tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23651167623758899912024-03-13T23:14:50.009+00:00The Young Scottish Book Trust BlogThoughts, updates and other randomness from Scottish Book Trust's Children & Young People's team...Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-22573932274973504862010-01-15T14:12:00.002+00:002010-01-15T14:15:06.069+00:00<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">This blog has now moved to </span></strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/blog-type/teens-young-people"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">the Scottish Book Trust website</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">.</span></strong> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/blogs">www.scottishbooktrust.com/blogs</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-55914051718454987402010-01-06T09:37:00.009+00:002010-01-06T10:15:12.272+00:00Cathy Forde: Virtual Writing In Residence<div><div><em>As you all know, Cathy Forde is our current Virtual Writer In Residence. Here is her blog offering this month. Don't forget to check out her creative writing tasks on our <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence">Virtual Writer in Residence pages</a>!</em><br /><br /></div><div>Happy New Year everyone! I hope the holidays left you refreshed and not frazzled and I really, really hope you haven’t spent hours queuing up in M&S or H&M to take back gifts you didn’t want in the first place.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0Rhs_JTaqI/AAAAAAAAArg/e5zpSXZHhic/s1600-h/sale.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423567276753513122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0Rhs_JTaqI/AAAAAAAAArg/e5zpSXZHhic/s200/sale.jpg" border="0" /></a>Just the thought of post-Christmas sales is enough to make me shudder, although I did brave Frasers’ in Glasgow yesterday….For about five minutes. One glimpse at the feeding frenzy in the shoe department was enough to send me fleeing back down into the Underground like an acrophobic mole.<br /></div><div> </div><div>I’ve actually had a really lovely – and musical - Christmas with my family. On Christmas Eve I went with my mum and my husband to a packed-out Christmas Mass in St Peter’s (Partick in Glasgow, not Rome) which was conducted almost entirely by the light of candles set around the church and held by the congregation. It was magical, and at the end of the service all the children in the church played along to carols on instruments they’d brought. That wasn’t magical but it worked! My elder son was playing jazz in Brel, a pub nearby, so I saw out Christmas Eve listening to both my sons and their friends in the company of my mum and my husband. I think it’s been one of the best Christmases I’ve had for ages. I even got good presents, including an amazing live Sam Cooke album from my elder son, and a tambourine from my younger.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0RhP1pwQFI/AAAAAAAAArY/u8UdnKmcB5M/s1600-h/other+hand.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423566775989059666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0RhP1pwQFI/AAAAAAAAArY/u8UdnKmcB5M/s200/other+hand.jpg" border="0" /></a>A recommendation from Marion at Scottish Book Trust felt like another present. I read through all the books the Scottish Book Trust team suggested for famous people on their website and fancied the novel Marion would give Bono so much, I bought it.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>What a brilliant book <em>The Other Hand</em> by Chris Cleave is. So thank you for your unexpected gift, Marion! I love books that feel real and that you can’t stop thinking about and that you want to tell your friends to read.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By the time this blog is posted, I will be in the middle of development for my play <em>EMPTY</em> which debuts in the <a href="http://www.tron.co.uk/">Tron Theatre </a>in Glasgow on 16th March and then tours Scotland. I am really excited at the prospect of seeing my script transformed into flesh and bone in front of my eyes, although I know I am going to be on the steepest learning curve of my life. I had a little taster of what’s ahead when my second play, <em>The Sunday Lesson</em> was unexpectedly given a development day with professional actors at <a href="http://www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk/">The Playwright’s Studio </a>in Glasgow just before Christmas. After nine hours of reworking, rewriting and rehearsal the actors read the play to the producers of A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Glasgow’s <a href="http://www.oran-mor.co.uk/">Oran Mor</a>, and as a result it’s going to be included in their Spring programme. I think that’s the best surprise Christmas present I have ever had!<br /><br /></div><div>You can see a video of Cathy presenting her latest creative writing task, and previous ones, one our website. <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence">http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence</a></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Other news:</strong><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0Rg5YLklNI/AAAAAAAAArQ/ZbdORIFYJZI/s1600-h/gruffalo+bbc+adaptation.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423566390120715474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0Rg5YLklNI/AAAAAAAAArQ/ZbdORIFYJZI/s200/gruffalo+bbc+adaptation.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you missed the wonderful adaptation of Julia Donaldson's and Axel Scheffler's <em>The Gruffalo</em> over Christmas don't panic - you can watch it on the BBC iPlayer this week. We loved it! <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pk64x/The_Gruffalo/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pk64x/The_Gruffalo/</a> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><em>The Ask and the Answer</em> by Patrick Ness has just won the <a href="http://www.costabookawards.com/index.aspx">Costa Children's Book Award</a>. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0Rh7vEekHI/AAAAAAAAAro/MZJxe-tCHxI/s1600-h/sachar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423567530136342642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 122px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/S0Rh7vEekHI/AAAAAAAAAro/MZJxe-tCHxI/s200/sachar.jpg" border="0" /></a>Louis Sachar, author of the children's classic <em>Holes</em>, will have a new book out in May this year. <em>The Cardturner</em> is his first new book in four years. </div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>If you spent Christmas snuggled up with lots of books and are now wondering what to read, why not take a look at our latest <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/books/books-that-rock">Teen Hit List - Books That Rock! </a></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-77287841841275498502009-12-23T12:21:00.002+00:002009-12-23T12:26:38.466+00:00Christmas time is here...<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/92Id4f1ihnw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/92Id4f1ihnw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Happy Christmas!Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-188646666206547182009-12-22T14:19:00.009+00:002009-12-22T15:06:18.536+00:00Heather: Our brilliant week on tour with David Roberts<div><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDeAxLzJOI/AAAAAAAAAqo/VohmJZUucK0/s1600-h/david+roberts+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418074456510899426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDeAxLzJOI/AAAAAAAAAqo/VohmJZUucK0/s200/david+roberts+009.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Sunday 6th December, whilst I was in Manchester preparing for a brilliant night at a Yeah Yeah Yeahs gig, Chris was driving down to Carlilse to meet illustrator and author David Roberts at the train station. This was the beginning of our final tour of 2009! </div><div><br /></div><div>I joined the guys on Monday morning in Dumfries where we spent our first day. Both sessions were brilliant, with lots of drawing and Chris trying out his storytelling skills. It set the tone for what was to be a fantastic week of events.<br /></div></div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDeUDM8oeI/AAAAAAAAAqw/a7MdQalJQhE/s1600-h/david+roberts+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418074787765068258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDeUDM8oeI/AAAAAAAAAqw/a7MdQalJQhE/s200/david+roberts+051.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Wednesday we moved on to East Renfrewshire. I was a bit sad to leave the beautiful Dumfries and Galloway scenery but the four events we did in and around Glasgow were equally as great. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDfBcVZuQI/AAAAAAAAAq4/LeyMDFn9gbs/s1600-h/david+roberts+067.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418075567605528834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDfBcVZuQI/AAAAAAAAAq4/LeyMDFn9gbs/s200/david+roberts+067.jpg" border="0" /></a>I often think that when you see an illustrator doing what they do best it makes it obvious how difficult drawing is. What was so wonderful about David's events was that he showed every child, and Chris and I too, that even we could draw pictures. Everybody drew Dirty Bertie along with David, and a few people tried their hand at Troll and Tyrannasaurus Drip. Although they may not have been as perfect as David's art work, he made sure we all knew they were equally as valid. It was lovely to see so many children getting involved and feeling encouraged.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDfdJQqypI/AAAAAAAAArA/ZvcAj8p-7NU/s1600-h/david+roberts+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418076043521739410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDfdJQqypI/AAAAAAAAArA/ZvcAj8p-7NU/s200/david+roberts+003.jpg" border="0" /></a>Thank you David for a fantastic week, and thank you to all of the pupils who drew pictures and shouted out enthusiastically during Dirty Bertie. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't even tried to convey how much fun we had because it's just too difficult. Perhaps this wee tour video will do that for me! <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/podcasts/video/david-roberts-tour">http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/podcasts/video/david-roberts-tour</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>Other News:</strong><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDgGhCgT_I/AAAAAAAAArI/_u9iqW7wAkc/s1600-h/OstrichBoys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418076754279419890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SzDgGhCgT_I/AAAAAAAAArI/_u9iqW7wAkc/s200/OstrichBoys.jpg" border="0" /></a>The winner of the 2009 Royal Mail Awards older readers category, <em>Ostrich Boys</em> by Keith Gray, has been shortlisted for another award – the <a href="http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/upload/public/attachments/1161/ART_1440_Young_Peoples_Book_Awards_Leaflet2.pdf">Lincolnshire Young People’s Book Award</a>. Check out the other books on the shortlist <a href="http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/upload/public/attachments/1161/ART_1440_Young_Peoples_Book_Awards_Leaflet2.pdf">here</a>.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The shortlist of the Angus Book Award 2010 has been announced! The winner, chosen by third year pupils throughout Angus secondary schools, will be announced in May in Kirriemuir. The shortlist is:<br />Crossing the Line by Gillian Philip<br />Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks<br />Guantanamo Boy by Anne Perera<br />Numbers by Rachel WardHappy Reading!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very <strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">Merry Christmas</span></strong>. We'll be back in the new year with even more events, tours and blogs!</span><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-83051991956109094472009-12-04T16:16:00.008+00:002009-12-04T16:34:30.264+00:00Cathy Forde: Virtual Writer In Residence<em>As you all know, Cathy Forde is currrently our Virtual Writer In Residence. Every month Cathy drops by the blog to tell us what she's been up to. Here's what she's got to say this month...</em><br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk3XZH2gmI/AAAAAAAAAqI/-77w1PICSyQ/s1600-h/OstrichBoys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411417302282699362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk3XZH2gmI/AAAAAAAAAqI/-77w1PICSyQ/s200/OstrichBoys.jpg" border="0" /></a>Last week I was on holiday, trying to absorb enough vitamin D from the Portuguese sun to see me through the next four months in Scotland. I loved having blue skies on tap for a few days although being away meant I missed the Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books. Well done to all the winners, especially <a href="http://www.keith-gray.com/">Keith Gray</a>, my predecessor as Virtual Writer in Residence for the brilliant <em>Ostrich Boys</em>.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk4i5OYkrI/AAAAAAAAAqY/3nmKGO64wf4/s1600-h/dragontatt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411418599390220978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 106px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk4i5OYkrI/AAAAAAAAAqY/3nmKGO64wf4/s200/dragontatt.jpg" border="0" /></a>Going on holiday anywhere for me is about catching up on reading, and I always try and choose something that I wouldn’t normally go for. So many people have recommended Steig Larsson’s crime novel <em>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo</em>, that I bought it, expecting the ultimate unputdownable ( is that a word?) novel. Was I disappointed? I struggled through it. On the other hand, I knew nothing much about Sarah Waters’ <em>The Little Stranger</em>, but found myself completely drawn in to its spooky clutches. It is beautifully written and very readable, with a huge crumbling house as the setting for the story. It was the perfect novel to read before I deliver my fourth writer in residence podcast on SETTING, and it made me think of all the other books I have read where location is a character in itself.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am off to Fife next week to give a creative writing talk with Scottish Book Trust and last month we went to spanking new Bishopbriggs Academy where I was asked some of the best questions ever from the audience. A great visit, and I am looking forward to going back there in March next year, especially now that I know where the new school is. Silly me drove to the old one and wondered why it looked so run down and forlorn.