I’ve just received some really exciting news about an upcoming event – World Book Night!

Lee-on-the-Solent bookshop have invited me to be one of their authors this year. It sounds a great event and is open to all. This is from the organisers...

“WORLD BOOK NIGHT IS COMING!

Join us Wednesday, April 23rd, 7-9pm for our annual Lee-on-the-Solent literary event. Meet local authors. Meet other local readers. Lots of special offers, freebies, and tasty nibbles – and TRIPLE Local Loyalty Card points on the night.”

So please come and join me at The Book Shop, 142 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9DD on the 23rd April for an evening of fun. Other authors so far confirmed are Bryan Dunleavy and Christine Lawrence. 

Click on the following links to find out more about World Book Night and Lee bookshop.

So, for the last three weeks I have been preparing lesson plans for Key Stage 2 based on The Company of Goblins – it is by far the most time consuming thing I’ve done. Websites, illustrations, even writing a novel was less work that preparing lesson plans!

Having said that, I have enjoyed it immensely and can only hope the plans prove useful for all very hard working and dedicated teachers out there.  The teaching plans are going to be checked over, and then uploaded to the website. Check back soon!

For now, some great new sound effects have been added to the Goblin Maker game which is proving to be extremely popular – just don’t forget to buy a book after playing!!!

So ... after six years, twenty rewrites, hundreds of late nights typing on my laptop ... and sixty thousand cups of tea - it's finally here! I can't believe it's finally here!

My very first book! I'm absolutely thrilled to be an author!!!

Even the printer said she wanted to read it ... now all I need is a new keyboard because I've worn the letters off!

Would you like to be a writer? The Winchester Writers' Festival is a great place to start. They hold a competition for children every year that is judged by famous authors and editors. I’ve learned a lot about writing by entering competitions.

Read on, then follow the link to find out more ...

Young Writers’ Poetry
Food is our theme this year. Competitors are invited to send poems about food of no more than 30 lines as follows:

Age group 6-11:
Write about your experiences with food. Your poem might be about your favourite food, focusing on the taste, texture or smell of something memorable you have eaten. Does a grandparent make a special dish? What would your dream meal consist of? Let your imagination wander!

Age group 12-16:
Write about food in relation to your life or your family. It might be a celebration or an occasion such as a picnic or meal out, or it might simply be about those everyday mealtimes or quick, takeaway food. What about your experiences of cooking or baking?

Each of the categories will offer prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners and a framed certificate. Prizes will be awarded at an awards tea on June 28, 2014 in Winchester.

Here is the link to the Winchester Writers' Festival.

The Goblins have been working hard to get my book ready for publication. They're celebrating my first blog post with a drink of frog-eye fizz and toenail sandwiches.

Available at Little Knoll Bookshop, and at all UK bookshops. The printers have done an amazing job, and I'm really excited and looking forward to my launch! Keep watching this space for the date.