Sue Eves

Noisy Dog Gone!

2011-12-03T11:12:00.001Z

Hey! Hi! Come on over! Find us all here at www.sueeves.net

Light In The Gloom

2011-04-05T13:40:00.002+01:00

'Everyone likes to be enchanted' Frank Cottrell Boyce

Frank Cottrell Boyce bewitched us all at the Chidren's Writers' and Illustrators' Conference in London last Saturday. You can read my post about the day with Frank Cottrell Boyce and the other speakers, Helen Pielichaty, Tony Bradman, The 2 Steves (Skidmore & Barlow) and Anne Cassidy on the Society Of Authors' Website (scroll down to Sarah McIntyre's drawing of Frank Cottrell Boyce and click on my report.)

Sketchcrawling

2010-11-29T19:15:00.002Z

At the end of the day we sat in the cafe and shared our drawings.

Crawl over to my website to see my dead duck sketches from our first SCBWI_BI Sketchcrawl.

10 To Treasure

2010-11-17T19:26:00.000Z

Click on the Cow illustration in the right hand corner of this page to get my latest SCBWI Conference news

Woofy And Mortlock

2010-04-02T20:25:00.004+01:00

Featuring:
Mortlock by Jon Mayhew (Bloomsbury)
My daughter, Jess' debut as Assistant Puppeteer
Photo of me by Candy Gourlay at Mortlock Book Launch

Woofy's 2nd Book Day

2010-03-01T17:58:00.002Z

Woofy's Scary Story

2010-02-09T18:59:00.006Z

A book has gone missing from the Noisy Dog Library...

ALIX PARKER's story THE UNEXPECTED GUEST is in the Anthology SCREAM
For another copy of SCREAM - we'll be visiting BRIDGE HOUSE PUBLISHING

For more about SCREAM STREET visit Tommy Donbavand's website

A re-issue edition of Funny Bones comes out next month

Woofy's Bedtime Story

2010-01-12T17:30:00.004Z

Barking On Thin Ice

2010-01-08T18:02:00.013Z

Too cosy to step outside.

Too lazy to take the dog out early.

Time of walk - 12.25

I layered up enough, hung my camera across my body and went out to make the most of the peep of sunshine on the snow.
Can there really be anything new to photograph on the common?

Ah - I haven't seen this before - the beach - covered in snow and the lake is frozen. I've only seen people skating on it in photographs from 1906. Not possible now, what with the pumps keeping the water moving there in the centre - the ice isn't solid enough.

I continued round the lake taking pictures, hoping to catch The Big Freeze - the common frozen in my time.

The dog slipped into the frame, of his own free will as if to say - You've forgotten your subject.

And then, as we turned full circle back to the beach, I saw a little Kerry Blue terrier trotting across the ice - sniffing around near the open water. I heard a woman casually calling for Otto.

"Is that your dog?" I asked pointing towards the lake. But the dog was no longer on the ice, he was in the water, scrabbling to get out.

"Yes - I mean no. No - I'm a dog walker. What do I do?"

I ran to the nearby cafe in search of a phone number for the parks police. A park truck was waiting with its engine running and one of the workers asleep in the front passenger seat. I ran round to the driver's side and alerted the driver who phoned - who? - not sure and we both ran back to the lake. My dog and I were faster. The dog walker was coming our way. She was about to tie up the other dogs she had been walking. I told her someone was on their way.

"What can we do?" She asked. I dunno, what could we do!
I unhooked the strap of my camera and used it as a make-shift lead for my dog.
"We could throw out my extending lead (6m long - you know) and - er - the dog could hold on to the end of it..." Yep - cos the long thin line with the tiny hook is going to be so attractive to a desperate dog.
"We could use mine too," the walker replied. The truck driver caught up with us and a man offered a stick to tie on the end of the life line - dogs fetch sticks - brilliant!
And so - the Stick Man and the Driver spent the next 5 minutes attaching various sizes of fallen branches and virtually one small tree in an attempt to get the poor dog to Fetch himself out of the water. All the time The Walker and I shouted the dog's name to keep him paddling. My dog added the odd encouraging bark while Otto pawed the water and the logs slid short of him across the ice.

"Did anyone call emergency?" A woman waved a phone at us. Should have done it in the first place but at least I had done it on my way back from the cafe - it felt like an emergency at that point. The dog had already been in the water about 10 minutes.

"Yep...OTTO!" I called.

"I'm going in." The dog walker decided.
"No. We can't rescue you." I replied.
The sound of sirens and Stick Man changed her mind just in time.

Otto was whimpering and slipping under as a fireman struck the ice with a pick axe and waded in to pull the dog to shore. He took off his jacket and wrapped up the quivering wreck. I squeezed the ice water from the dog's ears and rubbed his nose and face. The fireman lifted Otto into his arms and carried him to the walker's car.

Time of rescue - 13.09

Otto curled up in a doggy duvet in the front seat and I'm sure if he could he would have smiled at me. My dog did a celebratory poop in the snow. I scooped it and we walked home.

Noise In The Library

2010-01-06T23:32:00.011Z

Readers borrowed The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog1907 times from UK libraries in 4 months (PLR year ending June 2009). If you are an author or illustrator and you haven't already registered your published titles with PLR - do it now. This year my earnings pay for subscription to the SCBWI Professional Series in London - if it hasn't already sold out.

Happy New Titles!

For 'The borrowing habits of the nation' - see the PLR Chart Toppers' page. Four authors clocked over 1 million loans!

From Door To Table

2009-12-27T00:09:00.008Z

From door...

Christmas Wreath, originally uploaded by Sue Eves.

To Table.

Merry Christmas!

Here's how I did it last year.

Copenhagen For Children

2009-12-09T11:46:00.005Z

Climate Change is here and children can do something about it! The UNDER THE WEATHER anthology of short stories focusing on children, edited by Tony Bradman is out in hardback. By hook or by crook, Candy Gourlay is the first in this book and Miriam Halahmy is featured on the back cover.

Both Candy's HOW TO BUILD A SANDCASTLE and Miriam's TOMMO AND THE BIKE TRAIN are mentioned in the introduction and each author is profiled at the back of the book in the 'NOW MEET THE AUTHORS' section.

When I've stopped turning the book over and over in my hands - I'll read it!

Tip: Buy this book before TALL STORY by Candy Gourlay, is published in June.

HIDDEN by Miriam Halahmy is published in 2010

Woofy's First Blog Post

2009-11-19T00:37:00.004Z

Cracking Weekend

2009-11-09T17:01:00.019Z

A banger goes off in the street and the dog goes off in the house but even the dog can't make this much noise. Thanks to our friend from Canada who stayed at home to keep the dog company, we took the annual trip out of London to Brockham Fireworks.

And thanks to our friend from Canada who came to London via coach from Stratford Upon Avon, and told us of William Shakespeare's inscribed curse on his grave to protect his bones from the bonefire.

'And curst be he that moves my bones'

Bonefire - from the old spelling of bonfire - The History of Henrie The Fourth Part 1

'O ! thou art a perpetuall triumph, an euerlafting bonefire light !'

Taking my camera for a spin

2009-10-17T08:06:00.007+01:00

I was on my way home from walking my dog on the common when these colours caught my eye. I rarely take my camera to the common anymore as I have taken thousands of photos of the place and I can't believe there are many more surprises after four years of daily clicking. And there's always the camera or brushes application on my iphone for the odd red bus or heron. This time, I wanted to record the autumn colours without focussing on the tree - no more photos of trees!

Spider In The Time Tunnel

2009-09-20T10:32:00.005+01:00

Red Spider , originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.

Look what I found in a corner of my work room. It was in a poster that I haven't unrolled for a couple of years. I took this photo and then tipped the spider into the ivy in my back garden.

It's supposed to be good luck to have spiders in your house, isn't it?

Oh dear, according to the Burke Museum Of Natural History, house spiders live indoors and should not be put 'back' outside because they 'don't do well there'. Bad luck for the spider, it's lost in the ivy outdoors now. Still, I've left the back door open...

The Ghost Of Tom Long

2009-09-09T17:04:00.006+01:00

Apparition, originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.
Light Graffiti - Ely Cathedral - set of 10 photos by Sue Eves

I tried not to work over the summer holidays. It's harder than I imagined to put children's books out of my mind. I almost made it to the end of the summer and then we went to Ely Catherdral in Suffolk and the ghost of Tom Long tripped up the West Tower steps with me to see the view of the river he and Hatty had skated from Castleford.

I couldn't wait to get back home and re-read the skating and cathedral chapters from Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. Tom climbed 286 steps to the West Tower - our guide told us there were 285. I suppose one step either way wouldn't make much difference to him as he trips up the tower 5 times a day through the summer. I could kick myself for not seeking out the memorial tablet with the words 'Exchanged Time for Eternity.' Did Philippa Pearce see one or did she make it up? I'm inclined to believe there is one and that Philippa Pearce walked the 285 steps, before me.

Tomorrow, I return to Cambridge for the Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture given by Michael Rosen (I wrote about last year's inaugural lecture here). My summer holiday is over and I can enjoy thinking about children's books again without feeling guilty.

Blue Blue Moth

2009-09-07T10:14:00.001+01:00

Blue Blue Moth, originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.

Hello, I'm back. I've been dusting my desk and photographing the blue moth that stayed in my room while I was away.

Please Look After This Dog

2009-08-24T12:28:00.001+01:00

Please Look After This Dog, originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.

Having a great time - back to work next week!

While The Dog's Away...

2009-08-14T20:18:00.001+01:00

Hen & Dog Bowl, originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.

We're taking a break - back soon!

The Author Problem

2009-07-30T10:56:00.010+01:00

If you haven't already guessed, I promise to reveal the name of the author/illustrator of this picture book due to be published in hardback next Friday. You could easily cheat and look it up but I'm interested to know if you could identify the creator of this book.

The cover hopped out at me and I think you know when a book is going to be good, don't you?

The author/illustrator is xxx

The Rabbit Problem is published on 7 August. Click here for the publisher's blurb.

Neil Gaiman Reading Things Aloud

2009-07-13T10:09:00.010+01:00

This is Neil Gaiman's advice on his blog about reading aloud. I heard him read from The Graveyard book at London School Of Economics last October. He is blessed with the rich, resonant tone of a voice that reminds me of Alan Rickman. It's worth listening to him online reading all 8 chapters of the Graveyard Book on his Video Tour of 9 different cities. I had problem with the stop-start of the streaming but I believe it's sorted now.

Reigning Cats And Dogs

2009-07-11T13:09:00.008+01:00

Vivian Schwartz and I presented our books at the Sydenham Arts Festival today. Woofy and Biscuit rubbed noses for the first time and played games with the dog, the cat and the audience of under 5's and some older!

Woofy was blindfolded and guessed the noisy toys while a child shook or squeaked one of Woofy's toys and Biscuit became the cat under the hat, hiding her eyes while a child hid a rainbow ball of wool for her to find.

At one point the cat,Biscuit, disappeared under the bookshelves as it shot out of Viv's hands. Luckily, a small child crawled into the small space to retrieve it.

The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog By Sue Eves & illustrated by Ailie Busby
There Are Cats In This Book By Vivian Schwartz

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

Cats And Dogs Festival Special

2009-07-10T11:18:00.016+01:00

Vivian Schwartz and I will be reading from our books at the Sydenham Arts Festival tomorrow at 10.30am.

There Are Cats In This Book and The Quiet Woman And The NOISY DOG are brought together in a special story time and book signing.