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk4NyZWr3I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/ZA09PtiUjgI/s1600-h/glasgowchristmas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411418236779933554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk4NyZWr3I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/ZA09PtiUjgI/s200/glasgowchristmas.jpg" border="0" /></a>By the way, this is my ‘Christmas blog’ although I haven’t had any time to think about all the shopping malarkey yet. It must be the Festive Season though because supermarket carparks are full, Glasgow city centre is heaving ( with people carry Primark bags), ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ is playing on a loop in M&S. Also, my sons have started snooping around for the Christmas presents I buy throughout the year, then hide away. When I came home from Portugal they were half way through Season One of <em>First Blood</em>. I had hidden it at the bottom of a box of other presents for them. Would you ever do that you your mum? Okay, so I did it too, but not when I was 20 like my elder son!!!<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk48xeGWUI/AAAAAAAAAqg/14iR5cs9bEU/s1600-h/raymondbriggsfatherchristmas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411419043985250626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk48xeGWUI/AAAAAAAAAqg/14iR5cs9bEU/s200/raymondbriggsfatherchristmas.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ff0000;">Happy Christmas.</span> </span></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Find out more about Cathy's residency on our <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence">Virtual Writer In Residence </a>pages.<br /><br /></div><div><strong>Other news:</strong><br /></div><div>Chris and Heather are about to head off on tour with author and illustrator David Roberts to Dumfries and Galloway and East Renfrewshire. </div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>C.J. Skuse's <em>Pretty Bad Things</em> is coming out in March 2010. Take a look at this exciting trailer...</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xsL9rgR50c4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xsL9rgR50c4&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /> </div><div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-22058823457252777792009-12-04T16:01:00.003+00:002009-12-04T16:09:06.042+00:00John Ward: Books - the greatest gift of all.<em>John Ward's novel The Comet's Child is December's Book of the Month. We asked him what it feel like to be published at Christmas and what he'll be reading over the holidays.</em> <div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxkzvAKR77I/AAAAAAAAAp4/_Y3EmJ2nMMI/s1600-h/comets_child.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411413309852348338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 127px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxkzvAKR77I/AAAAAAAAAp4/_Y3EmJ2nMMI/s200/comets_child.jpg" border="0" /></a>To have a book come out in time for Christmas is a special pleasure. Suddenly you are part of that most memorable library: books that were first received as Christmas presents.<br />Books: as presents go, they are rarely the most exciting, but so often give the greatest, most abiding pleasure, remembered and reread when flashier things are lost and forgotten. Their moment comes when the toys are played out and the excitement (up since the earliest hours, scarcely slept the night before) has subsided into fatigue: then it is time to curl up in a quiet corner among the cushions and discarded wrapping paper and the smell of tangerines and chocolate and read your book.<br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk0BPUuYzI/AAAAAAAAAqA/99U8v9fqrAI/s1600-h/box_of_delights-788299.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411413623160333106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sxk0BPUuYzI/AAAAAAAAAqA/99U8v9fqrAI/s200/box_of_delights-788299.jpg" border="0" /></a>What must it have been like to be a child at Christmas 1935 (a time much like our own, with the world in a parlous state: financial ruin, unemployment, war and the threat of war) and receive a copy of John Masefield’s <em>The Box of Delights</em>, complete with curious illustrations and a riddling rhyme at the head of each chapter? To be drawn into the world of Kay Harker, home for the Christmas holidays, diddled out of his money by sly strangers on the train, befriended by the old Punch- and-Judy man and his dog Barney, plunged into a world of adventure with flying taxis, magic, time-travel, international gangsters, interminable snowdrifts and at the heart of it all, the wonderful Box of Delights?<br /></div><br /><br /><div>I'll be reading it again this Christmas.</div><br /><div><em>Take part in our </em><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/books/book-of-the-month"><em>Book of the Month </em></a><em>competition and you could win a copy of The Comet's Child.</em> </div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-24044364534305052392009-11-30T15:12:00.005+00:002009-11-30T15:35:52.124+00:00K.M. Grant: Paradise Red Launch<em>On 14th October K.M. Grant launched her new novel Paradise Red here at Scottish Book Trust. It was a brilliant launch, all of the pupils who attended had a fantastic time, as did the SBT staff, but what is it like for an author? We asked K.M. Grant and she told us...</em> <div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxPifb108mI/AAAAAAAAApg/TtKamPV3cfg/s1600/paradise_red.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409916607079445090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxPifb108mI/AAAAAAAAApg/TtKamPV3cfg/s200/paradise_red.JPG" border="0" /></a>The launch of a book is strange day for an author: exciting and slightly unnerving. The excitement is sending the book off into the world to see how it fares. The unnerving bit is that because the publishing process is lengthy, it’s some time since you actually wrote it. On occasion, even the author forgets things and I’m always frightened there’ll be some detail that’s escaped me, because if there is, you can bet somebody will discover, and how silly does that make you look? </div><br /><div>But the end of a trilogy – <em>Paradise Red</em> is the final part of the <em>Perfect Fire Trilogy</em> – brings an added pang. I’ve been living with Yolada, Raimon and Brees for three years. Some days, they’ve been more real to me than absent members of my family. I don’t want to say goodbye to them. But if I don’t let go of them, how can I start my next venture? And a new heroine, Belle, awaits …</div><br /><br /><div><em>For more information on K.M.Grant take a look at her </em><a href="http://www.degranville.com/about_author.php"><em>website</em></a><em>.</em> </div><br /><br /><div><strong>Other news:</strong><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxPkf29nMrI/AAAAAAAAApw/M2xZp48X8SI/s1600/DavidRoberts.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409918813383111346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 123px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxPkf29nMrI/AAAAAAAAApw/M2xZp48X8SI/s200/DavidRoberts.jpg" border="0" /></a>We're busy getting ready for our tour to Dumfries and Galloway and East Renfrewshire next week with the wonderful illustrator David Roberts. You can read more about David and his work on his website. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Today is your final chance to submit your entry for <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/thebook">The Book That Changed My Life </a>so get writing if you haven't submitted already!</div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxPkEfr9AkI/AAAAAAAAApo/hRtpPofiGLI/s1600/The-Gruffalo-001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409918343278559810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SxPkEfr9AkI/AAAAAAAAApo/hRtpPofiGLI/s200/The-Gruffalo-001.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Gruffalo will be hitting our TV screens this Christmas in a half-hour animation. Robbie Coltrane will be in the starring role. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-3072371062416478622009-11-27T09:40:00.013+00:002009-11-27T10:32:10.254+00:00Debi Gliori: Newcastle Tour<em>In October Jasmine and Heather embarked upon Scottish Book Trust's very first tour to England. Joining them on this most exotic of adventures was author and illustrator Debi Gliori. Jasmine and Heather had a fantastic time, but what did Debi think of her week long tour to Newcastle?...</em><br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-lVJyEcCI/AAAAAAAAAo4/XvzjaSM4NC0/s1600/Debi+Gliori.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408723460317016098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-lVJyEcCI/AAAAAAAAAo4/XvzjaSM4NC0/s200/Debi+Gliori.JPG" border="0" /></a>We parachuted in as a triad: three women, a ton of books, and in my case, enough moisturizer to rehydrate a pharoaoh. We came, we saw, we talked, we drew, we signed books , in and out of the SBT people carrier, past the security sign-in at all of the schools, across playground war-zones and into tiny classrooms.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-l92jpCaI/AAAAAAAAApA/1iEuYJgM89g/s1600/IMG_5061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408724159530863010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-l92jpCaI/AAAAAAAAApA/1iEuYJgM89g/s200/IMG_5061.JPG" border="0" /></a>Reading picture books is sheer delight when you're reading with and to a very small group of children. It's a rare privilege to be allowed into the imaginations of the very young and I count myself blessed to be able to do what I do for a living ; making picture books for our smallest citizens. It takes me, on average, about six months to conceive, develop, rough out, write and paint a picture book. However, with the best will in the world, it rarely takes more than ten minutes max to read a picture book. The picture book word-count is short, the children's attention spans, since the advent of PS2's and Wii's, even shorter. These facts notwithstanding, some years ago, a close relative of the Marquis de Sade decreed that it would be a Jolly Good Idea for writers to read one picture book for an hour to a group of anything up to two hundred children of various ages and abilities. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-mY06DKrI/AAAAAAAAApI/OudbYY4VMV8/s1600/DSC_0956.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408724622944447154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-mY06DKrI/AAAAAAAAApI/OudbYY4VMV8/s200/DSC_0956.JPG" border="0" /></a>This, compadres, takes cojones of steel. Hence the need for Zen-like detachment prior to these sessions. To offer up your very best work, your newest and best baby, to a group of children who've never met you before, you have to dig deep. It's not simply a question of reading the story and pointing out salient details in the pictures ; you have to be able to capture and hold the attention of a group of small strangers, to dodge and weave around the bletherers in the front row, to make sure that the children at the back can actually understand anything you're saying, to ignore the clamour of dinner ladies banging pots and pans in the background, to talk and draw and field questions all at the same time like some multi-armed Buddhist deity, to stretch a short story out, waaaaaay out beyond the bounds of credibility, to ignore the hisses from teachers trying to control their classes, and to smile, while inside you're measuring out the hours between you and that first cup of mint tea...<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-mkYvX0BI/AAAAAAAAApQ/-W4DGw7CpB8/s1600/DSC_0893.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408724821541900306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-mkYvX0BI/AAAAAAAAApQ/-W4DGw7CpB8/s200/DSC_0893.JPG" border="0" /></a>Normally, I do these sessions on my lonesome; that is, after I've spoken with assorted groups of children, I return to my hotel/b&b/train unaccompanied, eat a solitary dinner, make mint tea in my room and fall into bed. This time, on tour with Jasmine and Heather, we had drinks, conversation, debriefings, gallons of mint tea and above all, we gave each other support. It didn't feel like a solitary mission into uncharted territory; it felt like teamwork. So many, many thankyous to SBT for inviting me to tour with them, to <a href="http://www.scottishfriendly.co.uk/">Scottish Friendly </a>for continuing to support our endeavours and thankyou to <a href="http://www.sevenstories.org.uk/home/index.php">Seven Stories</a> for hosting a lovely family event and for organizing schools, books and directing us to the best Japanese restaurant in the Western world.</div><br /><div><strong>Other News:</strong><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-odk-gydI/AAAAAAAAApY/3C9ky8TBfzA/s1600/Whitewyrme.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408726903590799826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw-odk-gydI/AAAAAAAAApY/3C9ky8TBfzA/s200/Whitewyrme.jpg" border="0" /></a>We are really excited that Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell have a new book coming out next May called <em>Wyrmeweald</em>! It’s a Wild West adventure with dragon-like beasts featuring heavily – partly inspired by our Scottish Friendly Children Book Tour to the Highlands last September! Watch the tour video here: <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/paul-stewart-and-chris-riddell-tour-september-2009">http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/paul-stewart-and-chris-riddell-tour-september-2009</a>. And watch out for the book next year!</div></div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-12192425581489311972009-11-25T14:22:00.017+00:002009-11-25T15:26:26.513+00:00The Royal Mail Awards Ceremony 2009Yesterday was the award ceremony for The Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children's Books 2009. Over 600 pupils from all over Scotland joined us at Queen's Hall in Edinburgh to see the shortlisted authors and hear the announcement of the winning books. The awards have been the biggest and best yet with almost 30,000 children taking part and over 15,000 of them voting for their favourite book.<br /><br /><br /><strong>This was the shortlist:</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">0-7 Category</span></strong><br /><br /><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1EWUdxS6I/AAAAAAAAAnw/AD47H2DL8Ec/s1600/Manfred_Bad_PB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408053877783219106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 72px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 82px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1EWUdxS6I/AAAAAAAAAnw/AD47H2DL8Ec/s200/Manfred_Bad_PB.jpg" border="0" /></a>Manfred the Baddie</em> by John Fardell<br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1Ek0QHY2I/AAAAAAAAAn4/BOB5EW91kOE/s1600/Pink.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408054126834049890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 80px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1Ek0QHY2I/AAAAAAAAAn4/BOB5EW91kOE/s200/Pink.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pink!</em> by Lynne Rickards and Margaret Chamberlain<br /><br /><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1E4YTV3AI/AAAAAAAAAoA/XaxsJk3xwHU/s1600/Stick+Man.