Celia Leofsy Blog - The Company of Goblins

Netley Abbey Junior School Visit

28/6/2015

Netley Abbey Junior School Visit

Orlando and I really enjoyed our visit to Netley Abbey Junior School last Friday. We were given a terrific welcome by all the children and the staff.

Many of the children already had copies of ‘The Company of Goblins’ and said it was the best adventure story ever. I was delighted to find it was being read in class. There are free sessions to download that accompany the book here.

Two of the children presented me with their drawings which you can see below, and of course, they will be added to The Goblin Gallery. I really like them, they are great - I especially like the big red wart on the nose of the goblin to the right!

Another student wrote to me outlining the plot for her very own novel – a fantastic achievement. Please keep writing, Abbey, your ideas are extremely interesting and very inventive.

There were lots of interesting questions:

What sort of story would I write after I’d completed the trilogy?
Who was my favourite character in The Company of Goblins?
How long did it take me to write the first book?
What was it like in Egypt, and in which city did I live?
Which mythical creature did I like the best?
Who were my favourite authors now? And,
What was my favourite book as child?

When I answered that ‘The Faraway Tree’ had been my favourite book, all the children let out a gasp and nodded in agreement. I’m so pleased that the very first book I enjoyed is still going strong today.

I know there are many keen young writers at Netley Abbey Junior School, I’d like to wish you all lots of luck for the future - one or more of you could be best selling authors, just keep reading and writing!

Waterstones Book Signing and Talk

3/6/2015

Children’s Workshop – Waterstones, Ringwood, 29th May 2015.

I had a terrific morning last Friday; my publisher arranged for a filming opportunity at Waterstones, Ringwood, a bright, colourful and welcoming bookshop with a terrific café that has locally made cakes and biscuits including a gluten free selection – yum!

The children really enjoyed my talk about mythical creatures, and made up some wonderful combinations of their own. Tiger, aged 7, drew a lion goblin, which had wings as well as a unicorn horn growing out of its head. All the pictures can be seen in my last blog, below, and also in the "Goblin Gallery".

In my talk I describe the Nixies, powerful water demons who lurk in dangerous pools of water. In one of the drawings Orlando is shown swimming with a rubber ring. I’m really pleased that Jude, aged 10, wanted to look after him. Orlando was pleased too, and took great delight in posing for a number of sketches which the children took home.

Some questions I was asked were: ‘Can you earn a living as a writer?’ ‘How long did it take you to write your first book?’ And, ‘Why do the Icelandic people still believe that “The Secret People” help protect them from earthquakes when nowadays everyone knows about the movement of the tectonic plates?’

I visited Iceland last year. Whilst the Icelanders know about the tectonic plates, they also like to keep their traditions and folktales alive - because remember that folktales are a way of passing important information down through generations and not everything in them is just make-believe. The same can be said of Norway. In dangerous and inhospitable places local people are more aware that science can’t explain everything - for example exactly when a volcano will next erupt - so perhaps they don’t want to take even the smallest chance that elves, fairies, and magic aren’t real. Also, wouldn’t it be a shame if we forgot all those stories about trolls, mermaids, ogres, dwarfs, and elves – I wouldn’t have anything to write about!

For more photographs of the event and more sketches, follow the link to my publisher Little Knoll Press. And remember, the video will be coming soon.

You can watch a VIDEO of this workshop by following this link – WATCH HERE!

New Gallery Pictures

1/6/2015

I had a wonderful visit at Waterstones in Ringwood on Friday. It is such a fantastic place. The full blog will come shortly, however, since I know all the children were keen to see their amazing pictures in the gallery, I have put them up now! They are all so good, thank you for such colourful pictures.

You can click on the images above for a bigger view, or you can follow the link to the "Goblin Gallery" and see if you can find your pictures there too!

World Book Day - Newtown School

8/3/2015

I visited Newtown C of E Primary School for World Book Day. I got a terrific welcome from the children, over 400 of them, and their teachers.

Everyone made a special effort to come as characters from their favourite books or films. There were beautiful costumes such as Princess Elsa, Alice in Wonderland, The Cat in the Hat, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Superman, Mary Poppins, and there was even an Annie. The children guessed my character right away when I banged a walking stick on the floor – of course I was Nanny McPhee!

World Book Day

World Book Day

Some of the children presented me with their drawings before I left. There were goblins, mermaids, and all sorts of fantastical creatures with description as well. I was really pleased to see some "good" goblins even though they looked evil! It is very important to never judge anyone or anything by how it may seem at first sight.

The drawings will be uploaded into my Goblin Gallery, but I'm also posting them in my blog, below, because they were all so good - just click on them for a bigger sized image.

Remember - keep reading, keep writing, and keep on drawing.

New Picture - Goblin Gallery

10/7/2014

Goblin Gallery

I was at Alverstoke Junior School yesterday and a full report of the day will be coming soon. For now though, I was given a wonderful new picture for the "Goblin Gallery".

It is from Katie, Evie, Millie, and Lily.

Thank you so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed the mythology talk. More news soon, and look out for your picture when the Goblin Gallery is finally up and running.

The Best Review Ever!

22/5/2014

Well, I wasn’t expecting this, but it’s what every author hopes for - an amazing review from someone who enjoyed reading your book as much you enjoyed writing it. Thank you so much, Deborah, for your feedback. This is what Deborah wrote on Amazon:

“I am a slow, fussy reader and was recommended this book by a work colleague. You know when you are reading a good book when you don’t want it to end so I rationed myself to two chapters a night to keep up the suspense. The story unfolds beautifully and is written with great imagination. The characters Gillie the elf and Orlando the Cat capture you fondly and as the plot deepens you begin to wonder if what you first thought is actually true. There are clever simularities to our society and the powers that be. Who should we listen to and what benefits are we really getting from the government and monarchy. Great for all ages especially 7 to 13.”

New Goblin Gallery Picture

15/5/2014

Benjamin's Goblin Picture

I've just been sent a fantastic new picture for the Goblin Gallery from a talented young artist called Benjamin, aged 8. Thank you so much, I really love your drawing. The colours are amazing, and you have really captured the goblin well with his bright red braces, it's brilliant!

Click on the image to the left for a full screen view.

This will definitely be going in the Goblin Gallery.

Mystery Reviewer

4/5/2014

I was just sent this amazing review on yelp.co.uk -

“Check out this book on the website, maybe the next Harry Potter ... Friend has bought 4 copies, 2 for her own kids, the other 2 from an Auntie. I will be buying 3 copies as gifts, as a Auntie & God-Mother. There are another 2 books to follow.

Ask at your Local book store or buy at littleknollbookshop.co.uk.”

Thank you Julie for your brilliant review of my book!

First “Goblin Gallery” picture!

2/5/2014

Thank you so much to 11 year old Emily and her mum. I’ve just been sent her amazing picture of The Company of Goblins. It’s drawings and comments like this that make being a children’s author so worthwhile.

Emily's picture

Emily wrote:

“This book is great! It includes adventure, mystery, and all round greatness.”

“Izzy Green is the child of light, but what does that mean? Find out by reading this awesome book.”

(Click on the picture for a bigger image.)

Emily also said that Orlando was a cool character - I think so too, he’s my favourite. As soon as I have some more images, the “Goblin Gallery” will be open!