that I am the narrator rather than Aggie herself. Well, I think talking as a Grublin all the way through would not only be too much to write but be a little onerus to read. Look out for it in the new year.

Possible publisher?

So I now hear that nine publishers are interested in publishing my books. Hurray! And ... Fox films have taken the manuscript back to the US to have a look at. Hurray!

Now comes the long wait - it could be months, it could be years, it could be never!!

Still, I have plenty of school work and writing to keep me busy in the mean time. And - I'm very patient!!!

I have an agent!

It's been a while since my last post but I have truly exciting news! I have, at last, signed with an agent! Suzy Jenvey of PFD Literary Agency will now be representing me worldwide. For me, this means I may now attract a mainstream publisher which will leave more time to concentrate on my writing. But for the time being, I shall still be signing in book stores and giving author talks in schools ...

If you would like an author talk please contact me at purpleraypublishing@hotmail.co.uk

A new world

So I wanted to know where the tooth fairy put all those teeth, after all, they must have to go somewhere! Surprise, surprise - none of the children knew! It was then that it came to me - a world where the tooth fairies lived - Mirvellon. It all seemed so clear. They needed a world to live in, a portal to come and go through to the human world, a school to educate them in the ways of teeth. But what would they look like and what DID they actually do with all those teeth?

The brain starts ticking ...

At first I just started getting ideas that made no real sense. I thought about fairies or Ppfairies as I called them They were a mixture of pig and fairy living at the bottom of gardens. Quite bizarre! But these early images were to have a profound effect on my writing life. As young girl - yes, I was one too - I had always loved fairies and mythical creatures. Then as I began teaching fate stepped in - in the guise of Year 2 children. Have you ever noticed how children aged 6-7 never seem to have all their teeth? Yeah, well me too! I used to get inundated with tales of how the tooth fairy had been the previous night and left money under the pillow. Day in and day out came the news of the tooth fairy visit. It all got too much one day and my kind exterior finally broke down ...

Me - write a book??

I was never really one of those writers who had always wanted to become an author as a child. I wanted to be a window dresser! The fact that my artwork was actually rubbish did not deter me. I was determined to be a window dresser and guess what - at fifteen I left school ( no exams taken!) and became ... a banker!! So much for doing what you really want to do! I stayed with banking for quite a few years and accquired a marriage and two children on the way.
Yet still at this point there was no story even contemplating entering my head. I don't even think I read that much at this point, so what changed? Well, let's just say that after my first marriage collapsed I found new confidence. I started to realise that I could do anything I put my mind to and with that went off to college to train for five long years to become a teacher. Then the strangest things started happening in my mind ...