Wednesday 17 December 2008

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Since Foul Play came out eight months ago, I've been doing as many events as I can. So I can tell people about the book.

I like maps, so I put a dot for every event I did on a map of the UK. It looks good. I've done 139 days of events. 50 in Yorkshire. 30 in the North West. Then ten or so in the South West, South East, London, etc.

Maybe this is too much information. But sometimes I'm at a loss what to put on my blog. Maybe I shouldn't do a blog at all...

Yesterday I did my last event of the year. A school in Rotherham. And now I've got nearly a month without events*. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. I can relax...

... except I can't. In that month I have to finish Football Academy 5 and start Football Academy 6. But it'll be nice to have time to write. And to be at home to be with my family.

Speaking of which... my daughter's just got home from school...




* - by the way, I enjoy doing events as much as writing... it's just I do too many...

Monday 8 December 2008

What I've been reading

I've been reading books by children's authors - about writing.

Singing for Mrs Pettigrew by Michael Morpurgo explains some of his stories and his writing life. Jackie Daydream is the story of Jacqueline Wilson's childhood, but talks about her books too. Both are good.

But the book I've loved recently is the graphic novel of Silverfin, Charlie Higson's first Young Bond book.

I don't normally read graphic novels. The only ones I can remember reading are Maus, about Nazi Germany and Safe Area Gorazde about the recent war in Bosnia.

I think I should read more graphic novels. They are like a cross between books and films.

Back in Basildon

In 2008 I've visited Basildon a lot. Not where I thought I'd end up.

I've been working with a group of lads (and now girls too) who are part of a football writers group. They're led by the genius teacher, Mrs Diane Baker, originally from Yorkshire. We've done lots of stuff - and recently they've been helping me with my books, making sure they're good enough and also helping me with plots. Tomorrow we're off to West Ham for a club tour. Then then next day we're writing a chapter of my fifth Football Academy book which includes a club tour at West Ham. It's going to be fun.

Book 5 is called The X Factor, but that might have to change if we're not allowed to call it that. It was one of the Basildon kids who came up with the idea that one of the lads would... But I'm giving too much away. I'll stop there.