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408054462928772098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 69px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 97px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1E4YTV3AI/AAAAAAAAAoA/XaxsJk3xwHU/s200/Stick+Man.jpg" border="0" /></a>Stick Man</em> by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">8-11 Category</span></strong><br /><br /><em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1FJjuGcBI/AAAAAAAAAoI/cX136wi8w_I/s1600/The+Eleventh+Orphan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408054758051573778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 77px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 117px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1FJjuGcBI/AAAAAAAAAoI/cX136wi8w_I/s200/The+Eleventh+Orphan.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Eleventh Orphan</em> by Joan Lingard<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1H748tcvI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/np_ZjC0itwg/s1600/DonFairies-RP.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408057821766710002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 74px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1H748tcvI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/np_ZjC0itwg/s200/DonFairies-RP.jpg" border="0" /></a>First Aid For Faeries and Other Fabled Beasts</em> by Lari Don<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1INnaznYI/AAAAAAAAAoY/LipWPlWijYw/s1600/Dino+Egg+300dpi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408058126298750338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 114px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1INnaznYI/AAAAAAAAAoY/LipWPlWijYw/s200/Dino+Egg+300dpi.jpg" border="0" /></a>Dino Egg</em> by Charlie James<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffcc33;">12-16 Category</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1I0TA7L5I/AAAAAAAAAog/PPFedopyO-w/s1600/TheReckoningPB300dpi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408058790836383634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1I0TA7L5I/AAAAAAAAAog/PPFedopyO-w/s200/TheReckoningPB300dpi.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Reckoning</em> by James Jauncey<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1JMr_A9rI/AAAAAAAAAoo/_rcoEwrPaws/s1600/Crash_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408059209856120498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 75px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 126px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1JMr_A9rI/AAAAAAAAAoo/_rcoEwrPaws/s200/Crash_med.jpg" border="0" /></a>Crash</em> by J.A. Henderson<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1JeYsrpAI/AAAAAAAAAow/sPIhnC2JMLg/s1600/OstrichBoys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408059513916597250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 109px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1JeYsrpAI/AAAAAAAAAow/sPIhnC2JMLg/s200/OstrichBoys.jpg" border="0" /></a>Ostrich Boys</em> by Keith Gray<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>AND THE WINNERS ARE.......</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>0-7</strong></span><br /><br /><em>Manfred the Baddie</em> by John Fardell<br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>8-11</strong></span><br /><em>First Aid For Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts</em> by Lari Don<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;"><strong>12-16</strong></span><br /><em>Ostrich Boys</em> by Keith Gray<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1B3oZvf_I/AAAAAAAAAno/qB9b7P-_6Og/s1600/2009+Royal+Mail+Awards+Winners+Keith+Gray,+Lari+Don+and+John+Fardell.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408051151535833074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 138px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sw1B3oZvf_I/AAAAAAAAAno/qB9b7P-_6Og/s200/2009+Royal+Mail+Awards+Winners+Keith+Gray,+Lari+Don+and+John+Fardell.jpg" border="0" /></a>Congratulations John, Lari and Keith!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We all had a fantastic time at the ceremony. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such a success and especially to Cathy MacPhail for being such a wonderful host!<br /><br />You can read more about the ceremony and the awards in <a href="http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Revealed-The-best-children39s-books.5854114.jp">The Scotsman</a>, <a href="http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1497147">the Press and Journal </a>and <a href="http://www.bigissuescotland.com/news/view/206">The Big Issue Scotland</a>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-2873349110701353312009-11-23T14:50:00.003+00:002009-11-23T15:03:52.626+00:00Malcolm Walker: The Stone Crown<em>Australian author Malcolm Walker tell us about his novel The Stone Crown which is set in Scotland and was released earlier this month...</em><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwqhxdwrfoI/AAAAAAAAAnY/rLYGLbTNvwc/s1600/malcolm+walker+stone+crown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407312173786168962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwqhxdwrfoI/AAAAAAAAAnY/rLYGLbTNvwc/s200/malcolm+walker+stone+crown.jpg" border="0" /></a>My name’s <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Authors_and_Illustrators/Malcolm-Walker">Malcolm Walker </a>and I’m an Australian author. The UK edition of my novel, <em>The Stone Crown</em>, which is set in the Scottish Borders, came out November 2. What’s an Aussie writer doing depicting Scotland? Well, that’s a long story, one which starts with King Arthur, who wasn’t really a king but a Dark Ages warlord and who probably hung out just down the road from you near Kelso…<br /><br />The two main characters Emlyn and Maxine, townies from London and Newcastle, find themselves stuck in the small town of Yeaveburgh. Boredom and an unsettling mystery involving his father leads Emlyn to poke his nose into some local secret business and when the two teenagers unwittingly steal a small wooden horseman from Sleeper’s Spinney they suddenly find themselves stalked by an ancient terror. Neither Emlyn nor Maxine were to know that the spinney was magically protected or that their unwitting theft would unleash the Dark Ages Arthur and his men, who’ve been kept in check by the McCrossan family, an ancient line of ‘keepers’ charged with containing the power that is trapped behind the spinney’s dry-stone wall. Caught between the ‘keepers’ and a curse that has dogged both of their lives, Emlyn and Max find themselves plunged into a parallel world of myth, magic and the supernatural, where not all is what it seems and where help comes from the most unlikely quarter.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwqkOTGhDDI/AAAAAAAAAng/aGVpoVF8Co4/s1600/malcolm+walker.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407314868164430898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwqkOTGhDDI/AAAAAAAAAng/aGVpoVF8Co4/s200/malcolm+walker.jpg" border="0" /></a>The book has sold well in Australia, with one Australian reviewer saying, “Forget Camelot and chivalry ... this is an intriguing fantasy told with poetic intensity, and an innovative approach to the Arthur we all think we know.”<br /><br />More information about Malcolm, together with excerpts from <em>The Stone Crown</em>, can be found on his <a href="http://www.malcolmwalker.com.au/">website</a>. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Other news:</strong> </div><br /><div>Tomorrow is the Royal Mail Awards ceremony at Queen's Hall Edinburgh. Keep your eye on the website to find out the winners! Details of the shortlist can be found on our <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/the-royal-mail-awards-for-scottish-childrens-books-0">website</a>. </div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-58049554927694883372009-11-19T15:13:00.012+00:002009-11-19T15:46:14.821+00:00Chris Newton: Looking Back on the Highland Tour<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405835628773615234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwVi3O8zpoI/AAAAAAAAAnA/Y0Cl_j9LQEY/s200/Dunnet+Head+34.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />A mere 7 weeks ago (it seems like a lifetime now) we embarked on our longest tour, taking the duo who created the Edge Chronicles, <a href="http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/">Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell</a>, on a two-week tour of the Highlands.<br /><br />Jasmine and I headed north on the Sunday and met the talented Mr Riddell at the airport in Inverness, Paul was at this point in a field near Dorset. The tour had begun.<br /><br />We stayed in Inverness, in a hotel over looking the River Ness where we all went for walks or the occasional jog. Over the next few days we did exciting and entertaining sessions in Nairn (fastest place in the north), Boat of Garten, Dingwall (Dingers), Fortrose and a huge one at Eden<br /><div><div><br /><br /><div>Court Theatre (Inverness), where we were joined by more members of Scottish Book Trust and the boys' publicist, Georgia Lawe, came up from London too.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwViXMTXEQI/AAAAAAAAAmw/7X06RFzxCSU/s1600/Paul+and+Chris+edge+web.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405835078307090690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwViXMTXEQI/AAAAAAAAAmw/7X06RFzxCSU/s200/Paul+and+Chris+edge+web.JPG" border="0" /></a>Setting off from there we headed down Loch Ness and the Great Glen until we hit Ben Nevis and Fort William. I like Fort William it has a great atmosphere, perhaps that comes from the satisfaction of those who have just climbed Britain’s largest mountain or maybe those who have completed the West highland Way or maybe it is the anticipation of those two things. Or just maybe, its because they too have eaten at the beautiful seafood restaurant, Crannog. Mmmmm.<br />After our session in Fort William, we drove off and got on the Corran Ferry and glided over to the Ardnamurchan Penisula – where we greeted by more enthusiastic children and stunning scenery.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwVjSnQkcxI/AAAAAAAAAnI/YyxeU1uriaE/s1600/Skye+5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405836099155424018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwVjSnQkcxI/AAAAAAAAAnI/YyxeU1uriaE/s200/Skye+5.JPG" border="0" /></a>Time for another big drive but when the chat is flowing and the scenery is as stunning as it was 4hours seemed nothing at all. One of the best things about being on tour is getting to spend time with hugely talented writers and illustrators, you get to know them quite well as you are with them all day and you also get to hear some ace stories. Particularly when you are with Chris (a shameless name-dropper) and Paul (who knows a lot about German grammar and rock music).<br /></div><br /><div>Another great thing about touring is that you get to see Scotland, I had never been to Skye before so it was good to see it, if only for a couple of days and I would definitely go back. In fact, I am very very lucky touring has taken me loads of cool places; Skye, Orkney, Shetland, Kilmarnock, Outer Hebrides, the Moray Firth and Oban (spot the odd-one out!)<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwVie6A_9DI/AAAAAAAAAm4/Aq8oa1Wwda4/s1600/Dingwall+web+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405835210837193778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwVie6A_9DI/AAAAAAAAAm4/Aq8oa1Wwda4/s200/Dingwall+web+1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Jasmine, Paul and Chris spent the weekend on Skye doing the exploring that I would liked to have done while I returned to Macduff (where I am from) for a friend’s wedding and then I met up with them in Ullapool. Ullapool had just staged their Loopalu Festival so the town had somewhat of a collective hangover so I fitted in perfectly! While I nursed my hangover and rued the fact that I couldn’t watch Match of the Day 2 Chris drew wonderful caricatures of Jasmine and I which he signed. They are now framed and hanging in our houses – very proud.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>As we headed up to Scourie, where we did our smallest session of just 15 pupils the rain came for the first time and we showed Paul and Chris the other side of Scotland’s weather! At least the rain brings out the colours of the heather and the rocks so at least all was not lost and we did have lunch in the van over looking a wee castle.<br /></div><br /><div>After Scourie we headed east to Golspie where we met even more great children and some enthusiastic teenagers as well as being able to have a walk on the beach. You would have thought that after almost two weeks on the road Paul and Chris would be flagging but there were still in great form and were as chatty and friendly as one could hope.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwViJ4s3fOI/AAAAAAAAAmo/WSEzOKGkNg0/s1600/Dunnet-Head-28-web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405834849707064546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwViJ4s3fOI/AAAAAAAAAmo/WSEzOKGkNg0/s200/Dunnet-Head-28-web.jpg" border="0" /></a>Back on the road and this time we are heading north, until there is no more north – Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain. Our last events were in Wick and once again the children were ace and they left entertained and enthused about books.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>To finish the tour we had a celebratory drink in a bar that was straight out of 1974 and then ate in a restaurant on the World’s Shortest Street (Ebeneezer Street, Wick, 6ft 9), only in Wick!!!<br />We waved the boys off at the airport in Wick with the resignation that the end of such a good tour brings and also the realisation that we would be back at the desk in a few days. This adventure was almost over. Back to Edinburgh in a 7 hours, well 5 and bit as Marion was driving.<br /></div><br /><div>It has been great fun creating this tour video and I really hope that you enjoy it, it hope fully brings it alive and it serves as a fantastic reminder for us. Do look out for some of the things that I mentioned in the blog. Actually, it has been fun writing this blog as the memories have come flooding back and there has been so much that I have left out.<br /><br /></div><div>So yes, I do have the best job in the world.</div><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/akiff6kloGA&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/akiff6kloGA&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Find out more about Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell on their website: <a href="http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/">http://www.stewartandriddell.co.uk/</a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Other News:</strong><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwVluWE4d7I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/skckYccpolo/s1600/keith_reading.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405838774602594226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SwVluWE4d7I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/skckYccpolo/s200/keith_reading.jpg" border="0" /></a>Random House Children's Books held a Teenage Kicks event with Keith Gray on 12th November. It was a huge success. Here's what a few attendees had to say:</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><em>‘Many thanks, the girls loved it. The authors were fab & it brings an added dimension to reading their books now.’