Kirkdale Bookshop
272 Kirkdale Sydenham SE26 4RS.

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

My puppet dog and Vivian's puppet cat will be with us.
Who knows what will happen when the dog and the cat meet for the first time!

Lake Swan

2009-07-08T21:02:00.004+01:00

My digital doodle of the day.

A CAB - The Movie

2009-07-03T18:32:00.003+01:00

Books And Bubbly

2009-07-02T18:27:00.004+01:00

A quick sketch and off for a picnic to celebrate the paperback publication today of The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog

The quiet woman smiled and said, "Let them play!"
The noisy woman said, "O.K!"

Hockney Cab - Paintings On My Phone

2009-07-01T23:41:00.016+01:00

This could be a new way to work out my thumbnails for my picture book dummies. After watching the BBC programme: Imagine about David Hockney last night, I downloaded 3 of his iphone paintings (which you can download over 48 hours only) and discovered the brushes application on my phone.

My cab painting is a sketch I did while waiting at the station this evening. Photoshop users are already familiar with digital art. Painting digitally in the dark is a whole new phone game for me. I photographed this bus that was parked on my local common recently and worked on it in the brushes application.

Paperback Picture Book Picnic

2009-06-28T21:44:00.003+01:00

I'm taking a picnic and a walk in the park this Thursday 2nd July to celebrate the publication of our paperback edition of The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog

"Oh Woofy! Oh Woofy! I love you, Woofy! La-La-La-La-La!"

Professor Jacqueline Wilson

2009-06-22T14:46:00.017+01:00

Jacqueline Wilson signed books for fans after her lecture at Roehampton University last Thursday evening. The children's author is a professorial fellow, sharing her expertise with students on the Creative Writing and Children's Literature courses. She parted with valuable tips for those of us learning the craft of writing for children.

You are not alone. Everyone wants to write for children nowadays.

We laughed and inwardly cried and sighed at the thought of those wanting 'to dash off a little children's book.'

What will make your submission different from all the others? Here are a few of her tips from the top:

What ever it is, your heart has to be in it. You have to care about your characters. 'Imagine what it's like for the child.'

Keep writing more and more. Don't stop at the first book! Make the most of your lucky breaks.

Don't re-read as you write. Finish the draft first before you judge it.

For those writing historical fiction, 'imagine it as fiercely as you can.'

Jacqueline Wilson has just completed Hetty Feather which was commissioned by the Foundling Museum and will be published in Oct 2009. She says she tried to write with an authentic Victorian voice whilst keeping it lively and direct.

And in a pleasing circle of events, JACQUELINE WILSON MAGAZINE will be published by D.C.Thomson who named their comic for girls after their most junior journalist in 1964 - JACKIE.

Kyle Cassidy's Small Art Project

2009-06-15T17:48:00.010+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I commented on a photo of Neil Gaiman and his dog by photographer Kyle Cassidy in his post about collaborative art. It was his fan letter to musician Nicki Jaine that was the seed to his eventual meeting and photographing Neil Gaiman.

I stumbled across this post after following a Neil Gaiman Twitter to Kyle Cassidy's livejournal blog inviting artists to collaborate on a small art project. All you had to do was say 'Yes' in the comments.

I immediately responded and landed on the first page of comments under my livejournal name Pixzzzart and for the next few days watched as 600 people replied with the word 'Yes.'

The positive replies have reached the 800 mark and Kyle Cassidy set up a separate community for creative souls in search of inspiration and, as it turns out, a collaborator.

In a subsequent blog post, Kyle Cassidy revealed the random pairing and we were pushed out of the nest and into creativity.

My collaborator is a young photographer with a sensational collection of Pink pics. We have emailed after initial contact via Twitter. Two weeks to go before we report back with 'What came of it' and as nothing has come of it yet - we have work to do.

All we can say at the moment is it may involve photos and a children's story and it's all happening online as my collaborator lives in Northern Ireland.

Wish us luck!

Anthony Browne New Children's Laureate

2009-06-09T19:23:00.005+01:00

Congratulations, author/illustrator Anthony Browne on becoming the next Children's Laureate
He wants to focus particularly on the appreciation of picture books. Hooray!

'We have in Britain some of the best picture book makers in the world, and I want to see their books appreciated for what they are – works of art.'

Willy's Pictures (Willy the Chimp)is one of my favourites. The chimp is painting a portrait of Anthony Browne on the cover of the hardback edition I bought. But the picture on the cover above gives more of an indication as to the astonishing achievement of Anthony Browne as a fine artist. This picture book is literally a work of art.

Books and Hats at the Hay Festival

2009-06-01T13:14:00.032+01:00

I arrived in time to see new Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy reading Mrs Aesop and 6 of her other poems (listen to the event here on the Hay Festival website). She had sold out of The World's Wife but I bought some of her children's poetry.

The Hat

I met author, Jenny Valentine in her delicatessen in Hay the day after hearing her talk about Writing Children's Fiction. She writes for 3 days a week, from 9-3 and works 2 days a week in the shop and is writing 3 novels a year! Her latest is The Ant Colony

Michael Morpurgo read I Believe In Unicorns and talked about his life as a writer. His advice to aspiring writers:

'Live and interesting life and write down the single most important thing that happened that day.'

I discovered that Apple may have the answer for Mac users wishing to find an electronic reading device in the future. Jamie Byng was obviously very excited by the Apple Tablet. I could get in to digital reading and handwriting on this net book. The Sony Reader is not yet Mac compatible or Wi-Fi connected and is in black and white. Sony were selling their reader at £30 discount for £199.

As well as a few new books, I bought secondhand books in Hay town centre.

Booth's Books, Hay

My most exciting find was the first UK edition of Caldecott & Co. Notes on Books & Pictures by Maurice Sendak (1989). It includes his acceptance speech in 1964 when he won the Caldecott Medal for Where The Wild Things Are.

With Where The Wild Things Are I felt that I am at the end of a long apprenticeship. By that I mean all my previous work now seems to have been an elaborate preparation for it.

Thanks to Addyman Books in Hay town centre for tucking this book into their children's books' corner.

Thanks also to Yvette Jelfs hatstand on the festival site. At last I have a hat for the Ascot Ladies' day and I had a sun hat for reading at Hay.

Sarwat Chadda At Book Launch For The Devil's Kiss

2009-05-18T20:08:00.010+01:00

Sarwat Chadda At Book Launch For The Devil's Kiss , originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.

Whoop! Sarwat signs copies of his new children's novel, The Devil's kiss at the Dulwich Picture Gallery last Friday.
Sarwat is the British SCBWI hero of the Undiscovered Voices Anthology 2008.

Devil's Kissis a sharp, terrifying masterwork of plotting and I'm sure Billi will be everybody's hero.

I can safely say I'll never write anything like it.

4 Stars For The Quiet Woman

2009-05-12T18:59:00.005+01:00

A very simple concept is turned into something approaching a little gem...

Books For Keeps, the children's Book magazine, gives The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog 4 stars and a sparkling review in the May issue. Woof!

Earmarked Pages of The Writer's Tale

2009-05-04T08:44:00.019+01:00

I've finally finished reading Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale (Doctor Who) by Russell T Davies and Benjamin Cook - the heavy hardback 'untold' story of the making of the TV Doctor Who series. It's taken me 6 months and when I posted about it in October last year, I couldn't imagine it taking me that long to read. The last non-fiction book that took me almost as long was 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare

I hadn't expected to earmark so many pages of The Writer's Tale. (I referred to one of my earmarked pages of Robert McKee's Story the other day. I knew it would be useful sooner or later.) I'm not sure when or if the others will be of any future reference in my writing but the one that has already answered the question that has been bothering me for so long - 'What is Voice?' is already magnificently supporting me in my writing. Page 501 - (of 512, including the index!)has the answer. You could skip the other 511 pages but the weight of the question only feels truly lifted when putting down the heavy volume after 6 months. Anyway, I can't give away the ending! Oh, all right then - the answer is a long and satisfying one but essentially, it's about you and who you are and how you think - but don't think about it!

I never - never - sit there thinking, what's my voice? You might as well ponder, who am I? It is in fact the same thing.
Russell T Davies 'The Writer's Tale'

So now I understand what publishers and editors and agents and other established authors mean when they say write from the heart - I always thought they meant write passionately but what I think they mean is write from the heart of you or more accurately from your head because no one else can read your thoughts - unless you write them down.

You find your voice by writing, by experience. It doesn't matter what exactly you're writing, just that you are writing.
Russell T Davies 'The Writer's Tale'

5 Children's Laureates

2009-04-28T11:36:00.004+01:00

5 Children's Laureates sitting in a row, taking the stage to celebrate 10 years of the Children's Laureate. John Mullen introduced us to the Laureates in order of their reign - Quentin Blake, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson and the current Laureate, Michael Rosen.

Reading At The Opticians

2009-04-22T18:06:00.010+01:00

I was thrilled to see a battered old copy of my first picture book HIC! in the waiting area of my local opticians. I recently got excited about the delivery of my brand new books but that is nothing compared to seeing the well-loved, well-read, loose-paged, crumpled-edged copy of my first published book, beautifully battered from years of page turning. The optician said that she often reads it to children and was delighted when I gave her a copy of The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog to add to their collection of books. I was also pretty pleased that I needed new glasses. I can still use my old ones.

Sally Nicholls And Season Of Secrets

2009-04-09T10:19:00.026+01:00

Season of Secrets entwines the myth of The Green Man with Molly's story of loss and her new life with her grandparents in the country. Sally Nicholls' second children's novel is the best read since Skellig. I think of children's author, David Almond, as my soul author and I didn't think I'd ever find another children's author to match his writing.

Sally's first book, Ways to Live Forever won the Waterstone's Children's Book prize last year. I offered it to my teenage daughter to read and she declined saying, "I don't want to read any more books about dying!" But Ways To Live Forever is not just another book about dying, like Seasons Of Secrets, it's a book about being a child and all the magic and fear and sense of belonging and laughter and tragedy that childhood brings.

Sally Nicholls is the second of my soul authors and she has written her second brilliant Children's Book - I'll want to read everything she writes.

For anyone wishing to explore magic and myths, I recommend Treadwell's bookshop in London that specialises in worldwide paganism. I went there for the launch of Season Of Secrets last week. With its glass cases and shelves of antique objects and ancient tales - it felt a little like taking a trip down Diagon Alley!

Woofy Meets Eddie

2009-03-19T20:52:00.003Z

Give The Dog A Biscuit Bone, originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.

A few more photos have come in of the book launch. This was the moment Woofy offered Eddie one of my gingerbread dog bones.
Photo by Claire Grehan.

And The Winning Puppet Dog Name Is...

2009-03-06T09:06:00.017Z

And the winners are:

Demcee & Maddy B - Congratulations!

On Wednesday 4th March, I announced the winners of the Name The Puppet Dog Competition in a special prize-giving presentation. I'd chosen the name from the list of suggestions sent to me by a class of 8 & 9 year-olds from St Francis School in Berkshire. Woofy presented a book token to each of the winners and then we posed for the press photographer from Ascot News.

Woofy made a special thank you speech to the audience of KS2 pupils in the main hall. After several failed attempts to remember his name, Woody? Woosy? Woolley? We revealed the Woofy balloons and the children sang a Woofy Song to teach him his name.

Thanks to all the staff who sat around the table with me in the staffroom plotting a last minute timetable to involve the whole school. Starting with the pre-school, I went from class to class reading The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog, ending up in the class of 10 year-olds already celebrating World Book Day in Victorian Dress.

