Museum of Slavery

I went to the Museum of Slavery in Liverpool today, after talking at a couple of schools. The museum is very striking. It makes you think... hard. If you are ever in the city then it's well worth a visit, as is the Maritime Museum.

I was there to see if I could think about how the book I am writing has bits about slavery in it. I'm still working it all out in my head. I'm not sure.

I'm also reading an amazing book by a Ghanaian author called Amma Darko. It is about a woman who is made a slave in Germany - and it's set pretty much now. The character I am going to write about in Football Detective 3 is going to be a sort of modern slave.

I am reading all these books and going to these museums (and Ghana) to make sure I get it right, as well as for ideas how to write the book.

London

I've been in London at the end of this week. In a school called Eaton House and in Kingston Library today. Both really good fun. Tomorrow two libraries in Tottenham.

It is hard being in London considering my team, Leeds United, lost to Millwall last night in the play offs. My daughter is getting into Leeds United now and I was hoping to take her to Wembley for the final. One day...

I am watching Milton Keynes Dons v Scunthorpe in a hotel room now. (That's the glamorous lifestyle of an author!) No offence to MK Dons fans, but I want Scunthorpe to win. Then have them beat Millwall in the final.

Off Side

I've written the first 10,000 words of Off Side, the third Football Detective novel. It's going well mostly, but I'm struggling to get the Ghanaian player right. I can't get in the head of a sixteen year old boy from Ghana in the UK for the first time.

So I'm going to read some books about Ghanaians who have come to the UK, talk to a couple of players (hopefully the Wigan keeper) and go to Ghana in July. That's the only way I can do it. In the mean time I can write Danny's bits.

I am loving writing it. I have been reading a lot about slavery. It is going to be a part of the story, so I am reading a history of slavery and will be going to Liverpool's museum of slavery on Wednesday. It's something I thought I knew about. Until now.

Off Side

I am just about to start the third Football Detective book, Off Side. It is to be partly based in Ghana, West Africa. I am reading a lot in preparation for a trip to Africa to see how young players are developed. I am very excited about the trip.

This is the best time of writing a book: I'm dying to get stuck in. I start on Tuesday on a train to Portsmouth from Yorkshire. I am going there to talk to some groups of readers who are taking part in the Premier League Reading Stars scheme. PLRS is all about footballers recommending books for familes to read.

Now... I am listening to the last round of games in league one on radio five. Relegation. Promotion. It's a very tense time. If Leeds win today and Millwall don't then I can go to both games. But if not, I will miss both, which is annoyting. But - as things stand - Leeds are winning and Millwall are losing.

Lancashire - Everton - Leeds

I did an event at Lancashire Libraries on Saturday. It was great, as events in Lancashire always are. It was at Clitheroe Library. They asked great questions and took some good penalties.

Then I did an event near Man U's ground. All the families were Man U. Some were saying they thought Everton would beat Man U in the semi today. They were right.

I am going to Liverpool tomorrow for another event. I expect to meet lots of happy Everton fans.

While in Liverpool I will also have a look at the Slavery Museum. In reading about Ghana I am fast finding out that a large part of the country's history is bound up in slavery. So I think it's important I find out more, seeing as my next book is about a more modern form of slavery.

First research

I went into Leeds today to research my new novel. It's a nice time. Going into libraries and bookshops.

I had a good look through some travel guides to Ghana. Places to stay. Things to see. It was very useful. As were the history books about West Africa. Although there won't be loads of historical background in the book, I like to have a good understanding of a place before I go there and write about it. Well, as good as possible.

I also found a book about an Englishman with Ghanaian parents who travelled to Ghana. That will be really useful.

I got an email off my agent yesterday: Puffin want the book by the end of August. That's good. It means I have to get stuck in. I have all of August off to write, except a few events in Leeds, so it'll give me time to write once I'm back from Ghana.

Ghana

I am going to start writing Football Detective 3 tomorrow. Or the planning.

This is the best bit. Anything is possible. The book is perfect in my head: because it's not on paper.

Part of the book is set in Ghana, home of the legendary footballer, Tony Yeboah, who I saw many times at Leeds in the nineties. If you want to see something amazing look on You Tube at his two goals against Liverpool and Wimbledon, both within a week, for Leeds. Awesome.

Today - after taking advice from Naomi - I booked my flights. To Ghana. I have to admit to being nervous. But that's part of the thrill of writing books. I was nervous going to Moscow to research the last book. But it was one of the best trips I've ever been on. And it means the book (Dead Ball, out in August this year) is more realistic, and hopefully better.

Naomi is sending me a list of Ghanaian novelists to read. I start to work out the plot tomorrow. Then lots of reading.

I love being an author. I love it.

Prizes

I am thrilled to say I've been put on another shortlist for a book prize: the Cheshire Schools Book Award. So thank you to them.

I missed out on the Blue Peter Book Award and the Stockton Children's Book Award last month. But being on the sshort lists was great - as was meeting the other authors. I very much enjoyed talking to the other authors in Stockport.

Football Academy

My new series, Football Academy is out this week. Two books: Boys United and Striking Out. It's great to see them on the shelves.

The series focuses on a Premier League under-twelve side. Each book is about a different boy and his progress at United. But each book also includes all the fourteen members of the squad.

I did a lot of research to get the books right. I went to Burnley FC to meet their academy players, parents and coaches. They were very helpful. I also talked to people at the FA.

Each story - I hope - shows what it is like to be an eleven-year-old playing at a Premier League academy. If you've ever fancied knowing what it's like, then it might be for you. It's not all fame and money. That's what I found out when I was researching the books.

Blue Peter Award

I didn't win the Blue Peter Award this week. But being on the shortlist was amazing. Unbelievable. I was really happy to see the short film they made of one of the scenes.

And the book that won it - by Matt Haig - is very good. So are the books by Andy Stanton and Jeremy Strong. Just to be in their company was a real thrill.

There's some good stuff on the Blue Peter wesbite about the award. Try out http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bluepeter/central/bookclub/#/lb/central/bookclub/exclusives/tipsputdown to hear writing tips from Matt Haig, Berlie Doherty and me.

Congratulations to Matt Haig, anyway. We're up against each other for the Calderdale Book Award too, so maybe I'll get the chance to equalise. Or maybe not...