</em> Karen Hans, Librarian, St Martin-in-the-Fields High School</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><em>‘It was a really great evening, the young people loved it and were on such a high on the train on the way home! The evening, and their involvement in the preparations leading up to it, gave them some great opportunities for enjoyment, creativity, and both social and personal development .'</em> Kim Tucker - Children's Services LibrarianCrawley Library</div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-14212362687157342812009-11-13T09:58:00.011+00:002009-11-13T10:33:57.764+00:00Graham Marks: Happy Birthday Asterix!<em>Jasmine Fassl, our children’s events manager, and Graham Marks, children’s and young adult author, tell us all about their love, and experience with Asterix the Gaul on the occasion of his 50th birthday!</em><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv0zUF5JZ6I/AAAAAAAAAmA/gIogiNRHk1o/s1600-h/asterix.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403531548186732450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv0zUF5JZ6I/AAAAAAAAAmA/gIogiNRHk1o/s200/asterix.JPG" border="0" /></a>Jasmine:</strong><br />I have always been an <a href="http://www.asterix.com/">Asterix</a> fan. My dad is a huge comic book geek, though the only ones we were allowed to read when we were little, were Lucky Luke and Asterix. Every Saturday morning, for about an hour or two after waking up my siblings and I would lie in bed, reading comic books. I had favourites at certain times, stories I’d read over and over again, before letting my siblings ‘borrow’ that particular book. I grew up in Vienna, so read the stories in German, but by now I have gotten used to reading the new books in English. At first it was odd – some characters have different names, with the exception of Asterix and Obelix of course, and I didn’t really like it. I am ok with it now, though it took me a while. For me it adds something to the experience – and I am rather (geekily) proud that know the little differences…I am very jealous of <a href="http://www.marksworks.co.uk/">Graham Marks </a>who went to Paris for the 50th birthday of Asterix, here is what he says:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Crayonné original de la couverture d’Astérix et Latraviata (détail) Albert Uderzo<br />2001<br />40 x 50 cm<br />Collection particulière © 2009 Les Éditions Albert René / Goscinny-Uderzo</span> </span><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>G<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv0zxJD791I/AAAAAAAAAmI/p49zT__qKXE/s1600-h/graham_marks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403532047253501778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv0zxJD791I/AAAAAAAAAmI/p49zT__qKXE/s200/graham_marks.jpg" border="0" /></a>raham Marks:<br /></strong>As day trips go, this was pretty special: destination Paris, for the 50th birthday of Asterix the Gaul! The venue, the <a href="http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/">Musée de Cluny</a>, near the Sorbonne, was completely appropriate and itself worth the trip, being a walled, gothic-fronted building attached to the remains of an actual Gallo-Roman thermal baths!<br />From the moment we walked in to the bath’s frigidarium (cold room), its vaulted roof some thirty feet above us, it was one marvel after another: here were the original notes Goscinny had made when the idea for the series was coming to life, right next to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Uderzo">Uderzo’s</a> preliminary sketches (Asterix started out much taller, Obelix a lot thinner); on a plinth inside a glass case, there’s Goscinny’s manual typewriter, on which he wrote the script you can see alongside the stunning black and white artwork Uderzo then produced from it, his delicate brushwork and his fine, detailed penmanship bursting with life. Long live Asterix, and many happy returns!<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv00zSl74bI/AAAAAAAAAmg/Xm-NMQlsgRg/s1600-h/asterix+golden+book.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403533183683387826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 152px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv00zSl74bI/AAAAAAAAAmg/Xm-NMQlsgRg/s200/asterix+golden+book.jpg" border="0" /></a>Jasmine:</strong><br />The new Asterix book – <em>The Golden Book</em> – isn’t a traditional Asterix story. It’s more like a short story collection, with a scrap book feel. It’s a book for fans with lots of tributes and references to older Asterix adventure as well as classic works of art like the Mona Lisa and artists like Leonardo da Vinci, though my favourite is Asterix as a Marsupilami (after a comic by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Franquin">Andre Franquin</a>) – it’s inspired! It was a huge joy to read and the artwork is exquisite.<br />Unfortunately I don’t own the complete collection, but I still lie in bed sometimes on a Saturday morning reading Asterix comic books…<br /><br /></div><em></em><div><em>Want to find out more? Here’s the official Asterix website: </em><a href="http://www.asterix.com/"><em>http://www.asterix.com/</em></a><em>.</em><br /><br /></div><div><div><div><strong>Other news:</strong></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv00DPYkSzI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/r7WZD3iMG2E/s1600-h/Simples-today.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403532358188288818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv00DPYkSzI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/r7WZD3iMG2E/s200/Simples-today.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Today is the voting deadline for the </span><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/the-royal-mail-awards-for-scottish-childrens-books-0"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Royal Mail Awards 2009</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">If you're registered to vote </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">make sure you do so by 5.30pm today!</span><br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/">Anthony Horowitz </a>was in Edinburgh last night as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, to promote his latest novel Crocodile Tears. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.gruffalo.com/">The Gruffalo </a>has been voted the Nation's Favourite Bedtime Story by listeners of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wr3p">Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2</a>.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv00Vc0FZaI/AAAAAAAAAmY/mey0y5GJbj4/s1600-h/roald.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403532671031010722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sv00Vc0FZaI/AAAAAAAAAmY/mey0y5GJbj4/s200/roald.jpg" border="0" /></a>The winners of the <a href="http://www.booktrust.org.uk/Prizes-and-awards/Roald-Dahl-Funny-Prize">Roald Dahl Funny Prize </a>are <em>Mr Pusskins Best in Show</em> by Sam Lloyd and <em>Grubtown Tales: Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky</em> by Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Jim Paillot. </div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-23252634418563219312009-11-09T10:14:00.008+00:002009-11-09T11:31:25.957+00:00Katie: Young People's Mentoring Scheme<em>As part of his residency which ended in September, Keith Gray mentored four very talented teenage writers - Mathias, Manakan, Charlotte and Katie. They each worked with Keith, one-to-one and in groups, on their novels. The scheme ended with a trip to Scholastic Children's Publishing in London where the group got to learn more about the publishing process. Keith and the Scottish Book Trust staff had a wonderful time being involved in the scheme. We asked Katie to blog about how she found it from the mentee perspective...</em><br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Svf1pf_FSgI/AAAAAAAAAlo/vRs2dvds0Oo/s1600-h/Keith+and+mentees.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402056371363727874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 113px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Svf1pf_FSgI/AAAAAAAAAlo/vRs2dvds0Oo/s200/Keith+and+mentees.png" border="0" /></a>For the past six months I have been fortunate enough to be involved in Scottish Book Trust’s first ever Young people’s Mentoring Scheme. It’s an opportunity that many adults would envy and it certainly taught me a lot about writing and what it will be like when I (hopefully!) have my work published.<br /></div><br /><div>It all started in March 2008 when I met my fellow mentees Mathias, Charlotte and Manakan for the first time and we were all introduced to <a href="http://www.keith-gray.com/">Keith</a>. I will admit that it was a bit daunting at first! Here stood a man who’d already achieved everything I dreamed of and I was about to spend the next few months giving him my work to read! Luckily, we all got along straight away and my fears vanished when Keith opened by talking about how much he hated Maths. I knew that if all else failed we had that in common.<br /></div><div>We had our first proper group meeting on Thursday 4th June. We were all very ambitious in our plans for the scheme and immediately set about writing our first novels. It was my first experience of writing anything longer than a short story but I felt comfortable sharing my ideas with the group and Keith.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Svf60SB9vwI/AAAAAAAAAlw/7SQNXyKle2w/s1600-h/lucy_juckes_q%26a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402062054154419970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Svf60SB9vwI/AAAAAAAAAlw/7SQNXyKle2w/s200/lucy_juckes_q%26a.jpg" border="0" /></a>At our second group meeting we had the privilege of talking to Lucy Juckes, an agent from <a href="http://www.jennybrownassociates.com/">Jenny Brown Associates</a>. It was my first real glimpse into the business side of writing and to say it was surprising would be an understatement. Our visions of publishing our first book and suddenly being a millionaire with a mansion and a sports car suddenly didn’t seem as likely! As Lucy talked more and more about facts and figures it was difficult to hide our shock and we must have made her feel rather guilty as she finished with,<br />“I really hope I haven’t put you off!”<br /><br />Luckily, she hadn’t and we all continued writing. By this point, we were all back at school and perhaps the biggest challenge for me was juggling all of this with my regular life as a fifteen year old school student. Teachers weren’t quite as excited about my writing as I was and for some reason “I didn’t do the homework because I had the most genius idea for my book” didn’t count as a good reason. I really don’t understand why!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Svf7LuvsqAI/AAAAAAAAAl4/rL9m4LoYalo/s1600-h/London.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402062456999421954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Svf7LuvsqAI/AAAAAAAAAl4/rL9m4LoYalo/s200/London.bmp" border="0" /></a>The highlight of this whole experience for me was definitely our trip to London a fortnight ago and not just because it meant two whole days off school! We had the chance to not only see inside <a href="http://www.scholastic.co.uk/">Scholastic</a> but we also got to talk to people from all different jobs within the publishing business. It was interesting to talk to them about what they think make makes a good book and to get their advice about what to do when we complete our work.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>I have had a brilliant time with the mentoring scheme and although at times it was hard work, it was absolutely worth it! I do plan to finish my novel and have promised Keith that I will write for at least an hour a day (I doubt this will work but we don’t need to tell him that!). One day when I am bestselling author who does have a mansion and a sports car I know I will look back and remember it was all started by this and everyone who was involved. I wish the next lot of mentees luck; they are most definitely going to need it!</div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(pictured left to right: Charlotte, Katie, Keith Gray, Manakan, Mathias)</em></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">You can read work from Katie and the other mentees in </span><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/creative-writing/young-peoples-mentoring-scheme"><span style="font-size:100%;">their very own section of the Scottish Book Trust website</span></a><span style="font-size:100%;">.</span> </span><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Other News:</strong></span><br /></p><p>The Book Depository has launched 'My Bookmark' - a competition for customers to design ten bookmarks which will be despatched with orders from its site. You can find out more on <a href="http://www.thebookseller.com/news/102005-tbd-launches-bookmark-competition.html">Bookseller.com</a> </p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-17619880775343121592009-11-02T16:18:00.008+00:002009-11-02T16:39:01.897+00:00Catherine Forde: Virtual Writer In Residence<em>Catherine Forde, our Virtual Writer In Residence, takes over the blog for her monthly update. Read on to find out what she's been up to lately...</em><br /><div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Su8IAwhN13I/AAAAAAAAAlI/oUBI1xyM-3o/s1600-h/Catherine-Forde-main.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399543287357757298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Su8IAwhN13I/AAAAAAAAAlI/oUBI1xyM-3o/s200/Catherine-Forde-main.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is the high life indeed! On Tuesday I was chauffeur-driven by Jasmine and Chris of Scottish Book Trust from Edinburgh to Monifieth in Angus. I was visiting Monifieth High School to give my first ‘live’ talk in my role as Virtual Writer in Residence. It was not a promising start; the journey there had to be one of the wettest on record, and I was very glad I wasn’t behind the wheel on the motorway. But thanks to Jasmine’s unruffled driving we arrived a bit drookit, but in good time and to a lovely warm welcome from the pupils and English staff at the school. Thank you all, if any of you read this!<br /><br />I gave a talk to the whole of First Year about where I find ideas for stories. There were so many hands up to ask questions that we ran out of time, which is always a good sign. Before Chris ‘chauffeured’ me back to Edinburgh, I talked to a group English teachers from Angus about some of the approaches I might use now if I was trying to encourage pupils to write creatively. It was actually quite scary talking to the teachers. The last thing I want them to feel was that that I was telling them what to do. They’ve enough on their plates with a curriculum to follow.