I don't think I'll forget our visit and I'm looking forward to reading the Victorian Woofy story.

oh and the reason I chose this name?

Woofy is the name of the Noisy Dog in the book!

Kirkdale Bookshop Event Photos

2009-03-05T12:17:00.016Z

Kirkdale Bookshop had done a brilliant job publicizing the event as part of their World Book Day celebrations - the long narrow room was full of kids and adults. And look - no hands!

Afterwards, I suggested we take a photo of the front of the shop. If you look closely, you can see our book in the window as well as on my lap.

After they'd gone...

We may well be back for the Arts Festival in July. I'll keep you posted.

World Book Day at Wimbledon Books

2009-03-04T21:55:00.011Z

It's World Book Day tomorrow and we will be at Wimbledon Books and Music from 3.30pm to celebrate. Come in and listen to our story!

SCBWI Professional Series Night with Sarah Davies

2009-02-27T10:18:00.007Z

or Finding an Agent, Getting a Deal and Living Happily Ever After

At last, an agent who knows what we, as writers, are looking for! Sarah Davies, from the Greenhouse Literary Agency, spoke to SCBWI members last night about the Children's Publishing industry and how to break into it with A recipe for creating a 'Breakout Novel'.

Start with a unique idea. How unique is it? Sarah had about 5,000 submissions last year and similar themes emerged - bullying, gentle Rites of Passage and the paranormal. My heart sank at the thought of the story I'm working on with Alix, my co-writer then lifted again as Sarah continued. 'If you're going to write about Bullying or not fitting in, write it with a fresh twist'. The quality of the concept is very important. She suggested writing the one paragraph pitch before starting to write the story.

Yes, we've done all that. Now what?

Take a look at your characters. They should be 'vivid and true.' You should know your characters so well you don't need to explain them. They should reveal themselves. Ah - show not tell. This happens primarily through conflict and dilemma, Sarah says, and dialogue also reveals your characters' inner thoughts and motivations.

OK, I think I'm getting it.

The third ingredient is what Sarah describes as 'a high stakes story.' She recommends thinking big - what does the main character have to win/lose? - creating a good outline, not necessarily a chapter breakdown, ensuring the tension builds to climax.

The best books teach us about ourselves not about your characters.

The reader should be left with 'a newly perceived truth about what it means to be human.'

And lastly, the story should have a vivid setting where the sense of place becomes a character in itself.

Back to the beginning: Write a story that 'sings' from the first page. At Greenhouse, they make their minds up in the first page. How does your story start? Many submissions begin with a child getting up on the morning and having breakfast.

Oh dear...

And when you've written your story, don't submit it straight away, take time out and try it out on people you trust.

The way the story begins is really important.

Yes, we know - we've written at least 7 different openings to our story in the last three years. We're about to revise again, this time we're starting from Chapter 6.

Firstly -the title can do a huge amount to sell your story. We're on our third title...

Storytime at Kirkdale Bookshop

2009-02-25T20:13:00.005Z

It's story time at the Kirkdale bookshop on Saturday 28th February at 10.30am. Come and listen to our story

Sketch from my Bottom Drawer

2009-02-23T19:21:00.002Z

Dancer, originally uploaded by Pix zzzart.

I've been organising images for my new website and I found one of my early art school sketches. I think I drew it from a photo of Margot Fonteyn - It was the first time I'd used my new 2B, 3B, 4B, and 6B pencils in one drawing!

Time to sharpen my pencils again, I think.

Flowers From The Bookshop

2009-02-14T14:19:00.021Z

Aren't they lovely!

I have returned from a morning of reading and signing at Wimbledon Books and Music. This is the first in a series of book events I am doing over the next month to promote our new picture book . It was a good start and I'm sure I'll learn a great deal from meeting our readers. The youngest was 2 years-old today and Dad was bringing the children along as a diversion from the birthday preparations - (mum was at home making a pirate ship cake, apparently).

The booksellers, Kath and Rosalind, were well prepared for my visit, with a few of my books on a signing table and cushions scattered on the events' room floor. I arrived far too early because I'd overestimated my journey time (I don't suppose I'll always be that lucky).

There was plenty of time for fear to set in (mine not theirs!) before the first child wandered in clutching a dinosaur and wearing dinosaur boots. Story time is a regular occurrence at this bookshop, so the children were quite happy to make themselves at home, playing with the toys and books enticingly displayed on the shelves. I asked some of the children their names - in case I needed to catch their attention during the story.

As the children were between the ages of 2 and 4, I announced that I was going to read them a story, plumped up the cushions, asked everyone to sit down and introduced them to the book. One girl told me she had the book already - good start - it was only published last week. And then I read.

I have years of experience as an actor and puppeteer but I was really nervous before this reading. I've spent 10 years trying to get this story finished, suddenly the reader is waiting and I am about to read the book aloud for the first time - the moment was overwhelming. Will they like it? Will they like it a lot? Will they remember it after I've read it? Will I remember how to read it!

Yes, they liked it and they remembered significant turning points in the story when I asked them questions at the end. Had they been a bit older, I would have invited them to ask me questions but instead I decided it was time to let the dog out of the bag!

Hoping to maintain their interest and continuing with the Quiet and Noisy theme, we played 'Hunt The Noisy Toy'. The children took it in turns to hide a squeaky toy bone behind their back and the dog had to seek the sound and retrieve the toy. Good game, I'll use that one again!

We had a good time - I signed a few books and I was presented with this gorgeous bouquet of flowers, a cup of tea and a choice of any book from the bookshop!

Two of Brian Wildsmith's titles caught my eye - Animal Gallery and Favourite Nursery Rhymes
I could have picked War Horse by Michael Morpurgo but in the end I chose The Knife Of Never Letting Go

We discussed a return visit and if all goes to plan, I'll be reading from The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Book at Wimbledon Books again on World Book Day, Thursday 5th March, from 3.30pm.

Book Signing and Puppet Dog Tail Waggling

2009-02-12T17:35:00.004Z

On Saturday I'll be doing my first public book signing at Wimbledon Books and Music in South London. I will be reading The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog and introducing my puppet dog who has not been officially named yet.

Before the book was published on 5th February, I asked pupils from a Berkshire school to make a list of suggestions for a suitable dog name to celebrate the launch of my picture book. I've chosen a name and I will announce it at the school on March 4th in a special Naming Day and prize-giving presentation.

The head teacher has been sworn to secrecy but if you happened to stop by Wimbledon Books and Music on Saturday 14th Feb at 11am - the dog will be let out of the bag!

Ailie Busby's Art, Sue and the Noisy Dog too

2009-02-09T17:31:00.007Z

Sue Eves and the NOISY Dog
Photo By Claire Grehan

Well, here we are at the Illustration Cupboard in London last week for the book launch. Illustrator, Ailie Busby, was unable to attend but she kindly lent three of her original paintings from The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog, for the event.

Top left corner of the photo is the Noisy house and below it, the illustration of the Noisy Town with colourful houses that remind me of towns I've seen in Ireland. The dog and I are standing beside the title cover painting and we match it too!

Quiet Night Out

2009-02-06T11:12:00.017Z

I am propped up in bed and have spent the last three hours emailing Thankyous and reading blog entries from fellow writers who turned up to my first ever book launch last night.

Kim Toohey has already blogged about it with a photo of the bone-shaped ginger biscuits I made especially for the night. Illustrator & Writer, Sarah McIntyre also caught the moment when my puppet dog offered one of the biscuits to the real Chihuahua that made an appearance at the signing desk.

Thanks to massive support from everybody (some who were able to be there and some who weren't) -
Illustrator of The Quiet Woman and The Noisy Dog: Ailie Busby who lent us the 3 original paintings from the book,

John Huddy and Mara at the Illustration Cupboard for generously hosting the launch at the gallery and framing Ailie's paintings for the launch,

The whole publishing team at Andersen Press - especially Rona, Stephanie, Beccy and Eloise for turning my story in to such a lovely book and telling everyone about it,

Fellow SCBWI members for their support, family (some who hadn't met in 18 years!),friends and even my Noisy neighbours (without their Quiet Dog) -

Oh and David McKee who popped in, thanks for making my night -

the book launch was a terrific success and a splendid Quiet Night Out.

Photographer and friend, Claire Grehan, took some great publicity shots as I was a little busy signing books and wagging the puppet-dog tail! Hopefully, I'll have some photos to post here soon.

If you are planning a visit to the Illustration Cupboard to see the current Children's Book Illustration MA Graduates' exhibition - I have signed a few extra copies of the first edition of The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog and they are on sale at the Gallery!

The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog Is Published!

2009-02-05T09:43:00.005Z

Ding! Dong!
Hi! Hey!
Come In!
Woof! Woof!

The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog have arrived and I am celebrating Publication Day.

If you'd like to read more about my journey to publication, Sarah McIntyre has published an interview on her blog today.

There is also and interview by Candy Gourlay on her blog here.

Bye!
Yap! Yap!
BYE!
WOOF! WOOF!

The Night Before Publication

2009-02-04T22:24:00.010Z

Hey! Oi! Beep! Beep! Vroom! Vroom! Woof! Woof!
The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog arrive tomorrow.
But where?
When?
What Time?

Earlier on this evening, the Bookseller Crow in Crystal Palace, London, sent me an unexpected twitter photo message to show me the book arriving in a box, all ready for tomorrow's publication day. That means someone can buy it tomorrow!

I'm shaking with fear and excitement at the thought of the book launch tomorrow evening. Two of my family members will be meeting for the first time in 18 years; my best friend who is a professional photographer will be there (this is one of her photos of me and my quiet dog).

And the Andersen Press team, past colleagues, members of the Society Of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators are planning to be there to celebrate this Noisy little book of ours.

It's certainly made some noise and it seems to be exciting everyone else as much as me and it's not even published yet.

But it soon will be - Woof! Woof!

Photo By Claire Grehan

5 Sleeps 'til Publication Day

2009-01-31T10:39:00.008Z

It's exactly a month ago today that I began Twittering my preparations for publication day on Thursday 5th Feb 2009.

For those of you who have yet to discover the picture book writer's equivalent to blogging, Twitter is the place to answer the question 'What Are You Doing' - in no more than 140 characters.

So this is my diary of doings as they appeared on Twitter
- starting with my latest entry (spelling mistakes and all).

10.22 AM 31st Jan
glasses to hire, gallery to visit - 5 sleeps till publication day-I may pass out/implode with excitement soon - walking the dog to calm down

08.42 AM 30th Jan
planning the dog Naming Day and World Book Day event. It's only 2 weeks till school half term holiday and then it's nearly March mmm Spring!

2:16 PM Jan 29th
off to prof series PB event with An Vombraut at SCBWI via and Covent Garden and noodles, before doodle discussions.

6:13 PM Jan 28th
time to wash up last night's dishes - haven't seen a scene like this since student days-shame on us-at least nothing's had time to grow.

5:50 PM Jan 27th
chasing my Noisy Dog tail-emails-phone calls-phone calls-emails-tail dog noisy my chasing

10:44 PM Jan 26th
back from SOA. Axel Scheffler sharing his doodle books - great self-portrait, pinned down by The Gruffalo - 2 million sold, no escape

11:17 AM Jan 26th
organising a Name The Dog Puppet competition to celebrate 'The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog' book launch on 5th Feb

4:24 PM Jan 20th
off to watch Obama - get in!

4:34 PM Jan 14th
back from the Kirkdale Bookshop, Sydenham. I like bookshops with children's picture books facing out - mine will look good there.