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Su8Im4sGufI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/1t4ANcCQO6w/s1600-h/play+pie+pink.jpg"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Su8I5Y-XvrI/AAAAAAAAAlY/y2Dfa469X8o/s1600-h/exposure.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399544260290133682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Su8I5Y-XvrI/AAAAAAAAAlY/y2Dfa469X8o/s200/exposure.jpg" border="0" /></a>Over the last year I’ve been writing a play for the National Theatre of Scotland, (which I’ll talk more about in future blogs.) As I’ve never written any drama before, and wasn’t up to scratch on contemporary work, mostly anything I’ve read recently has been a playscript. (I’ve also been going to see lots of plays and loving it. I have a season ticket for the weekly plays that run in a series called PLAY, PIE AND PINT in Glasgow’s Oran Mor, although I only go for the PLAY – honest) Because I’ve been so steeped in drama it’s been ages since I’ve read contemporary Young Adult fiction. However, my Virtual Writer in Residence appointment has given me the perfect excuse to check out what’s been written recently, and I have just finished two incredible novels that I can’t stop thinking about: EXPOSURE by Mal Peet, and BOG CHILD by Sioban Dowd. They had everything I want in a novel: believable characters I cared about, and page-turning pace. Highly recommended.</div></div><div> </div><div><div><em>You can find other recommended reads in our </em><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/books/hit-lists"><em>Teen Hit Lists</em></a><em>. If you have any suggestions for new Hit List categories email </em><a href="mailto:teen@scottishbooktrust.com"><em>teen@scottishbooktrust.com</em></a><em>.</em><br /><br /></div><div><em>You can find details of Catherine's second creative writing task in the <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence">Virtual Writer In Residence </a>section of the website.</em><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Other news:</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>There are new reviews in our <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/books/reviews-and-recommendations">Your Reviews </a>section of the website. If you'd like to have your book review featured online please take a look at the website for further details. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Su8KbpV6nzI/AAAAAAAAAlg/FT4QlSD0LYs/s1600-h/blue_peter_new_logo_000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399545948311035698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Su8KbpV6nzI/AAAAAAAAAlg/FT4QlSD0LYs/s200/blue_peter_new_logo_000.jpg" border="0" /></a>Nine titles have been shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award 2010. Three titles have been shortlisted in each category; Best Book With Facts, Book I Couldn’t Put Down and Most Fun Story with Pictures. For more information check out the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bluepeter/">Blue Peter </a>website. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-42090155895622457642009-10-27T09:25:00.011+00:002009-10-27T10:56:30.788+00:00Barbara Mitchelhill: Dangerous Diamonds<em>We were really pleased to recently host the launch of Barbara Mitchelhill’s new book Dangerous Diamonds with the help of Murrayburn primary school. Here is what she has to say:</em><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubGL_Hr5kI/AAAAAAAAAkg/wxZYygcZngY/s1600-h/barbmitch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397219112674649666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubGL_Hr5kI/AAAAAAAAAkg/wxZYygcZngY/s200/barbmitch.jpg" border="0" /></a>Arriving in Edinburgh for the Scottish Book Trust’s launch of <em>Dangerous Diamonds</em> was exciting but quite bizarre. Here I was in the city where, over a year ago, I had dreamed up the whole story. The setting for <em>Dangerous Diamonds</em> is Edinburgh and I when I arrived at Waverley Station, I jumped into a taxi and went across town to visit friends whose flat in the Grassmarket is where the story starts and where Charlotte and Harry live. On the way, I passed the Assembly Rooms in George Street where their dad goes missing and I caught a glimpse of the grand house where the villain, Edina Ross, lives. All these were real places that but the characters were all out of my imagination.<br />That is the good thing about being a writer, you can put whoever you want into any situation.<br />The two days I spent in Edinburgh were great fun and all the children I talked to had wonderful questions. Most of all, I shall remember the Quiz Game we played and how they cleaned me out of every chocolate in the box!<br /><em><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubH4i8rMXI/AAAAAAAAAlA/8G8Gn139EZI/s1600-h/Dangerous+Diamonds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397220977718014322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubH4i8rMXI/AAAAAAAAAlA/8G8Gn139EZI/s200/Dangerous+Diamonds.jpg" border="0" /></a>Dangerous Diamonds is published by Andersen Press and available in all good book shops. Visit Barbara’s website: </em><a href="http://www.barbaramitchelhill.com/"><em>http://www.barbaramitchelhill.com/</em></a><em> for more information about her and her work.</em> <div><div><div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Other news:</strong></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubGzzBBFAI/AAAAAAAAAko/6SqFCi1tlFc/s1600-h/melvin_burgess_newsletter.jpg"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubHvHQeXHI/AAAAAAAAAk4/0aCiL1xZq7E/s1600-h/melvin_burgess.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397220815666044018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubHvHQeXHI/AAAAAAAAAk4/0aCiL1xZq7E/s200/melvin_burgess.jpg" border="0" /></a>Melvin Burgess has started to write Twitterfiction. Check out his literary Twitter offerings <a href="mailto:at@MelvinBurgess">at@MelvinBurgess</a> </div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Chris's Highland Tour video diary is very nearly finished. Keep checking the blog and the website!</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubG-hu6HZI/AAAAAAAAAkw/pzjrtwJS-84/s1600-h/Catherine-Forde-main.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397219980959423890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SubG-hu6HZI/AAAAAAAAAkw/pzjrtwJS-84/s200/Catherine-Forde-main.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you're a budding author, or simply keen to get creative and have a little fun, check out Virtual Writer in Residence Cathy Forde's creative writing tasks. They can be found in the <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence">Virtual Writer in Residence</a> section of the website. </div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-47680993413861369792009-10-21T14:40:00.008+01:002009-10-21T15:53:16.316+01:00Johnny O'Brien: Day of the Assassins<em>Johnny O'Brien is the author of Day of the Assassins, a fast-paced time travel adventure set just before the outbreak of the First World War. Johnny grew up in Scotland and has recently returned on a tour to promote his book. He tells us a bit about his tour and Day of the Assassins. </em><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8S-0bI_dI/AAAAAAAAAkA/ud0zl1FraNU/s1600-h/day+of+the+assassins.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395051749046812114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8S-0bI_dI/AAAAAAAAAkA/ud0zl1FraNU/s200/day+of+the+assassins.jpg" border="0" /></a>I grew up in Scotland and it’s a long time since I was here – it’s really great to be back. So far we have visited Linlithgow Bridge Primary, Forrester High School and Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh and Burgh School in Galashiels and Kingsland Primary School in Peebles.<br /><br />I grew up in Peebles and went to Kingsland School so it was amazing to go back after more than thirty years. I’ve got to say that the pupils and teachers we have met have been brilliant - really welcoming and enthusiastic. Thanks to everyone! Along the way, we’ve had some great discussions about history, the First World War, the assassination in Sarajevo, ‘what if’ scenarios in history and loads more.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8gSEYfcII/AAAAAAAAAkY/iIdv84936gQ/s1600-h/jobrien+small.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395066373399343234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8gSEYfcII/AAAAAAAAAkY/iIdv84936gQ/s200/jobrien+small.JPG" border="0" /></a>We’ve also had some great questions – my favourites so far: ‘Johnny – how much money do you make?’, ‘ you don’t really think that writing is a proper job do you?’ and, ‘do you know anything about rabbits?’ There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for the book – I explain that ‘Day of the Assassins’ is a good old action adventure (partly motivated by my need to get my own kids off the Playstation) – but set in accurate historical context so that people who read it, might learn something about history in the process almost ‘by mistake’ .<br /><br />This seems to strike a chord – I read somewhere that history is ‘dying out’ in schools... and young people aren’t interested in it. Not so from what I’ve seen – we’ve sold so many books we’ve had to DHL another lot up from London.<br /><br /><em>You can find out more about Johnny O'Brien on his </em><a href="http://johnnyobrien.net/"><em>website</em></a><em>.</em><br /><br /><strong>Other News:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8TmLTMUHI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/Xgi0iqMYpgk/s1600-h/innocent.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395052425202389106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 118px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8TmLTMUHI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/Xgi0iqMYpgk/s200/innocent.jpg" border="0" /></a>Francesca Simon, author of the Horrid Henry books, has teamed up with Innocent Smoothies in a project which aims to get children everywhere involved in creating 26 stories, each inspired by Innocents new Fridge magnets. They hope to create the biggest game of online consequences ever! Take a look at the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.innocentkids.com/magnets">Innocent website</a> for more details.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8TKS7i9HI/AAAAAAAAAkI/nLsKLzQRzPA/s1600-h/eoin+colfer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395051946214356082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/St8TKS7i9HI/AAAAAAAAAkI/nLsKLzQRzPA/s200/eoin+colfer.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8310336.stm">Eoin Colfer </a>is writing a stage musical called Lords of Love, which he hopes to bring to the Edinburgh Fringe next year. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-46997269557009862282009-10-16T12:47:00.029+01:002009-10-16T15:28:00.314+01:00My Week At Book TrustThis week has been one of quite a few hidden revelations I’ve discovered about myself. Partly, it’s all job orientated, but most of it’s about what sort of person I really am. I always thought I’d be rubbish working in an office environment, that I was more suited to somewhere else. Where else? I don’t know, but just somewhere else—since my experiences of going into offices have always been that they’re tediously boring places where nothing ever happens and the works all dreary and boring. I’m pretty much convinced that although some parts of the work that everyone does here at Book Trust will be tedious and boring (because let’s face it, in all aspects of life boredom will rank pretty highly in one of your most frequent emotions) but quite a lot of it seems to be, dare I say it, fun. Even when I was stuck doing spreadsheets (which aren’t a picnic, let me tell you!) I didn’t really mind. Which strikes me as sort of odd considering I would find that pretty boring in any other environment. I think it might be because even whilst doing those spreadsheets I felt like I was contributing to a higher purpose. At school, you rarely are given tasks that fully contribute to a purpose. Sure, they’re generally all contributing to your grade, which in turn gets you jobs—but honestly, what sort of purpose is algebra or trigonometry going to attain past your schooling years? Unless you’re a sadistic masochist person who likes to inflict pain on themselves, of which, I am surely not. I think part of the reason I’ve enjoyed my time here so fervently is due in large part to the people, but also to the feeling that I’m being given responsibility and independence and being made to feel like some of the work I’m doing really matters, like mail, writing blogs and writing about <em>The Book That Changed My Life</em>, helping out with an event and picking competition winners. You see, all of that matters, in some small way to someone, it will matter, largely and probably mainly, just to me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Although I don’t really hate school (although sometimes the feeling of hatred is a very tempting emotion when mixed with the word school) I find it quite boring. I bet you’re thinking of course you do! Boredom is an emotion associated with teenagers. We are the army of the bored. All we are is bored. All we do is sit at home whinging about everything. I’m not going to try and pretend that’s not me. It quite frequently is, and school is often a cause of that moaning. During this week, I’ve managed to pinpoint the reason to why I struggle to like school as much as I loved this week. The reason is pretty simple. Here, I’m being given that allusive thing—independence, and its counterpart, responsibility. Here, although of course I’m being told what to do, I’m also being left to <em>get on with it</em>. At school, we are wrapped and wrapped in hoards of cotton wool, and after all that we’re STILL stopped every couple of minutes to check that we’re getting on OK. Sometimes I wish people would just leave me to get on with it—to make my own mistakes, to learn by myself, to find what I’m looking for with the one person I can fully trust. Me.<br /><br /><br /><br />At school it’s all about working as a collective amoeba, and whenever you sort of veer off the perfect little arrangement and make a mistake you’re absolutely SCREAMED at. Getting something wrong is not the end of the world. Maybe the teachers need some life lessons, because mistakes are part of being that carbon-based life-form called human. Mistakes are what you learn from, and are what shape who you really are. If you don't have lots of errors in life then you're not human. But, how can you make a mistake if you constantly have someone a) telling you exactly what to do and b) tearing you limb from limb whenever you make one? Frankly, the two things just don’t add up with what their saying. Adults, particularly teachers, always say that mistakes can be made, so why don’t they practise what they preach?<br /><br /><br /><br />I’ve just realised I’ve veered wildly off course. I was meant to be telling you about my time here, and about what I’ve learnt. But all of the above is what I’ve learnt. I’ve learnt about me. I’ve learnt that this sort of job is exactly what I want to do—when I’m not writing, which is my ultimate goal in life, to write and have someone like it—that I feel I thrive and seek enjoyment from the sort of environment I’ve been working in this week. That I find the one thing I so rarely find at school. I find some sort of passion and love. At school I go through my day like a bit of a zombie, always stumbling along, just getting on with what I’ve got to do, never really coming alive unless it’s English or History. Although on a whole I don’t find it mind-bogglingly hard (unless the class names are Chemistry or Maths) I just don’t find that magical, burning desire to really knuckle down and get on with it. I’ve found out that here, I want to get on with it, and I want to really try and do something that will be helpful. Even when I’m on the bus home and deliriously tired, I still want to be back there doing more. For reasons I cannot explain to you fully because they don’t make sense to me—I’ve loved it here. Absolutely, purely, decidedly, <em>loved</em> it. In fact, if they I could come back volunteering to do it next week, or in the near future, I’d say yes in a heartbeat. Probably because when I’m here I’m not bored, and when I’m sitting at home, or sometimes even when I’m out with my friends (only sometimes, I’m not that serious and devoid of a likeness for social life!) I usually am. Not only have I had a real, true work experience (of the non-tea making variety) but I’ve discussed my ambitions and received advice from the people that know best about that sort of thing. One thing I know with utter certainty and clear clarity—I’ve had a life-changing week, one that if I was given the opportunity, I’d relive again and again.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now it’s time to discuss my favourite books. I have so many favourite books it’s almost as if they don’t warrant the title favourite. I have many favourite books, but ranking pretty highly is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Purely because it’s gripping, romantic (if not quite tragic, what with the love being destructive and mad) and it's such a brilliant story, filled with wonderful, mad and generally unlikeable characters.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthfmBnSM0I/AAAAAAAAAi4/LmyVLh4RJRE/s1600-h/thumbnailCAWSALGZ.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165660649042754" style="WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthfmBnSM0I/AAAAAAAAAi4/LmyVLh4RJRE/s200/thumbnailCAWSALGZ.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthflgQk-2I/AAAAAAAAAiw/pXi8tzZFkpA/s1600-h/thumbnailCAVQMKHC.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165651695434594" style="WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthflgQk-2I/AAAAAAAAAiw/pXi8tzZFkpA/s200/thumbnailCAVQMKHC.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthfzAGwayI/AAAAAAAAAjI/zEEvN5pmI-4/s1600-h/thumbnailCAE7W0XV.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165883582475042" style="WIDTH: 98px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthfzAGwayI/AAAAAAAAAjI/zEEvN5pmI-4/s200/thumbnailCAE7W0XV.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I also really enjoy the work of George Orwell. Having analysed both Animal Farm and 1984 for school, I am certain this man was a genius, with such excellent morals and ideas. His books have been life-changing, and truly opened up my eyes to the world around me. I also really like a prominently boy-book Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Another one I read for school, that I can say, with full integrity, I’d never have touched with a burning hot poker. My Dad tried to make me read it. I read the back, started some chapters, got to the killing of the Simon—and being the sensitive, squeamish girl I am; I felt violently sick. I stopped reading and put it back on the bookcase, wishing to never see it again. The following year, low and behold, it pops up for a book I’ve got to read and analyse. Great. The sarcasm and half-hearted attempt to re-read it came next. That was until I read it with an open mind, delved into the complexities of all Golding is trying to convey, and found out that whilst this book is violent, sickening and quite painful to read, it’s a very important, intelligent book, one I found myself liking more and more.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sthfkgo51tI/AAAAAAAAAiY/0ynE4eoFSuo/s1600-h/thumbnailCAYQ9EBY.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165634617595602" style="WIDTH: 104px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sthfkgo51tI/AAAAAAAAAiY/0ynE4eoFSuo/s200/thumbnailCAYQ9EBY.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sthf0LA8Q7I/AAAAAAAAAjY/mMX6rGU3RkY/s1600-h/thumbnailCAAUN7S8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165903690744754" style="WIDTH: 114px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sthf0LA8Q7I/AAAAAAAAAjY/mMX6rGU3RkY/s200/thumbnailCAAUN7S8.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthflXrSmvI/AAAAAAAAAio/r_HyxzP5WRc/s1600-h/thumbnailCAV48Q8T.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165649391557362" style="WIDTH: 104px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthflXrSmvI/AAAAAAAAAio/r_HyxzP5WRc/s200/thumbnailCAV48Q8T.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthfzjgB8lI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/luR1Y1MWeso/s1600-h/thumbnailCARAME4A.jpg"></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthflMcyaUI/AAAAAAAAAig/4T-kKJ-EfQI/s1600-h/thumbnailCAC681W2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165646377937218" style="WIDTH: 106px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthflMcyaUI/AAAAAAAAAig/4T-kKJ-EfQI/s200/thumbnailCAC681W2.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthfywNi6aI/AAAAAAAAAjA/CQHX94T3deA/s1600-h/thumbnailCARAME4A.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393165879315982754" style="WIDTH: 101px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SthfywNi6aI/AAAAAAAAAjA/CQHX94T3deA/s200/thumbnailCARAME4A.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Of course I read normal books. I dabble in teenage fiction too—with one catch. It has to be intelligent. I can’t stand a book that’s all about the trials and triumphs of a first love, or falling out with your happy little close knit group of friends—and everything magically straightening out by the end. That isn’t real life. I prefer to read books that try to give me realistic expectations of what life’s going to be like when I step out that door in the morning. Filling me with silly whims and notions of princes on magical white ponies just isn’t for me. Sure, I like escapism and fantasy as much as the next person, but at the same time, I like my fantasy to be taken with a pinch of realistic salt. I like anything by Kevin Brooks; Candy, Martyn Pig and Lucas. I also enjoy Nicola Morgan; Sleepwalking, Fleshmarket and Deathwatch. Other books I’ve found intriguing are; The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, Generation Dead by Daniel Waters and How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, among many others. I sort of live for reading and writing, so you see, if I wrote all my favourites, it’d take you days to trek through them.<br /><br /><br /><br />I honestly expect you’ve stopped reading by now. I probably would have, but if you’ve stayed along for the messy ride, I hope you’ve liked what you’ve been reading, and if you haven’t, then I’m sorry for stealing some of your precious minutes of life.<br /><br /><strong>Other News</strong><br /><br />You can now listen to an <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/podcasts/audio/paul-stewart-and-chris-riddell-interview-highland-tour">audio interview </a>with Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell following our September Tour of the Highlands. A couple of weeks ago Heather promised you all a tour video, this is almost complete so watch out for it soon! <em>(Chris "Speilberg" Newton)</em><br /><p>We also recieved a beautiful poem from at Raigmore Primary which you can read on their <a href="http://raigmore.edublogs.org/2009/09/24/p6-andp7-visit-authors/#comments">blog</a>.<em> </em></p><p><em> </p><br /></em>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-68451821668279643532009-10-08T09:41:00.016+01:002009-10-08T11:55:59.108+01:00National Poetry Day 2009Happy National Poetry Day everyone! Many of you will no doubt be marking the day by reading new poetry, dipping into your old favourites or maybe even attending a poetry event. It was announced today that the nation's favourite poet is T.S Eliot - a pretty good choice we're sure most would agree. We thought we'd take a little office poll to see which poems the SBT staff love to read...<br /><div><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Marc:</span></strong><br /></div><div><em><strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss28Z7IYrxI/AAAAAAAAAhg/LJ7HzxzcI8I/s1600-h/cendrars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390171482587967250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss28Z7IYrxI/AAAAAAAAAhg/LJ7HzxzcI8I/s200/cendrars.jpg" border="0" /></a>La prose du Transsibérien et de la Petite Jehanne de France by Blaise Cendrars, 1913</strong><br /></em><br />At that time I was in my adolescence</div><div>I was barely sixteen years old and had already forgotten my childhood</div><div>I was sixteen thousand leagues from my birth</div><div>I was in Moscow, in the city of the thousand and three belltowers </div><div>and the seven stations</div><div>And the seven stations and the thousand and three belltowers </div><div>did not suffice me</div><div>For my adolescence was then so ardent and wild</div><div>That my heart blazed in turn like the temple of Ephesus or the </div><div>Red Square in Moscow<br />As the sun sets.<br /><br /><em>This is one of my favourite poems because it is one of the first modern poems, a hymn to movement, travel, and adventure. Cendrars was a huge influence on Apollinaire, and this led to the birth of modern poetry. In addition, Cendrars worked with the artist Sonia Delaunay to create one of the greatest artists books ever made with this poem. Delaunay illustrated the poem with her abstract designs; Intended as an edition of 150, only 60 copies were printed, of which about 30 are thought to survive (The Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh has one). The book, a series of 4 sheets glued together in an accordion style binding, measures 199 cm tall when unfolded; the height of all 150 end to end would have equaled the height of the </em><a title="Eiffel Tower" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower"><em>Eiffel Tower</em></a><em>, a potent symbol of modernity at the time, and referenced in both the poem and the print.</em></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Julia:</span></strong></div><div></div><div><strong><em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss29ktHEm3I/AAAAAAAAAho/xpzgGwFu7GE/s1600-h/eliot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390172767314549618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss29ktHEm3I/AAAAAAAAAho/xpzgGwFu7GE/s200/eliot.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Elliot, 1915</em></strong></div><div><br /></div><div>LET us go then, you and I,<br />When the evening is spread out against the sky<br />Like a patient etherised upon a table;<br />Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,<br />The muttering retreats<br />Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels<br />And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:<br />Streets that follow like a tedious argument<br />Of insidious intent<br />To lead you to an overwhelming question …<br />Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”<br />Let us go and make our visit.<br />...<br /><br /><em>I love the imagery used and the flow of the poem. Although I know it just about off by heart, I’m never quite sure I’ve understood the poem - perhaps one of the reasons I never tire of reading it.<br /></em><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Helen:</strong></span><br /><br /><strong><em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2-CwQyoEI/AAAAAAAAAhw/9Irc5RZSh_k/s1600-h/burns1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390173283556696130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2-CwQyoEI/AAAAAAAAAhw/9Irc5RZSh_k/s200/burns1.jpg" border="0" /></a>To A Mouse. On turning up her next with the plough by Robert Burns, 1785.</em></strong><br /><br />Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,<br />O, what a panic's in thy breastie!<br />Thou need na start awa sae hasty,<br />Wi' bickering brattle!<br />I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,<br />Wi' murd'ring pattle!<br />...<br /><br /><em>This was the first poem I learnt and had to recite in front of my family and school assembly. I liked the way he had written a poem for the mouse and felt sorry for it - you can tell I’m an animal lover!</em><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Clare:</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2-Yml5n8I/AAAAAAAAAh4/kyhzRT4YNB8/s1600-h/louismacneice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390173658918002626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2-Yml5n8I/AAAAAAAAAh4/kyhzRT4YNB8/s200/louismacneice.jpg" border="0" /></a>Entirely by Louis MacNeice<br /></em></strong><br />If we could get the hang of it entirely<br />It would take too long;<br />All we know is the splash of words in passing<br />and falling twigs of song,<br />And when we try to eavesdrop on the great<br />Presences it is rarely<br />That by a stroke of luck we can appropriate<br />Even a phrase entirely.<br />...<br /><br /><em>This poem was given to me by a friend years ago and has since been abroad with me – to different jobs and homes. I always find a place to pin it up. I read it from time to time to remind myself to stop being hard on myself for not being quite ‘there’ yet.</em><br /><br /></div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Catriona:<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><em>A Voodoo for Miss Maverick by Sandy Thomas Ross</em></strong><br /><br />I dinna like Miss Maverick –<br />This cushion’s for her heid.<br />I’m jumpin aa my wecht on’t,<br />An noo Miss Maverick’s deid! </div><div>Ye’re deid, ye’re deid, Miss Maverick,<br />An never mair ye’ll say<br />I dance like a hird o’ Ayrshire<br />Ky on a mercat day! I’ll pit ye ablaw the sofa –<br />Ye’re deid an yirdit baith,<br />An never mair ye’ll miscaa me –<br />Ye’ve drawn yer hinmaist braith!<br /><br /><em>My favourite poem is Voodoo for Miss Maverick by Sandy Thomas Ross, a much recited poem in primary schools up and down Scotland. I remember my brother learning it when he was a wee boy and having my whole family in stitches as he acted out jumping on the hated “Miss Maverick’s head” in the middle of the poem. Wonderful.