8:40 AM Jan 13th
going to see a woman about a Noisy dog book and the launch at the illustration cupboard www.illustrationcupboard.com

4:26 PM Jan 12th
made bone-shaped biscuits for the dog and I just had to eat one, they are so good

6:34 PM Jan 10th
just confirmed the venue for my book launch on the 5th Feb

12:12 PM Jan 8th
unpacking a box of new hardback books - it's getting Noisier in my house

2:31 PM Jan 7th
trying to decide where in London to have my book launch - a gallery, a bookseller or a room above a pub? Whatdoido! Whatdoido!

1:39 PM Jan 7th
just made scones for afternoon tea. I made soup for lunch - I wish writing was this easy

1:20 PM Jan 6th
reading the hardback copy of The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog that arrived in the post today - Hey! Oi! Beep! Beep! Woof! Woof!

6:09 PM Jan 4th
planning my picture book launch venue - any ideas?

Creation To Publication

2009-01-24T11:21:00.088Z

It's a year and a half since I posted rejection to creation.

For the last two months, I have been joyfully announcing the imminent publication of my second picture book, The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog (illustrated by Ailie Busby). The response has been amazing and supportive from fellow writers and illustrators who are very familiar with the rocky journey to this day. Family and friends are excited for me and some people I've spoken to want to know more about the whole process.

I've written a children's book, I should get mine published, er - how do you do it?

For those unfamiliar with the current children's book market, the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is a directory packed full of advice from agents and established authors. There are hundreds of names and addresses in the book and you could submit your story to every publisher that covers your age group. This takes weeks, sometime months to work methodically through the listings and get replies.

For the first picture book text I submitted, I recieved 11 rejections. I abandoned that story and moved on to my next idea. It was accepted after I'd spent 3 months drawing and making a dummy book for the proposed picture book and browsing bookshops and libraries before submitting it. Random House was the only publisher I felt would be interested in my zany story because their imprint, Bodley Head published Where The Wild Things Are. I was right. My first picture book, HIC! was published by Bodley Head in 2003.

In the end nothing has been as effective for me as immersing myself in the genre and meeting editors, agents and other writers. I joined the global organisation for published and unpublished writers and Illustrators, The Society Of Children's Book Writers And Illustrators(SCBWI), and attend professional events organised by the British SCBWI.

I found a publisher for The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog because I was part of the Children's Book Circle and I met the submissions editor by chance at an event. I'd always wanted to be published by Andersen Press and now I will be!

The book launch will be on the 5th Feb 2009 at The Illustration Cupboard in Central London. I didn't have a book launch for HIC! , as I was under the misapprehension that only established authors held book launches. True, publishers only organise them for certain books but there is no reason why an author or illustrator can't arrange their own celebration for publication day. I hadn't realised it would be so time consuming with emails to write, places to visit and people to see. The Illustration Cupboard has kindly agreed to exhibit some of Ailie Busby's original artwork for The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog and to sell copies of the book at the event for me to sign. Unfortunately, Ailie is unable to attend the launch in London. We hope to do an event together later in the year, so we will get to meet for the first time, then.

It can take time to place your work, even if you have an agent. Don't be discouraged. With patience and perserverance and a good story, you'll find someone to publish your children's book. When you are published, join the Society Of Authors and their subsiduary, Children's Writers' And Illustrators' Group (CWIG) because there'll be many more questions and people to meet. The journey continues.

My doorstep, My Dog And Little Me

2009-01-21T10:04:00.016Z

My Dog And Little Me

My daughter and I were looking through old photo albums the other night - OK - sifting through a box of loose pictures, and we found the photo of a 2 year-old me with the family dog. I was obviously practising for this day...

My Little Dog And Me

The front of my old family home was a great stage. I would often stand on the top step shaking a washing-up liquid bottle full of dried peas or something and singing Carpenters' songs with the neighbourhood kids. Anyone else remember singing 'Top Of The World'? Karaoke anyone?

Lynne Chapman's Courage and My Curiosity Shop

2009-01-15T18:28:00.019Z

I've just read Lynne Chapman's excellent blog post about sketching in public and it reminded me of one of my first experiences of drawing in the street when I was a teenager.

It takes more nerve now for me to sketch with people stopping to look over my shoulder. I have to stop myself from judging my own work while I'm still creating it. But when I was teenager, it didn't bother me and I didn't have as many passers-by as Lynne experienced in Vietnam. I was sketching the Porch House in a village in Wiltshire in the 70's. After about an hour, the owners of the antique shop (as it was then) came out and said they'd been watching me and could they have a look at my picture. They liked it and asked if they could have it in exchange for something from the antique shop.
I chose these pots - for salt and pepper at one time, I believe. I thought they were beautiful but really, I was flattered that someone appreciated my drawing. I wonder what I'd think of my drawing now and I'd love to know if the owners kept it.

Anyway, click on picture gallery and look over Lynne's shoulder - go on - you know you want to see what she's drawing.

Pick A Book - Any Book and Look Inside!

2009-01-13T19:39:00.012Z

Pick a book, any book, from the paperback pack! My presentation copies of The Quiet Woman And The Noisy Dog arrived this afternoon and these have an advice note -

not for sale before the publication date of 02-July-09!

Still - you can buy the Hardback edition in 3 weeks time - (from the 5th Feb) and if you click on The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog
- you can look inside the book for a sneaky preview.

Playing bookshops

2009-01-08T12:15:00.004Z

Now there are 6 hardback picture books sitting on the shelf - with an advice note -

Not for sale before publication date of 05-FEB-09.

Hardback Copy Of My Picture Book Arrives in the Post

2009-01-06T12:40:00.009Z

The post has arrived. Andersen Press sent me the hardback and paperback editions of The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog
Can you tell I'm excited!

I'm trying to be calm and prepare for the book launch on 5th Feb but I'm a little distracted. Each time I read it, I see something different - the muddy paw prints, the snowman in the picture on the wall, the rabbit on the grass. Thanks Ailie! It's all the illustrator's fault if I don't do any work today and my 2 year-old step grandson, Barney, who made me read it twice and can already say the title. OK, I know publishers always say, don't tell me your children love it (when submitting a book proposal) but I have to say, in this case, it's true. And I can say that because it's not all my own work and I can see the serious expression on Barney's face when he wants a story and I offer a different one and he says

no, read your book!

Oh - OK then. :P

Late at the Tate

2009-01-04T17:24:00.012Z

Late At The Tate

A pinch and a punch it's the first Friday of the month
A pinch and a beer it's the first happening of the year!

I'm still in the party mood as next month is the launch of my next picture book The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog.

First dilemma - where to have it.

Last Friday, I went to the Tate Britain, after hours, for a music and performance evening of light colour and action (as it happens, not a lot) but a great way to soak up the art in a gallery that by day feels a little like hard work to appreciate.

Still, I'm thinking, perhaps a museum or gallery would be a good place to hold a picture book launch.

I'm working on it. Any ideas?

The Living Art of Making A Christmas Wreath

2008-12-15T16:12:00.028Z

RAINE, a local interior designer with a shop on my parade, arranged a Christmas Wreath-making workshop. If you come knocking at my door (left), you'll see my splendid artwork!

Using secateurs, cut pine branches about 8cm long and poke one end at an angle into previously soaked oasis (wreath diameter 30cm approx). Alternate clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

Result!

SCBWI Conference '08 - Chris Wormell

2008-12-08T18:13:00.024Z

After Saturday's focus on my writing, Sunday was picture book day for me. This was the main draw to the conference weekend. I had to get working on new picture book ideas.

It all began with the Pitch competition entry. (Incidentally, I didn't win but I had my pitch ready for a picture book submission on the following Monday. Fingers crossed!). Then on to Chris Wormell's breakout session, Style Versus Content: Working In Different Media.

This is the style I recognise as Chris Wormell in his first book:

Blue Rabbit and Friends

And this:

George and the Dragon

Chris felt limited by his wood engraving techniques and colour pencils took too long. He said that using Watercolour in books like George And The Dragon, gave him the chance to be more realistic in his illustration. More realistic! He passed around some of his original lino engravings - the detail in the rhino cut, for example was astonishing and highly realistic by my standards! If anything, I would say the dragon is less realistic but it is more immediate and makes you feel part of the action.

As the session continued, I began to be inspired by his work all over again as he revealed, Molly and the Night Monster -

Painted on 300gms of heavy weight pre-toned paper. I asked him how he masked out areas of his work (by now I really am thinking of painting again, even though I said I'd given up!) - masking fluid and silicone molding brushes, he replied. Right.

Chris is a perfectionist. His first four spreads are thrown away before he's happy.

Just when we thought it was all over - Chris offers each of us a double-page spread to work on. We had a choice to write the text for one of his illustrations or to illustrate some of his text. I chose the latter and I'm very proud of my first rough. I wonder if I'd be happy after my fourth attempt!

When I showed this to Chris, he said it reminded him of the giant story he had been working on and never quite finished - he showed us his rough spreads for this story in the afternoon talk. This was probably the most exciting moment of the whole weekend - seeing his roughs. It all starts with the roughs...

Quiet Woman Creeps Into Andersen Calendar

2008-12-06T15:17:00.006Z

pssst!
Andersen Press sent me their calendar for 2009 and they're in it - The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog have walked away with February! A double-page spread announces our new picture book with a full colour page, the title and blurb from the back of the book, plus a little extra:

'Small children will relish this great read-aloud story with its satisfying ending.'

Hear that, eCritquers - a satisfying ending after all! (After a little revision, naturally.)

Can't wait until 5th.

SCBWI Conference '08 - Lee Weatherly On Series Fiction

2008-12-05T08:55:00.018Z

Still buzzing from the morning and the night before, I joined the breakout session with Lee Weatherly talking about writing series fiction. I can do that; I have done that; now how do I get it published!
Unfortunately for me, Lee began by introducing us to her latest series Glitterwings Academy: Flying High No. 1 (Glitterwings Academy)

No!

The school for fairies is the glittering example of the books I came across while co-writing the first in our series of books for 5 to 8 year olds about - a school for fairies. Back to the drawing board or in this case, Lee's Powerpoint presentation.

Yes, I know it says Titania Woods - love the name too. O.K. Don't rub it in!

So, what is Series Fiction?

Books in a series are stories linked by the same characters in the same world that have been planned as a series from the start or that are developed in to one. Some authors produce 1 book a year, like Anthony Horowitz and Jacqueline Wilson others like Lee, 1 every 2 months.

The key to the success of series fiction, Lee tells us, is Wish Fulfilment. The characters do things the reader wishes to be able to do themselves. The key to selling the idea to a publisher is the USP or Unique Selling Point. How does your series differ from what is already out there? Are there any other series about a school for fairies? (grrr!). The competition is fierce. There's ASTROSAURS by Steve Cole - Dinosaurs in Space and now ASTROSAURS ACADEMY- a school for dinosaurs in space; BEAST QUEST - 6 different mythical creatures; MAGIC BALLERINA, Darcy Bussell. HORRID HENRY by Francesca Simon; FAME SCHOOL by Cindy Jeffries and the one that never seems to fade, SECRET SEVEN by Enid Blyton.

The common theme is the magical fantasy adventure. A cosy series of stories that work as independent titles. The reader doesn't have to read all the books to understand each story (as opposed to a serial with the story arc over several books) but they may want to collect them!

Lee turns to us and asks, is series fiction for you? I'm beginning to ask myself the same question. Could I devote my life to book after book about one character or set of characters for a series? (Harry Potter is a serial, so he doesn't count - but yes, in this case). I have no trouble thinking like a child, I have great difficulty writing quickly, I'm still learning story structure and I think I would struggle to be consistent in a series if I were sick of the story. SO - probably not - yet.

SCBWI Conference '08 - The Buzz

2008-12-04T14:44:00.017Z

All cameras were out at the SCBWI Annual Conference, except mine - I haven't worked out how to take good photos indoors at a distance with or without a flash. I took this one the night before at the Friday Critiquers' meal.

Ah, the wonders of facebook - I virtually met the group of illustrators in my critique group which helped us spot each other in the crowded foyer. Funny how just a few words exchanged online can help you focus on the purpose of the event - to discuss each others' work and go away feeling that you know the next step in your book proposal. I think this set the tone of the whole weekend. From the moment we entered the room, there was a buzz about it. Many of the critque groups had already read and made notes on each others work and were keen to talk about it. I thought we'd have had difficulty hearing each other but the moment the circles closed in, heads were down and the serious business of discussing the art and craft of story, began.

Natascha Biebow opened the conference reminding us that the Professional Series was in its 5th year and plans are already under way for the next in 2009. There will be a new UNDISCOVERED VOICES Anthology in 2010 with a launch in March 2009 and to get our competitive juices flowing at the conference 2008 - there was the last chance to pin up comics for the extravaganza and time to fine-tune the 2-line pitch before the deadline the next morning. I skipped to my first chosen breakout session - Lee Weatherly and her talk on Series Fiction. I'll be back with the details in my next post!

My fellow critters:
Jo Loring-Fisher
Mary Harris
Paul Morton
Jamie Stevenson

NOISY DOG Publication Date

2008-11-28T15:21:00.012Z

Hey! Oi! Beep! Beep! Woof! Woof! They're on their way! Listen out for The QUIET WOMAN And The NOISY DOG on Thursday 5th February 2009

In a quiet house, in a noisy town,
Lived a quiet woman, and a noisy dog. Woof! Woof!

The quiet woman went out of her quiet house
With her noisy dog and went into the noisy town. Vroom! Vroom! Hey! Oi! Beep! Beep! Woof! Woof!

The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog By Sue Eves, illustrated by Ailie Busby.
Available now to pre-order at amazon.

Sketches From My Scanner

2008-11-24T10:34:00.034Z

It took a bit of courage to stand in the middle of the busy Natural History Museum , London, drawing these animals. The giraffe was a bit tricky for a short artist!

Preliminary painting for HIC!

2008-11-19T13:19:00.014Z

I'm so excited because my old printer stuttered to a halt and my new brilliant bargain printer/scanner/copier from the very lovely Viking people is up and running in no time at all - Oh, Brother!

I was so excited I had to scan the watercolour of my preliminary artwork for my first picture book Hic
published by Bodley Head. Infact it was the only colour artwork I produced in the end as I did the pen and ink line drawing and the designer coloured it in based on our collaborative digital palette - ah, technology!

Now, back to preparations for the picture book critique group at British SCBWI Conference...

Roald Dahl Funny Prize Winners

2008-11-14T16:08:00.014Z

Ursula Jones and Russell Ayto win the under 6 category of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize with The Witch's Children Go to School (The Witch's Children).

This is the third of The Witch's Children stories. The first one was published in 2001, I remember it well as I'd just written a picture book about witch children but I dropped it after I saw THE WITCH CHILDREN in my local library...ah well. Still, Mildred Hubbard and Harry Potter co-exist, so maybe there is room for my witch children in future!

Congratulations to the winners!

The winner of the Funniest Book for Children Aged 7 to 14 was Mr Gum and the Dancing Bearby Andy Stanton, illus. David Tazzyman (Egmont Press).

My pick of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize Shortlist

2008-11-10T13:31:00.013Z

Stick Man is my predicted winner for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize aged 6 and under. It may be obvious to choose a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book but it is funny!

The Stick Man, who falls into the wrong hands(and mouth), protests that he is not a stick but a Stick Man and he wants to get back to his family tree! Rhythm, rhyme and repetition propel him on his, almost fatal journey, seasonally and safely home. Julia Donaldson continues to prove that rhyming text, can work brilliantly to heighten humour in picture books and make for a more compelling story.

I'm glad I'm not judging this one. How can you decide which is the funniest from such a brilliant shortlist?

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

Elephant Wellyphant by Nick Sharratt
The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The Witch's Children Go to School by Ursula Jones, illustrated by Russell Ayto
There's an Ouch in My Pouch! by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Garry Parsons
Manfred the Baddie by John Fardell

I am not being totally fair, as I didn't find the last title in any bookshops while I made my choice a few weeks ago.

There are two categories for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize -
Funniest Book for children aged six and under.
Funniest Book for children aged seven to fourteen.

The winners are announced on 13th November.

Neil Gaiman In London with The Graveyard Book

2008-11-01T08:41:00.018Z

Neil Gaiman's Graveyard Books illustrated by Dave McKean(left) and Chris Riddell(right)

Neil Gaiman says it all began 20 something years ago when he used to take his son to the nearest open space to ride his tricycle between the gravestones - he had an idea for a Rudyard Kipling Jungle Book adventure, a story about a boy raised by ghosts - THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Nobody Owens is a true match for Mowgli.

550 fans met to hear Neil Gaiman talk about his new children's book The Graveyard Book at the London School of Economics off the Aldwych last night. The lights were up in the auditorium while he read aloud Chapter 5 Dance Macabre about the living dancing with the dead, to his 'most entertaining audience ever' a mix of the living and the apparently dead in fancy dress for the night.

Neil Gaiman signed my copies and as Dave McKean was sitting in the second row, he kindly signed the copy he illustrated. I had to buy Chris Riddell's edition too as his illustrations are equally stunning.

Novel Idea Vending Machine

2008-10-29T17:42:00.003Z

One of my holiday snaps - Heathrow airport. On closer inspection I see Tunnels and A Spot Of Bother were available for last minute purchase at the gate. (I was boarding last minute so I didn't really notice the titles on offer). This is the first time I've seen a vending machine selling books. If The Graveyard audio book had been for sale, I would have bought it. The hardback was a brilliant read and I've only managed to hear Neil Gaiman read the first three chapters posted on his blog during his book tour. The streaming isn't that great in my area.

I wonder whether the gap on the shelf means a title was sold and if so, which one?

Reading The Writer's Tale By Russell T Davies

2008-10-15T12:22:00.008+01:00

I am just going back to reading my copy of The Writer's Tale and I may be some time. This promises to be the most exciting book about the writing process I have ever read, (apart from Robert McKee's - Story).

Can't write anymore now - I have to read!

Click on the post title to go to The Writer's Tale website and look inside the book.

Quiet Woman's Noisy New Cover

2008-10-13T15:47:00.016+01:00

Ooh! Andersen Press has opted for a noisy colourful and eye-catching alternative to the previous quiet pink and yellow cover of The Quiet WOMAN And The NOISY DOG( illustrated by Ailie Busby).

The back cover has not changed much since the first proof copy:

The Quiet Woman and the NOISY DOG went to Bologna Children's Book fair earlier this year and now it's off to the Frankfurt Book Fair this week.
The Andersen Press stand will be E937, Hall 8.0.

The Quiet Woman and the NOISY DOG will be published in Spring 2009!

Neil Gaiman reads Chapter 1 of The Graveyard Book

2008-10-01T00:04:00.013+01:00

The Graveyard Book

I've just listened to Neil Gaiman reading the first chapter of The Graveyard Book, his 2nd Middle Grade novel, that was published in the US yesterday. It makes a change from looking at words all day to be able to close my eyes and listen to a story. Neil has a superb storytelling voice.

I'll still plan to read the book (illustrated by Dave McKean) and get Neil to sign it at the London School Of Economics on 31st October while he is on The Graveyard Tour.
Follow Neil Gaiman on his Graveyard Video Tour and hear him read the whole book, a chapter a day, in 9 cities in 9 days!

I've just read that Chris Riddell has also illustrated an edition of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK to be published in the UK on OCT 20th, if I remember correctly.

Is Anybody There? Follow Me!

2008-09-19T08:49:00.009+01:00

Photo By Sue Eves

I've been blogging since January 2007 and now I see Blogger have a new 'Followers' gadget. I am still surprised if anyone comments on my posts as I am blissfully blogging without any idea if anyone really reads anything I have to say.
I've added the 'Follow me' gadget in my side bar so click on it to add your blog then I can follow you too!

The Magic Of Philippa Pearce & Helen Craig

2008-09-15T19:17:00.050+01:00

Author Philippa Pearce - Photo By Helen Craig

In 2008, Philippa Pearce's Novel for children Tom's Midnight Garden will have been in print for 50 years.

50th Anniversary Limited Edition Tom's Midnight Garden

On Thursday September 11th 2008, a group of friends, family and colleagues celebrated 'excellence in children's writing' with the first of five lectures at Homerton College, Cambridge - the Inaugural Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture. A small exhibition of the author's work was on display in the College library during the evening including the wonderful letter of acceptance of her first novel Minnow On The Say. Philippa Pearce wrote:

I shall never, never forget how it began...

Oxford University Press wrote in the letter dated 8th July 1954:

Dear Miss Pearce,
We have been delighted by "Minnow On The Say" and would very much like to publish it for you...

I was thrilled to see this letter alongside Philippa's angry words in reaction to a previous rejection by another publisher. This was her child, not perfect, but still hers. How could they reject it? I returned to the exhibition several times during the evening. I found it hard to believe anyone could have rejected her writing.

Philippa Pearce died in 2006 not long after finishing her final work, A Finder’s Magic. She wrote it for her two grandsons with the intention that their other grandmother, Helen Craig (illustrator of the Angelina Ballerina stories) would illustrate it. Helen Craig signed the copy I bought as a gift but I couldn't resist reading it on my way home. It's a story of magic and mystery about Till, a little boy who loses his dog, Bess and the magical Mr Finder who helps find her.

This is such a magical, beautiful, timely and talented collaboration and a gift for posterity for Philippa's and Helen's grandsons who will smile at recognition at the characters of the two Miss Gammers, one nicknamed 'Mousy' who might have been inspired by a certain illustrator of mice.

A Finder's Magic is published October 6th 2008.

Illustrator Helen Craig - Photo By Sue Eves

And I'll treasure my copy of the 50th Anniversary edition of Tom's Midnight Garden as if it were written just for me.

CWIG '08 Conference - Still Day Two - Reviewing & Storyboards

2008-09-05T17:04:00.035+01:00

William Nicholson kicked us out in to the big wide conference. Children's Editor of The Guardian, Julia Eccleshare and Children's Book reviewer of The Sunday Times, Nicolette Jones enlightened us about reviewing children's books.

The Guardian receives about 500 books a week. There is only space for about 40 main reviews a year plus picture book space. Mmm...now I forgive Julia Eccleshare for not reviewing my first picture book in 2003! Julia Eccleshare said she is looking for 'a Guardian book' when she makes her choices and defends herself against the pitch so will not necessarily review books like Harry Potter, books that already have a lot of publicity. Her main aim is to serve the readers of the paper by trying to help them find interesting books to read.

Nicolette Jones puts aside 'ugly' picture books and reads a lot of first chapters before making her choices. In response to a question from the audience, she also requested a children's book magazine style TV programme with debates and prizes; where children find out about the story behind books.

Now, on to our job of writing interesting books...