</em><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Sophie:</strong></span><br /><br /><strong><em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2-6bezC2I/AAAAAAAAAiA/hdDBadfYU1k/s1600-h/fleur_adcock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390174240050973538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 152px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2-6bezC2I/AAAAAAAAAiA/hdDBadfYU1k/s200/fleur_adcock.jpg" border="0" /></a>Things by Fleur Adcock<br /></em></strong><br />There are worse things than having behaved foolishly in public.There are worse things than these miniature betrayals,committed or endured or suspected; there are worse thingsthan not being able to sleep for thinking of them.It is 5am. All the worse things come stalking inand stand icily about the bed looking worse and worse and worse.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><em>I found it really hard to choose as there are so many poems I love. I picked this in the end as I’m not sleeping very well and it sums up the state of insomnia very well.</em><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Anna:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><strong><em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss3CGJH5BsI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/nfvGfh-_k9w/s1600-h/robert_frost.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390177739816371906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss3CGJH5BsI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/nfvGfh-_k9w/s200/robert_frost.jpg" border="0" /></a>Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost</em></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div>Whose woods these are I think I know.</div><div>His house is in the village, though;</div><div>He will not see me stopping here</div><div>To watch his woods fill up with snow.<br />My little horse must think it queer </div><div>To stop without a farmhouse near</div><div>Between the woods and frozen lake</div><div>The darkest evening of the year.</div><div>...</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-size:100%;">This was Frost's favourite of his own poems. I love it for of its simplicity - and for the way it depicts life as a journey, for we all have 'miles to go before we sleep'.</span></em> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Heather:</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2_Y1yi-QI/AAAAAAAAAiI/bKVvM6rQrO8/s1600-h/christopher+robin.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390174762509203714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ss2_Y1yi-QI/AAAAAAAAAiI/bKVvM6rQrO8/s200/christopher+robin.gif" border="0" /></a>Sneezles by A.A. Milne</em></strong><br /><br />Christopher Robin<br />Had wheezles<br />And sneezles,<br />They bundled him<br />Into<br />His bed.<br />They gave him what goes<br />With a cold in the nose,<br />And some more for a cold<br />In the head. </div><div align="left">...<br /><br /><em>I love all of the poems in A.A. Milne's Now We Are Six. It's also one of my Dad's favourite books which I think is one of the main reasons I love it - it's a shared passion. A.A. Milne captures the innocence of childhood beautifully and I think the humour delights adults and children alike.</em><br /><br /><br />Hopefully that lengthy list will inspire to read some poems today. Do let us know your favourite! </div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-55297708193429059472009-10-05T16:53:00.013+01:002009-10-07T10:42:40.466+01:00Catherine Forde: Online Writer In Residence<em>Scottish Book Trust is very excited to welcome <a title="Catherine Forde's Profile page" href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/contacts/catherine-forde">Catherine Forde</a> as our brand new virtual writer in residence, following Keith Gray's fantastic residency last year. Catherine takes over the blog this week to tell us a little bit more about the plans she has for her residency and for the regular blogs she'll be writing for us over the next year....</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsoZmvWglrI/AAAAAAAAAg4/aN-OPSGne-M/s1600-h/Catherine-Forde-main.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389148057438820018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsoZmvWglrI/AAAAAAAAAg4/aN-OPSGne-M/s200/Catherine-Forde-main.jpg" border="0" /></a>Welcome to the first regular blog I’ll be writing as Scottish Booktrust’s new <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence">Online Writer in Residence</a>. I should confess that I’m completely new to this blogging game so in case I’m rubbish, I thought I’d better swot up a bit on the whole bloggy business by taking a peek at a few the famous, or rather infamous blog sites.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://perezhilton.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389150217133613106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ssobkc134DI/AAAAAAAAAhY/t8EQwWBq8bg/s200/perez-hilton.jpg" border="0" />Perez Hilton’s was the first</a> – actually the only blogger I could think of off the top of my head ( which tells you how tacky I am) . So I dutifully googled Perez, and have to say I have come away from the experience of his gossip-blog profoundly enriched with knowledge, some of which I’ll share with you.<br />Here goes:<br /></div></div><div><div>Michelle Obama is going to be a guest on <em>Sesame Street</em>.<br />Suri Holmes/Cruise ( her dad’s that chippy actor bloke out of <em>Top Gun</em>, isn’t he?) has a pair of black and white stripy tights. She’s about four, by the way.<br />Sarah Jessica Parker has dyed her hair blonde…<br />And er… I think that’s enough of that. This is meant to be educational.<br /><br /></div><div>I’m just going to focus my blog on some of the things that happen on my travels as Online Writer in Residence instead. Unfortunately they haven’t actually started yet, although when they do, I’ll be visiting many different places in Scotland with Scottish Booktrust, giving talks on creative writing. Over the last few weeks I’ve been putting all my ideas together for what I’m going to discuss. That’s been quite a challenging experience for me because it has forced me to analyse the way I approach my own writing and break it down into chunks of information. These chunks will form the individual tasks you’ll be able to see on the podcasts over the next few months, and I hope they are helpful to any budding writers.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Ssoac0k0RvI/AAAAAAAAAhI/gIcs4pJ04nI/s1600-h/shoreditch.jpg"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsobJnuHTnI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/cAcy4lmBXeY/s1600-h/underground_map.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389149756197391986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsobJnuHTnI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/cAcy4lmBXeY/s200/underground_map.jpg" border="0" /></a>If you have watched my first podcast, you have beaten me to it as I will be on a train to London when it goes ‘live’. I am going to speak at the Shoreditch Festival and visit the Sydney Russell School in Dagenham. I went to Sydney Russell for the first time a couple of years ago and have been asked back. I am looking forward wandering about London in between work duties, feeling a like a tourist, although I’m worried about navigating their Tube system with its thirteen different lines. Being a Weegie I can only deal with the Inner and Outer Circle of the Glasgow Underground – if you miss your stop you just stay on and it comes back round twenty minutes later.<br /><br />I hope I make it back to write my next blog…</div><div><br /></div><div><em>You can find out more about Catherine's residency by reading the </em><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/online-writer-in-residence"><em>Online Writer in Residence</em></a><em> pages on our website. </em></div><div><em></em><br /><br /></div><div><strong>Other news:</strong><br /><br /><br /></div><div>It's Children's Book Week this week and to celebrate we're putting on two events with Darren Shan and Barbara Mitchelhill. Keep your eye on the website for more from them.<br /><br /></div><div>At the end of this week Heather and Jasmine set off on a tour to Newcastle with Debi Gliori. Scottish Book Trust have never toured in England before so we're all very excited about it! </div><div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-32602649331190491522009-10-02T12:27:00.008+01:002009-10-02T15:36:12.495+01:00Tom Eglington: The Spellbound Hotel<div><em>Earlier this year, Tom Eglington had his first book - The Spellbound Hotel - published. He takes over the blog this week to tell us more about himself and the weird but wonderful world he sets his stories in.</em><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div>Hello.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsYPstTbBLI/AAAAAAAAAgw/gowT5p_mgko/s1600-h/PICofMEforwebsmall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388011264945095858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsYPstTbBLI/AAAAAAAAAgw/gowT5p_mgko/s200/PICofMEforwebsmall.jpg" border="0" /></a>My name is Tom Eglington and in May of this year I had the pleasure of having my first novel published. It is called <em>The Spellbound Hotel</em> (in case you were wondering) and begins, like all great stories do, with a village where everyone is addicted to sausages and a bizarre soap opera called ‘What About Dave?’ Sound strange? Well, to be honest, it just gets stranger from there on in. There are shadows that run free, terrified ghosts, a mischievous pooka called Mr Quinn and a hotel that has a sinister life of its own, not to mention a giant trapped in a pit being forced to eat fossils. And don’t get me started about the cleaning ladies.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsX8Brb6TgI/AAAAAAAAAgg/5TK_E-YA_aE/s1600-h/spellbound+hotel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387989634988527106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsX8Brb6TgI/AAAAAAAAAgg/5TK_E-YA_aE/s200/spellbound+hotel.jpg" border="0" /></a>I blame school. You see, when I was a young lad growing up in Edinburgh I would walk to school each morning with a friend. And each morning, with nothing better to do, I would think up ideas for stories. Sometimes these would be good ideas, sometimes not so good. Eventually, though, my friend suggested I write some of these stories down. So I began to scribble, scribble, scribble. And that, as they say, is how it all started… </div><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><em>More information about Tom, as well as games and some 'Truly Awful Jokes' can be found on his </em><a href="http://www.spellboundhotel.com/"><em>website</em></a><em>.</em> </div><div><br /> </div><div><strong>Other news:</strong><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsX8hVZ1E5I/AAAAAAAAAgo/ZPjl0uDd9pE/s1600-h/darren+shan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387990178830029714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 161px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SsX8hVZ1E5I/AAAAAAAAAgo/ZPjl0uDd9pE/s200/darren+shan.jpg" border="0" /></a>Next week is Children's Book Week and to celebrate we're doing two fantastic events in Edinburgh and Glasgow with authors <a href="http://www.barbaramitchelhill.com/">Barbara Mitchelhill </a>and <a href="http://www.darrenshan.com/">Darren Shan</a>! Keep an eye on the website and the blog for more from the authors. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Green Pencil Award 2009 was launched at the end of August. The competition is open to pupils within the Primary 4 to Primary 7 age range attending an Edinburgh school, and the deadline is 16th October. For details see <a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/leisure/libraries/explore_your_library/babies_and_children/CEC_green_pencil_award">the Green Pencil Award website</a>. </div><div><br /> </div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-17451114713900427682009-09-14T11:44:00.013+01:002009-09-14T13:01:53.154+01:00Bernard Beckett: Genesis<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381281388621916994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 99px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4m6WU660I/AAAAAAAAAfo/q1aELrZDlS8/s200/bernard+beckett.jpg" border="0" /><em>When Bernard Beckett isn't teaching high school pupils in New Zealand he is an author of young adult fiction and has had many books published in his native country. His latest novel Genesis has been published in the UK. We were lucky enough to have Bernard as part of our Outreach tour this year. His events were excellent - Heather and Jasmine thoroughly enjoyed being challenged to think about human consciousness and the development of artificial intelligence, as did all of the pupils Bernard spoke to in Perth and Kinross. We asked him to tell us about his brief but incredibly busy visit to Scotland...</em><br /><em></em><br />I arrive in Edinburgh feeling slightly beaten up by a flight which somehow ends up taking thirty hours from airport to airport with the added bonus of queuing for an hour for the friendly and heavily armed folk at LA airport. My first time on US soil and I don't even get a 'have a nice day.' Clearly television has been lying to me. Two hours after arriving in Edinburgh I do a reading for the <a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/">Amnesty International </a>event, and rather hope my jetlag mistranslates into gravitas.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4nAsHEjsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/GrWgpNEj5ys/s1600-h/edinburgh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381281497548623554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4nAsHEjsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/GrWgpNEj5ys/s200/edinburgh.jpg" border="0" /></a>Next morning and my senses are sufficiently sharpened to notice Edinburgh is one of the world's great cities, just so beautiful and with the slightly manic air of festival land stretched over it all, it's quite the sight. I begin to wonder if I might not be able to live here one day, but four words of warning echo in my head (this is their summer, this is their summer). I suspect I would miss the beach life.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><br /><div><br />My first event proper at the <a href="http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/">Book Festival </a>is, in theory, me addressing a school group. Only the school cancelled (or there never was such a booking and the organisers are just trying to make me feel better). We're saved by home schooling. One young chap, his parents, a couple of ring-ins with New Zealand connections and the woman whose job it is to hold that microphone make for an intimate wee audience. We have a fine time nonetheless, as one must.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4nSBqv12I/AAAAAAAAAf4/zOa9pnBKSM8/s1600-h/SBT.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381281795393181538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4nSBqv12I/AAAAAAAAAf4/zOa9pnBKSM8/s200/SBT.jpg" border="0" /></a>Get to record a video entry of <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/thebook">'The Book That Changed My Life'</a>, choosing the book in question as I walk into the fairy tale world of the <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/">Scottish Book Trust</a>. Charming building and charming folk, and there's a fudge shop across the way, this city just gets better.