I chose the parallel session presented by An Vomraut, picture book writer and illustrator, creator and director of the 64 Zoo Lane series for cbeebies . She presented her work to about 14 authors including myself.
Having illustrated one picture book and not intending to illustrate another, I understand the exciting, infuriating, time-consuming process of creating one. Though, I can't imagine producing the number of sketches and rough storyboards that An does to plan her story. I sometimes use a storyboard to plan my picture book texts. In an effort to speed up the process, I use photocopies of pre-drawn boxes and numbered frames or spreads but An feels inhibited by this process and draws a rough frame each time to visualise the story sequence. The result is a very pleasing irregular, action-packed storyboard that looks similar to a comic book layout. I'm definitely trying this one at home.

Thanks to An Vombraut for sending me the roughs for Dragon Festival and here's the link to the Little Wolf Animation

Above: Little Wolf Storyboard By An Vombraut

Dragon Festivalby An Vomraut.

Above: Dragon Festival Storyboard By An Vombraut

CWIG '08 Conference - Day Two- William Nicholson

2008-09-02T19:51:00.036+01:00

And we didn't stop talking from day one except, of course, to sleep. If you were lucky enough to have a garden view of the old Thorneycreek house,

this is what it looked like first thing in the morning. This is the garden view - from the garden - I wasn't that lucky.

However I was fortunate to be talking with author Jeremy De Quidt in the breakfast queue who, hearing I hadn't signed up for an afternoon outing of chauffered punting or Green Knowe and Althea's Glass Studio, asked me what I planned to do with my afternoon off. I hadn't planned, other than to maybe, possibly, even, dare I say, write? Na!

'Have you been to Kettle's Yard? You must go to Kettle's Yard, he said and something else about it being a contemporary art gallery. He persuaded me to escape by myself for the afternoon.

Photo Sue Eves

First, we were to meet speaker, William Nicholson. Well, I say meet. I wish! He talked to a full auditorium about his journey as a children's author via screen writing. In his 20's and 30's he wrote 8 novels that are unpublished and wrote radio plays, 6 of which were rejected. His problem?
'Trying to be too clever,' he said. And then he wrote the TV play, Shadowlands which won him a BAFTA. He approached his writing for TV differently from his novels. 'I thought, people are going to watch this so I'd better make it interesting.' People took him more seriously as a writer and he took himself less seriously by moving away from the 'lumpy, pompous monster' of a novel.

With the more imaginative freedom of book writing, he wrote his first children's book The Wind Singer which is the book that introduced me to the screenwriter, William Nicholson - Gladiator and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I didn't immediately connect them!

He didn't want Wind Singer 'to be a sketch for the movie' because he didn't want the book to disappear. In film, characters replace the book images and the reader will always have the actor's face in mind. True, I can't read Harry Potter now without visualising Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid.

His parting advice:

'The more you write, the better you get. Expose yourself to criticism. Anybody can be a writer!'

Time for coffee and book signing. I didn't buy The Wind Singer as I've already read it but I did buy The Rough Guide to Books for Teenagers (Rough Guides Reference Titles)

Spring 2009, look out for Rich And Mad, William Nicholson's Teen romance. It's taken 6 years to find a publisher for it.

Day two has hardly begun...

CWIG '08 Conference - Day One

2008-09-02T11:18:00.083+01:00

Robinson College, Cambridge - Photo Sue Eves

Friday 29th August - Sunday 30 August 2008, Robinson College, Cambridge, my first Children's Writers' and Illustrators' Conference (CWIG).

Friday 29th Aug
I met fellow CWIG and SCBWI member, Anne-Marie Perks at the one place all children's authors should meet if taking the train to Cambridge, the Harry Potter memorial at King's Cross Station. Anne-Marie suggested it, I didn't know it was there. It wasn't until I arrived at the station that I began to wonder if I'd be able to find it. I had a bit of a Harry moment.

'The thing is, I don't know how to -'
'All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten.'

(Thanks J.K)

Harry Potter memorial, King's Cross - Photo Sue Eves

A doddle.

A quick google search before I left home and I made a mental note to seek out, Heffers bookshop. We took a bus from Cambridge station to the city centre in search of lunch and eventually found ourselves taking shanks's pony to Robinson's College across the river.

We registered, settled, suppered and returned to Heffers for the authors' reception with Jill Paton Walsh, John Rowe Townsend and Mark McCrum. So many well-known names in one bookshop all at the same time! I found myself squinting at the name tags of authors I'd never met, like Mary Hoffman, Catherine MacPhail and Joyce Dunbar. There was an irresistible opportunity to greet the ones I'd met before or recognised from SCBWI events, like Malorie Blackman, Mike Brownlow and Jamila Gavin. There was a moment when we were set free among the bookshelves and I spoke to author/illustrator, Anthony Browne who was also searching the shelves for his latest book Little Beauty.

He asked me if I was an illustrator too and I replied that I illustrated my first book HIC! But now I prefer writing as there are far more accomplished illustrators out there - 'people like you do it so much better,' I'm ashamed I said. In his talk the following day, Anthony Browne admitted to temporarily giving up writing for children after a confidence crisis in Waterstones' bookshop. Anthony Browne - a confidence crisis! Or more accurately copyright crises (more of this in day 2). Do all authors have crises in bookshops? My Heffers hauntings went a little like this - Why do I need to write another book? Aren't there enough here already and how can I possibly compete with all this?

That's why authors and illustrators like me need the massive boost from conferences like CWIG '08.

We need to know why and how authors make their career choices. One of the speakers at the reception, Jill Paton Walsh used to write picture books. Ah, I remember, When Grandma Came (Picture Puffin).

I bought it in 1992 for my daughter and that's why in Heffers bookshop in 2008, I bought A Piece of Justice (Imogen Quy Mystery 2) and asked her to sign it for my daughter,

'Now you are grown up'.

It's the author's favourite and one of the first grown-up books I've bought in a while too.

I resisted the temptation to load up with heavy books for the walk back as Heffers were opening their bookshop at the conference. Mmmm...more books.

Blue paper name tags slipped out of their plastic holders in the darkness of Trinity Lane and I thought of the Lane of Fame that might be discovered in the light of the next day...

CWIG Conference '08 In Pictures

2008-08-31T19:57:00.041+01:00

CWIG '08 Conference at Robinson College, Cambridge

The Three CWIGateers: Anne-Marie Perks, Sara O'Connor, Karen Ball

Seriously Silly Table Water, courtesy of Orchard Books
- illustrated by Arthur Robins and written by after dinner speaker, Laurence Anholt.

Another Narnia - Bridge To Thorneycreek Gardens

Thorney Creek House 1895

Weeping Wellingtonia

Thanks to Jeremy De Quidt, author of The Toymaker, for recommending that I visit Kettle's Yard House - 'neither gallery nor a museum' but a place to enjoy art in a relaxed atmosphere.
Four run-down cottages that reminded me of Dali's House in Spain that he built from four fishing cottages.

More about CWIG '08 in my next post.

All Photos by Sue Eves

Thinking In Pictures

2008-08-27T14:07:00.037+01:00

I took a break from writing and reading children's fiction and went away for a few weeks in the hope of coming back empty-headed - I think I managed it! It was obviously time for a holiday when I poured washing powder instead of biscuits into the dog's bowl . Luckily, he noticed and refused to eat it.

Stain Glass in Penne, France

Pompier or Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah - the fire engine for Barney

The Boy In The Hat - 2 year-old Barney playing at the table.

The Wah-Wah wheel

And the Wah-Wah - his obsession with tractors

And trains...

Henry's Moon - Henry's Campsite, Cornwall

Henry's Fisherman - The view from the lane to the loos at Henry's Campsite, Cornwall.

Flamingos In The Road - Ron's Youth project sculptures come in useful to keep cars from destroying his bonsai grass on the campsite.

Steam Train at Corfe, Dorset - one for Kai.

Bucket Tree - inspired sculpture on the walk up from the beach at Lulworth Cove, Dorset.

Wasps at Woodyhyde - One for Josh who got stung while engrossed in reading my copy of Neil Gaiman's graphic novel, The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes (The Sandman): Preludes and Nocturnes (The Sandman)

Apparently, my memory has improved since my holiday. Time to get back to my desk and dream again. I will stick these lines on my wall as a reminder to take a break now and then.

And had I been an excessive dreamer
I could have lost my memory

Mahmoud Darwish, From The Dice Player

Oh, and while I was away there were over 2,000 visitors to my website - if I remember my visitor count correctly...

Philip Reeve wins CILIP Carnegie Medal 2008

2008-06-27T15:05:00.012+01:00

Philip Reeve wins the Cilip Carnegie medal 2008 for his novel Here Lies Arthur.

I heard Carnegie shortlisted authors, Philip Reeve and Kevin Crossley-Holland (Gatty's Tale) speak at the Hay Festival at the end of May. Although I didn't come away with either of their books, I bought Sir Gawain and the Green Knighttranslated by Simon Armitage that Kevin Crossley Holland recommended.

I'm enjoying reading about Arthur's nephew at the end of a writing day. So many books - so little time!

Picture Books I Wish I'd Written

2008-06-26T23:18:00.020+01:00

Gris Grimly's illustrations are exquisitely integrated with Neil Gaiman's words in The Dangerous Alphabet.

Neil Gaiman reads his own story on the accompanying CD of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish (Book & CD)by The Savage illustrator, Dave McKean.

The latter, I bought for my collection and it turned out to be a brilliant night-time unwind for my 16 year-old during the stressful GCSE exam period. Now I understand the appeal of the author reading the book on the accompanying CD. Picture books need to be read aloud - even better if the author can read the story to you!

Neil Gaiman's Picture Books - so good, they're dangerous.

Words From My Notebook

2008-06-16T20:46:00.009+01:00

The Hay Rain

The Rain Came
And the truck got stuck
and the stick got stuck
Stuck in the mud
feet got wet
socks got soggy
soaked the socks
that stuck to the feet
Slip and slop slop slip
squelch squish
Umbrella dripped
drops drops dripped
Soaked paper paper soaked

These are my words as they splashed on the page at the Hay Festival - unedited - just as I found them again today in my notebook.

Just getting it down is the first lesson I have learned about being a writer. Collaborating with another writer, I have had to write without fear of my writing being judged and without judging my own writing before I've even written it.

I've written something. It may be nothing. I don't know yet. I'm already beginning to judge it and I am itching to change it.

Judith Kerr and the Tiger Who Came To Tea

2008-06-09T23:26:00.014+01:00

I am delighted that I had the chance to hear author Judith Kerr speaking about her picture book THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA at the Hay Festival. It is a book that I read many times to my daughter when she was under 5. This year is the Tiger's 40th birthday. I'm disappointed that I couldn't stop to get Judith Kerr to sign our well-read copy because by the time I reached the bookshop the queue was too long and I had to get to the CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlisters, Kevin Crossley-Holland and Philip Reeve(But that's another post!). I only managed a sad snap of her profile because someone walked in to my shot - but Hay!

Judith Kerr described THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA as a story about ‘a tiger who came, ate everything and went away again!’ She made up the story after a trip to the zoo with her 3-year-old daughter. Her husband was away filming at the time and they were longing for someone to visit, she said. She told the story many times before making it into a picture book. It took her a year to write and illustrate it.

Although the talk was entitled The Tiger Who Came To Tea, it was not the book Judith Kerr had the most to say about. One of her three children’s novels that I have yet to read is When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. It is based on her experience as a nine-year-old being forced to flee Germany with her family in 1933. Her father wrote about Hitler and was on a list of anti-Nazis to be shot. She explained that as a child she knew nothing of the Nazis. There was no TV. She didn’t know what it meant. On Sunday 5th March 1933 the family took a train from Stuttgart to Zurich to escape. A new toy dog went with her and she left Pink Rabbit behind thinking they would go home and find it again.

By the time they arrived in England, they spoke French and German. ‘I’m very grateful to Hitler for making it possible for me to speak this language.’ When questioned about writing further novels, Judith replied that she doesn’t feel the need to write any others. She wrote about it ‘when it mattered.’

Judith Kerr is an elegant 85-year-old. She writes in a room at the top of her house ‘where she can see the squirrels’ and having spent so many years writing in that room, she’s not sure if she could write anywhere else now.

She is also the author/ illustrator of the MOG picture books based on her own cat family. As a child, she always longed for a cat but ‘we had a dog.’

In our household, we had a Tiger Who Came To Tea and I have Judith Kerr to thank for that.

The Big Picture Awards Party

2008-04-23T10:03:00.038+01:00

Last night was the official launch ceremony for the winners of THE BIG PICTURE award, the campaign to find the Best New Illustrators, see my previous post.
It was held at The Illustration Cupboard in London. I was there as a friend of the gallery owner who, years ago put me in touch with the first editor to say the magic words I like your writing and lead me to my first picture book contract.

The work of all 10 illustrators was on display at the two-floor gallery where familiar faces and names(thanks to their name-tags) gathered to enjoy this first ever BIG PICTURE awards presentation by The Booktrust.

Canapes were thrust under our noses several times a sentence. I had already eaten so I wasn't tempted until I was offered ricespoonfuls of Banoffee pie arranged in a circle like a child's drawing of the rays of the sun.

A few years ago, this event would have been too intimidating for me to attend. I had illustrated my first picture book and was keen to be an illustrator. Now I prefer to focus on writing and am happy to enjoy the work of the more accomplished illustrators around me.

Now, it's just occurred to me that perhaps these are not the 10 best Illustrators.
Alexis Deacon, Polly Dunbar, Emily Gravett, Mini Grey, Oliver Jeffers, David Lucas, Catherine Rayner and Joel Stewart are all Authors and illustrators. 8 out of 10 owners of the Best New Illustrators Award are authors too. Only Lisa Evans and Vicky White are exclusively illustrators.

Vicky White wins this award on the back of her first picture book, Ape written by Martin Jenkins and published by Walker Books.

Of all the pictures in the gallery, the ape constantly caught my eye with its Mona Lisa smile. Or perhaps it's more reminiscent of Anthony Browne's The Mysterious Smile in his book Willy's Pictures. My all-time illustrator hero is Anthony Browne who also happened to be one of the judges.

One other particular picture was a topic of discussion at the end of the evening - Alexis Deacon's beautiful oil pastel picture from While You Are Sleeping

Someone thought there were touches of Michel Angelo in the picture, though Jacques-Louis David's, Death Of Marat Sade was the painting that sprung to my mind!

Congratulations to all new illustrators and the Book Trust for launching such a brilliant campaign to put children's picture books in the public eye.

Just a thought, how about a different angle next year, say - THE BIG STORY - to give dedicated authors a chance to promote children's picture books?

I didn't take photos of the event but about-to-be-published illustrator, Sarah McIntyre did. So have a look at the splendid silver award - I suggested the photo of Oliver Jeffers sporting his silver star on his lapel!

Sarah took this photo of me with David Lucas. See my previous post - hee! hee!

Tag! - You're it!

2008-04-20T14:57:00.023+01:00

I've been tagged And I'm off to find the nearest book - that has at least 123 pages.
Sitting on the sofa with my laptop, the nearest book I can find is only 48 pages long.

The rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment back to me once you've posted your three sentences.

O.K. Nearest book is...not in this room. Back in a mo.

Page 123 (I've only read to page 58 so I hope it doesn't make too much sense)- sentences 6,7,8:

One or two sat up and brightened when they saw us, perhaps thinking we might've been their relatives coming to visit. There was a powerful reek of air freshener. A door opened onto what the nurse called the sun lounge.

Thanks, Candy. I thought it was about time I posted!

TAG!
Sarah McIntyre
Simon Haynes
Adrienne Kress
L.Lee.Lowe
Liz Jones

YOU'RE IT!

This is the confusing bit - so that means, I post back to Candy's blog because she tagged me and you 5 post back to me because I tagged you - get it?

UK's Top 10 Best Illustrators Announced

2008-04-01T14:00:00.013+01:00

Childrens' Laureate, Michael Rosen announced the winners of the UK's best Illustrators' competition yesterday at the Bologna Children's Book Fair.
The winners gallery is on the Booktrust Big Picture Award page of the guardian books website.
Authors, Anthony Browne and Malorie Blackman were judging with Nicolette Jones of the Sunday Times. The top 10 are:
Alexis Deacon
Polly Dunbar
Lisa Evans
Emily Gravett
Mini Grey
Oliver Jeffers
David Lucas
Catherine Rayner
Joel Stewart
Vicky White

I'm a fan of Alexis Deacon and Mini Grey but I'm totally biased in favour of David Lucas.

His heart fluttering new picture book The Robot and the Bluebird is published by the publisher of my next picture book, Andersen Press!

The Quiet Woman goes to Bologna 2008

2008-03-19T19:21:00.006Z

Ailie Busby has finished illustrating my picture book story The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog. It's looking great! You can see it at the Children's Book Fair Bologna 2008 - Pad.25, stand B/98. It will be published by Andersen Press in Spring 2009.

Spiderwick Book Signing

2008-03-15T19:43:00.022Z

Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black and Me

I was last in the queue to have Book 1 of The Spiderwick Chronicles signed for my 8 year old nephew. I couldn't bring myself to stand in a queue in front of eager children waiting to meet their heroes.

I'd arrived two hours early to make sure I didn't miss illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi and author Holly Black and to spend time browsing in the Lion and Unicorn bookshop in Richmond. I bought two Neil Gaiman books, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfishand Odd and the Frost Giants (World Book Day edition). I could have bought many more but I have to resist buying every book I read and love.

I was lucky enough to be standing behind a real Spiderwick fan, a ten year-old boy who had read all the books and was carrying his favourite ones to be signed (books 2 and 5 and Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide). Tony DiTerlizzi's illustrated guide is phenomenally good and I'm extemely envious of his technical drawing skills. Tony and Holly were delighted when the boy appeared before them sporting his homemade eyepiece (the 'Seeing Stone' from Book 2) and he was equally thrilled to have his picture taken with them - as was I!

I hope my nephew will enjoy The Field Guide (Spiderwick Chronicles) as much as I did.

The Long Life Of Picture Books

2008-03-07T14:02:00.046Z

Last night, both children's book organisations I belong to were holding events at the same time in London. The SCBWI Professional Series had a Picture Book Intensive with Associate publisher at Little Tiger Press. Fellow member, Candy Gourlay says she will be filling us in on this event on her blog sometime soon! Notes From The Slushpile.

The Children's Book Circle held an event discussing the Death Of The Picture Book - My Arse! with Wayne Winstone, Bookseller and champion of picture books presenting facts and figures to prove that this genre has a long life. This is a list of Waterstones' top 10 bestsellers from a long list of new and established authors who provide a rich backlist of titles.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Picture Puffin)by Eric Carle was number 1 in Waterstones' bestselling picture books in the last year. It was first published in 1970 by Hamish Hamilton. Each title in the top four sold over 20,000 copies. I noted down the top 15 but I started to wonder what Amazon's UK bestselling list looked like so I have just listed the top 10.
2.The Gruffaloby Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler (first published in 1999).
3. We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury (1989 Smarties Prize winner).
4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. First published in 1963.
5. Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort (2007) - Richard and Judy Book Club winner.
6. The Gruffalo Child by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler (2004)
7. Charlie Cook's Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler(2005)
8. Say Hello To The Baby Animals by Ian Whybrow and Edward Eaves(2006)
9. Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister (1992)
10. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown llustrations by Tomi Ungerer (1964)

Aliens love Underpants is currently Amazon's no.1. The most popular author/illustrator team is Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler with 4 titles in their top 15 picture books (not including TV tie-in titles). There is an exciting looking new title in their list that I haven't read yet - The Night Pirates by Peter Harris(author) & Deborah allwright(Illustrator).

So what is it that makes these picture books so successful? These are the strengths Wayne Winstone sees in the Waterstones' top titles.

1. Good to read aloud (and the text works on its own when read out loud).
2. Good relationship between the text and illustrations.
3. Repetition in the language.
4. Strong themes and characters.
5. Striking Cover and illustrations.
6. Plenty of detail throughout.
7. Good Story.

These are elements that author/illustrators strive for to make the perfect picture book but it seems that these alone will not ensure a bestseller.

We must think beyond being published!

As author/illustrators we can promote our books in the high street book store by taking part in book events and offering workshops with our prospective readers. 70% of sales are from promoted titles, so getting picture books in the media is a bonus.
Richard and Judy's Children's Book Club has increased sales of featured picture books, Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort and Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae.

Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen is one of the many authors behind The Big Picture the national campaign to enhance the status of picture books in the UK.

There will always be children learning to read and with a new reader every 5 years, the picture book looks set for a long life ahead.

Where I Get My Ideas

2008-03-04T10:46:00.034Z

When I'm working on new book ideas, I take hundreds of photos.Yesterday, I wanted to take a trip to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. This was the beginning of my journey to the stars. Well, not quite the beginning. The first part was a bus ride and a tube journey but I wasn't inspired to take any photos until I took the commuter boat from Embankment.

First stop, Festival Pier and the London Eye. I'm not a regular river commuter, so I didn't realise it would have been quicker for me to take the tube to Waterloo and catch the boat here(but it wouldn't have been as much fun!). London looks lovely in blue. It's a refreshing change from the frequent grey. Anyway, blue is one of my favourite colours. I'm always catching something blue in my photos.

So back to the river and speeding away...

Past St Paul's Catherdral

To the Tower

Under Tower Bridge

To The Royal Naval College at Greenwich.

I walked through the beautiful baroque building - a popular film location. This was the night-time film location for FRANKLYN, the futuristic Sci-Fi thriller to be released this summer (I'm an extra in it somewhere!)

And finally reached my destination.
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

This was really the beginning of my journey to the stars. I spent several hours in the Astronomy interactive galleries and watched the STAR LIFE show in the planetarium. I have a replenished archive of images. Now I'm ready to start writing!

Sally Nicholls - Bookseller headlines

2008-02-19T20:55:00.003Z

Congratulations to Sally Nicholls for winning the Waterstones' Children's Book prize with WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER.

FRONT PAGE

2008-02-15T19:10:00.004Z

No news is good news.

There's lots to read on my back pages and new web pages - it all starts here!

Making A Picture Book Dummy

2008-01-23T18:10:00.014Z

It hadn't occurred to me to illustrate my own stories until I submitted a picture book text to several publishers and all rejected it. I realised I needed to show how I visualized the book. In fact, I lost confidence in the rejected story and moved on to my next one. I spent 3 months drawing and making a dummy book with the help of WRITING WITH PICTURES: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books By Uri Shulevitz

Without it, I wouldn't have known where to begin.

I wrote the story text and then, using the storyboard layout in Uri's book, I mapped out my own. Doing it 'by the book' can be unreliable as I discovered when my story was accepted. My editor pointed out that I had not left enough space for the copyright and title pages. In the UK 24 pages (32 pages from cover to cover) seems to be the standard. Although, board books are less. A picture book story is usually told over 12 double page spreads. I think of it as 12 'chapters'.

Even if you don't plan to illustrate your own picture book it is useful to make a dummy. You may make several. For speed, I pull 8 ready-folded pages from a Daler-Rowney sketch book and re-stitch the pages together! The story begins on page 6 because you count the cover as page 1. This is the format:

Cover - page 1.
End papers(inside double spread)-p 2&3.
Copyright pages - p.4&5.
Beginning of story text - p6.
Story continues - until p 29
End papers (inside back cover double spread) p. 30 & 31
Back cover is page 32.

There you have the 32-page picture book told in 12 double page spreads or 24 pages of text!

Update 12th Feb: Have a look at the picture book layout on Sarah McIntyre's Blog

Shelf Portrait

2008-01-06T22:54:00.002Z

Joining LibraryThing inspired me to make a mosaic portrait using 68 different covers from the books in my library catalogue.

Click on the image to see the titles.

Perfect Paper

2007-12-14T15:46:00.001Z

I was clearing my workspace to make holiday space when I found a couple of Booktrust children's book posters from a few years back. Books Are Magic (the words accidentally fell in the right place on the parcel)was the poster illustrated by Niamh Sharkey. Books Are Forever was illustrated by Quentin Blake.

mmm...now there's a wrapping paper design idea!

Auntie Monica's Chocolate Christmas Pudding

2007-12-13T09:57:00.001Z

I've just made this pudding for the children and adults in my family who don’t like Christmas pudding or mince pies. O.K. - I made it for me!
Preparation time: The duration of The Jazz Plays...Christmas

I would have finished by track 11 Zat You Santa Claus? - Louis Armstrong
but I forgot an ingredient so my Santa Baby hurried back with the glace cherries. I'd tidied up by the last track - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

Oh, and apparently, Monica has lost the recipe - so here it is:

Ingredients:

For The Icing
75g plain chocolate
1-tablespoon water
25g butter or margarine

For The Pudding

175g Butter or margarine
3 –tablespoons golden syrup
225g plain choc
175g crushed ginger biscuits
175g crushed plain sweet biscuits
2 –teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 –tablespoons brandy, rum or orange juice
50g currants
75g sultanas
50g glace cherries (roughly chopped)
25g candied peel (optional)

Instructions

Gently melt together the butter, syrup and chocolate over a low heat.

Mix in the remaining pudding ingredients, spoon into a basin pressing down gently.

Chill in the fridge (if making a few days/weeks before, freeze at this point. Defrost at room temperature before proceeding and dip basin in hot water to turn out).

To Ice

Melt chocolate with water until smooth.
Add butter until melted.
Cool slightly
Ice all over

Before serving, sprinkle with icing sugar.
Top with holly and glace cherries.

Serve with cream.

Interview with Author Mayra Calvani

2007-12-10T16:54:00.001Z

Hi, Mayra,
Welcome to my humble blog here in London, England and congratulations on the recent publication of your first children’s picture book, THE MAGIC VIOLIN.

Set in 19th Century Brussels, Belgium, THE MAGIC VIOLIN features the unusual theme of a young girl, MELINA, learning to play the violin. On Christmas Eve, Melina hears the tune she is trying so hard to learn being played by mysterious buskers in the Plaza. I won’t spoil the plot by revealing the identity of one of the magical musicians but Melina is in awe of their playing. She takes pity on the poor musicians playing in the cold and in true Christmas spirit, gives them money. In return for her kindness, one of the violinists tells her to make a wish on a shooting star before midnight. Melina believes that her violin becomes magical when she wishes to become a great violinist. How else could she have learnt to play Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’ by heart?

Mayra, you seem to understand the struggles of a child learning to play an instrument. I think your picture book will be an inspiration to young musicians. Do you play the violin? If so, can you play Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’!

First of all, thank you for your kind words and for having me on your blog today, Sue. It’s a pleasure.

My 9-year old daughter and I both started playing the violin about five years ago. The violin never stops challenging us but we love it with passion. Yes, I can play the 2nd movement of “Winter’, though not as well as I would wish. That is one of those pieces that look deceivingly easy to the non-player. The reason is that you have to play it in three different positions. I started switching positions last year and one of my main struggles has been being able to switch quickly yet stay in tune at the same time. The piece is slow (largo) as well, requiring even more flawless intonation. When you play fast music, you can get away with skipping a note or being a bit off, but you can’t do this with slow music. Three months ago I began an intensive program in the first four positions, so I’m guessing I’m a little better now. My daughter and I love to play together during Christmas and ‘Winter’ is definitely in our repertoire.

When I read the story, I longed to hear Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’. Your publisher is Guardian Angel Publishing, an e-Book publisher presenting a new genre of children’s books by incorporating the sound of music into many of their virtual books. A children’s musical picture book sounds appealing. Can we listen to Vivaldi’s music in your book?

No, unfortunately it doesn’t incorporate music, though the idea has crossed my mind many times. Who knows... maybe for a future printing? ☺ For those readers who don’t know Vivaldi’s “Winter’, here is a link to the music. I’m sure almost everyone will be able to recognize this beautiful piece. Here it is being played by Itzhak Perlman, one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.
Itzhak Perlman: Four Seasons Winter II.Largo

What was the inspiration for THE MAGIC VIOLIN?

As I mentioned, my young daughter and I both started playing the violin about five years ago, so I know very well how difficult it can be at times, especially when learning a new piece. The violin is a very difficult instrument to master, requiring lots of discipline, perseverance and commitment, and this can be hard for a child at times. My love for the violin and watching my daughter play were my inspiration for the story. I wanted to create a tale which would be fun and magical, yet one which would encourage children and teach them about self esteem at the same time.

How long did it take you to write?

The story poured out of me one morning, but then it went through several rewrites and edits. I also gave it to a freelance editor to look it over and to my critique group members. Their comments and suggestions were invaluable.

Did you submit it to ‘traditional’ publishers?

Actually, Guardian Angel Publishing is a traditional publisher in the sense that they’re selective (only about 3% of submissions are accepted), edit the manuscripts, assign illustrators, do the layout, etc. Yes, they also publish their books in electronic form, but so are many of the big traditional publishers these days. The main difference comes in the way that Guardian Angel prints their books, which is by using the print-on-demand (POD) technology. POD has become associated with subsidy presses because subsidy publishers use this type of technology to print their books, but there is an important distinction here that has to be made: POD is not a type of publishing, but a type of printing method. There are many traditional small presses using the POD technology. Even some of the big New York publishers have begun to use POD to keep their backlist titles available to the public. It makes sense, because that means no lost money on returns or warehouse storage.

I did submit The Magic Violin to several well-known publishers, but when I didn’t have luck with these I decided to contact the smaller presses. The competition is staggering with the big publishers. I’ve read that with picture books only about one out of a thousand get accepted for publication. An author could submit once a month to a different publisher during a lifetime and never make a sale. I knew The Magic Violin had a niche audience and I thought I could reach that audience whether the publisher was big or small.

How long did it take you to find a publisher? Is the book available in print?

About one and a half years of continued multiple submissions, with a lot of waiting for responses in between.

Yes, The Magic Violin is also available in print from Amazon, B&N, most other online retailers, and also on order from any brick and mortar bookstore.

K.C. SNIDER’s beautiful illustrations compliment your evocative story. The Gothic church and the 19th Century Christmas theme are apparent in your text. How much influence did you have on the artwork?

K.C and I pretty much worked side by side. In the beginning I sent her links about Belgium and I suggested she check other sites for fashions and architecture. Also, before the manuscript was sent to K.C. my publisher suggested I added my ideas for the artwork to the story. My main concern was the girl’s posture with the violin, as this had to be exact to be credible. A person not familiar with the violin wouldn’t notice, but a person who knows about violin playing would tell right away if the illustrations were wrong. So I sent K.C. several photos of my daughter holding and playing the violin. This proved to be very helpful.

You dedicate your book to the ‘beacons’ of your life, who are they?

My two children! ☺

You are a published author in other genres. What inspired you to turn to writing for children and young adults? How long have you been writing for children?

Looking back, I don’t know exactly what ‘triggered’ my love for juvenile fiction. I never thought of writing a children’s book until about three years ago. I think motherhood and reading to my children had a lot to do with it. My daughter, who’s always loved books and reading (and who’s a published author at her young age, by the way), was a great inspiration. I think she brought out a part of me I never thought existed, one facade I had not seen before. Now I read every children’s book I can get my hands on, and can’t wait to put into words all the new stories I have in my head.

What picture book do you wish you had written?

I wish I had written The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams. I love picture books with a 'quiet' tone that both draw the reader into a compelling plot and touch them at an emotional level. I can't read that book unless I'm ready for a good cry. Perhaps this is why I also love Kate Di Camillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (though this is an illustrated middle-grade novel). I wish I had written that one as well!

What children’s book are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on several juvenile projects. I have two picture books doing the agent/publisher roundup. One of them is violin-related and is being illustrated by talented artist Amy Moreno . I’m also polishing a tween manuscript (also violin-related) for an agent who’s expressed an interest in it, and writing/preparing a proposal for Harper Collins. This last one is a coming-of-age multicultural tween novel.

How long have you been a member of the Society Of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators? (SCBWI) How has it helped you?

I joined only a year ago. To be honest, other than visit the forums once in a while, I haven’t been too involved in it. I know the SCBWI carries a lot of weight with top editors and agents—at least this is what I keep hearing again and again. So if you add in your query letter that you’re a member that seems to be an extra plus. There is a chapter here in Brussels, but it’s not very active and the critique group they had dissolved when many of its members left Belgium. The forum does offer a lot of information about all aspects of children’s book publishing, from formatting a fledgling manuscript to legal issues, and members receive a list of reputable reviewers, agents and publishers, as well as a newsletter. I guess the membership fee can be as worth it as you make it to be. Like all things, you have to get involved.

What advice would you give to aspiring children’s authors?

Read constantly the type of books you’re interested in writing. If you want to write picture books, read picture books. If you want to read middle-grade novels, read middle-grade novels. As you read, study the book, dissect it, and think about what made it work (or not). Join the Children’s-Writers Yahoo group . Join a critique group; sometimes authors fall in love with their own stories and it’s hard to be objective. Don’t let anything get in the way of your dream. And of course, write, write, write.

You began your Virtual Book Tour (VBT) on 1st December 2007. What countries have you visited on your VBT so far and where else will you be going?

Actually, you’re the first non-US blog I visit, which is rather exciting! ☺ I still have nine more stops to make but not all are interviews. Anyone can see my tour schedule on my blog, Mayra’s Secret Bookcase

Where can readers find out more about you?

I have various sites and blogs where readers may find more about me and my books:

My Official Website
My Blog
My Official Children’s Book Website
My Children’s Book Blog:
The Fountain Pen, my newsletter

Thanks Mayra Calvani and good luck for the rest of your virtual book tour.

Thank you, Sue! I thoroughly enjoyed your questions!

Finally, you say you’re offering a prize at the end of your book tour on Christmas day, what is it?

I’ll be giving away a $20 Amazon gift certificate to a lucky winner on Christmas day. To be eligible, all a person needs to do is leave a comment at the end of this post or any of my other tour stops. If the winner is from England, I’ll be giving away a £20 gift certificate from Amazon.co.uk. I will announce the winner on my blog Mayra's Secret Bookcase, on the 25th.