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>My evening event draws a crowd, thanks to the fact that I'm sharing the stage with <a href="http://www.patrickness.com/">Patrick Ness </a>who is, you know, well known. I'm beginning to feel like I'm trapped in an episode of <a href="http://www.conchords.co.nz/">Flight of the Conchords</a>, only I can't sing. We talk about talking dogs, as you do, and bright lights. A girl at the front has the most excellent laugh I have heard in a long time.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4oUNheXsI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/eIHyLTVu4bg/s1600-h/outreach+066.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381282932446879426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4oUNheXsI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/eIHyLTVu4bg/s200/outreach+066.jpg" border="0" /></a>My favourite part of the Scottish adventure is the chance to travel north with two of the Scottish Book Trust wonders to visit and chat with students from a couple of high schools. The first is Blairgowrie and it's my great privilege to address two Religious Studies classes. I feel a slight pang of jealousy, we don't have much in the way of philosophy based education back home. The teens are smart and engaging, and capable of feigning polite interest throughout for which I am truly grateful. We talk about humans and machines and what the differences might be. It's fun for me; what it's like inside their heads I have no idea. Fantastic though to think some of the ideas in <em>Genesis</em> have traveled this far. A hugely gratifying thought, the biggest buzz of being a writer for me.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4ovVvgA1I/AAAAAAAAAgY/4grEJCZY6KU/s1600-h/genesis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381283398509658962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sq4ovVvgA1I/AAAAAAAAAgY/4grEJCZY6KU/s200/genesis.jpg" border="0" /></a>Next up is Perth, what a pretty town. It's hard not to feel a little aggrieved at whoever is responsible for not spending a little more on the school buildings. Again an audience brimming with an alert optimism, the sort only teenagers really manage to pull off. They deserve to be learning in palaces these young folk. What's more they arrive in their lunchtime which shows uncommon commitment I think. Two delightful students have read <em>Genesis </em>over summer (do you still use that word?) which makes me inordinately happy. As my talk begins the school band rehearse energetically overhead. Were I the rhythmic type I might try to keep time, as it is I bumble along to my own drum and once again the questions from the students are insightful and generous. My feelings towards Scotland grow still warmer.<br /><br />Three nights in Edinburgh and it's back on the plane to Wellington New Zealand, another whimsical windswept city. And back to teaching. The more alert amongst my students have at least noticed I was away, bless them.<br /><br /><em>Here is Bernard's video entry for The Book That Changed My Life. You can read more entries on our </em><a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/thebook"><em>website</em></a><em>.<br /></em><br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AYn8xd5L5gc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AYn8xd5L5gc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><br /><div><strong>Other News:</strong> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Stephanie Myer and J.K. Rowling are set to have their biographies published in comic-strip form later this year. </div><br /><div></div><div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-76289735177668538382009-09-09T09:17:00.014+01:002009-09-11T11:20:06.749+01:00Janis Mackay: Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest<em>Janis Mackay recently won the Kelpie's Prize 2009 for her book <a href="http://www.florisbooks.co.uk/books/9780863157028">Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest</a>. We asked her to drop by the blog to tell us a bit about her inspiration for the book and how it feels to be a prize winner.</em><br /><div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeHew0jhnI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Eh-K8z64J1o/s1600-h/caithness.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379417242488505970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeHew0jhnI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Eh-K8z64J1o/s200/caithness.jpg" border="0" /></a>My journey with Magnus Fin<a href="http://www.florisbooks.co.uk/books/9780863157028"> </a>began over a year ago. My partner and I had recently moved into this house by the sea in Caithness. Day and night the waves pound or lap or sigh. When the waves have been powerful I smell the tang of seaweed. Having the sea as your neighbour is to live up close to mighty creative inspiration.<br /></div></div><br /><div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeHQcmz6qI/AAAAAAAAAfI/7sERdansWqY/s1600-h/beachcombing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379416996543982242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeHQcmz6qI/AAAAAAAAAfI/7sERdansWqY/s200/beachcombing.jpg" border="0" /></a>I became fascinated by what the tide brought in – and often horrified. Once, after three days of stormy high waves thousands of plastic bottles littered the shoreline. I saw how hard and dangerous it is to be a wild sea bird. Young herring gulls die of starvation. Carcasses of cormorant and shag are washed up. Then wonderful things too – a little carved wooden horse all the way from Prague! A lifebuoy from Norway, half a rusted bell from a sunken ship.<br />At low tide here the mast of a sunken boat is visible. That really fired my imagination. It gave me a glimpse into a hidden underwater world – so naturally I started wondering – what else is down there?<br /></div><br /><div><br />Then the story of Magnus Fin, a boy who goes under the sea, came to me quickly. I had huge sheets of paper and decided, before writing the story down, I would attempt to draw it. Drawing is not my strong point but I thought it might help me visualise the characters and the settings. In that drawing my underwater creatures were mermaids. Later I changed them (all except one) into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie">selkies</a>.<br /><br /></div><div>For a long time I have been a storyteller. Having written Magnus Fin as a 17,000 word story I told it – or the gist of it – to a friend. I could see her eyes widen. She liked it. Then I sent the 17,000 word script to Hi-Arts. They offer a work-in-progress critique service to writers in the Highlands.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeHuBOoKpI/AAAAAAAAAfY/5ifvoqyHJXw/s1600-h/kelpies+prize+winner.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379417504590867090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeHuBOoKpI/AAAAAAAAAfY/5ifvoqyHJXw/s200/kelpies+prize+winner.jpg" border="0" /></a>And if, by any chance, my anonymous reader reads this – thank-you! The story then was entitled ‘The waking of Neptune.’ I was given many helpful suggestions and the written critique ended by saying – make the story at least 40,000 words and send it to the <a href="http://www.florisbooks.co.uk/kelpiesprize/">Kelpies Prize</a>!<br />Wining the Kelpies Prize was such a joy. What a treat to meet Joan Lingard, and to receive £2,000 – and most of all to know that Magnus Fin and these windswept rugged and beautiful northern shores – and my imaginative underwater world – will go on a journey and who knows where that will take them?<br /></div><br /><br /><div>The whole adventure that Magnus Fin goes on under the sea happens because he asks for it. He throws a bottle out to sea and in his message – sent to the deep unknown, he asks ‘to be more brave.’ Well, ask the ocean something like that and you can be sure you will be tested.<br />I have wanted to be a writer since I was five. I have taken a long way round – via journalism, acting, storytelling, teaching – but not long ago I too threw my bottle out to sea. The Kelpies Prize is a lovely answer.</div><br /><div></div><div><em>Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest is published by Floris on the 22nd October 2009.</em> </div><br /><br /><div><strong>Other News:</strong><br /></div><br /><div>Enquire spoke to Malorie Blackman recently and you can now listen to the interview on their <u><span style="color:#810081;">blog</span></u>. </div><div></div><div>An exciting literary festival - Eildon Tree 10: Celebrating 10 Years of New Writing in the Scottish Borders - takes place 25 - 27 September with a line up of writers including Janice Galloway and Kathleen Jamie. More information can be found on the <a href="http://www.heartofhawick.co.uk/">Heart of Hawick website</a>. </div><div> </div><div>Lili Wilkinson has blogged about her Outreach events, you can read the entry <a href="http://thinkingsofalili.blogspot.com/2009/09/scotland.html">here</a>. </div><div> </div><div>SBT's Jasmine and Chris set off this weekend on their tour of the Highlands with Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. Our Chris is going to keep a video tour diary so look out for that on their return!</div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeIFmR51iI/AAAAAAAAAfg/OLflRRzv8FQ/s1600-h/we-want-kitchener.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379417909673711138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SqeIFmR51iI/AAAAAAAAAfg/OLflRRzv8FQ/s200/we-want-kitchener.jpg" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people">Teens and Young People section </a>of our website is getting better all the time. At the moment we're looking for lots of book reviews written by teenagers to be uploaded at the start of each month. If you or any bookwormy teenagers you know are interested in writing for us, please take a look at our <a href="http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/children-and-young-people/books/reviews-and-recommendations">Reviews section</a>. </div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-83490702583048470252009-09-02T15:37:00.019+01:002009-09-02T17:18:27.484+01:00Reachout, no, OutreachBack on the blogseat this week is Chris, you may remember him from such blogs as <em>Suddenly She Turned Into a Gerbil, Secret Santa</em> and <em>Chris Says Howdy</em> or you may not. He is here to blog about Outreach and being Festivaled-out...<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6UTpPWW8I/AAAAAAAAAd4/lXLATo2M7Zk/s1600-h/mj.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376898070335609794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 92px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 91px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6UTpPWW8I/AAAAAAAAAd4/lXLATo2M7Zk/s200/mj.jpg" border="0" /></a> A lot has happened since the last time I blogged here: the summer has come and gone, the Edinburgh festival flew past in whirl of entertaining wallet emptying, Michael Jackson died or was murdered (depending on who you believe) and we have just completed the Outreach events as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div>The premise of Outreach is simple, we take 6 authors or illustrators from the festival out to schools and areas who cannot get to the festival over 6 days. We had a dizzying array of talent in the Bookmobile over the last two weeks from all over the world...<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6Ush52trI/AAAAAAAAAeI/RqnHpQfGxmQ/s1600-h/lili_brechin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376898497863136946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 97px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6Ush52trI/AAAAAAAAAeI/RqnHpQfGxmQ/s200/lili_brechin.jpg" border="0" /></a>First up, the wonderful <a href="http://www.liliwilkinson.com/a/home.html">Lili Wilkinson</a> from Australia. We ventured north up to Brechin and then onto Arbroath top speak to students about Lili’s wonderful novel, <a href="http://www.bdb.com.au/books/scatterheart">Scatterheart</a>, usually historical romance fiction is a non-starter for me but this book completely won me over. Lili had been doing research into her family tree and discovered that she had family in Brechin and we even managed to find her great-great-great grandmother grave at the cemetery! Lili also works on the award winning website for teen literacy <a href="http://www.insideadog.com.au/">Inside of a Dog </a>– check it out it wont bite!</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6VqZYozpI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/bdFxfpePK_w/s1600-h/outreach+050_web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376899560728219282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6VqZYozpI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/bdFxfpePK_w/s200/outreach+050_web.jpg" border="0" /></a>Day two and the rain is teeming down as we head over to Glasgow with the graphic novelist and comic book hero, <a href="http://www.tonylee.co.uk/">Tony Lee</a>. His previous work includes some small comic books that most folk wont of heard of, <a href="http://marvel.com/">X-Men</a> and Spiderman anyone!!! But we were there to promote his latest book, Outlaw: Robin Hood. Tony’s enthusiasm for writing and his sheer effervescent joy at doing what he loves to do shone through and was magically contagious. So much so that we all forgot about the rain and one wee lad in the second session who had the most outrageous laugh could not stop laughing. The poor lad nearly choked!</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6X8GbZJ-I/AAAAAAAAAfA/Yy8__vvvPvg/s1600-h/outreach+075_liz_pichon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376902063900403682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 119px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6X8GbZJ-I/AAAAAAAAAfA/Yy8__vvvPvg/s200/outreach+075_liz_pichon.jpg" border="0" /></a>My next outing was with <a href="http://www.lizpichon.co.uk/home.htm">Liz Pichon </a>who is a writer and illustrator of picture books including Bored Bill, The Very Ugly Bug and Penguins. We had two brilliant interactive sessions in Falkirk with quizzes, storytelling, drawing and colouring in – ace fun! Liz also runs a really amazing website, <a href="http://www.showmehowtoplay.com/">Show Me How to Play.com</a> where you can learn to play your favourite songs.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>During the morning session a wee boy came over to me and asked if I could tie his shoe-lace, so I did, but as I finished his teacher came over and told me that he could do that himself! So I asked <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6WsgvceqI/AAAAAAAAAeg/MCM3EhlHX9o/s1600-h/horse_head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376900696574294690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 97px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6WsgvceqI/AAAAAAAAAeg/MCM3EhlHX9o/s200/horse_head.jpg" border="0" /></a>him, “Why am I tying your shoe-lace if you can do it yourself?” His response… “Just cause” and off he went to finish his drawing.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div>We had a little extra time over lunch so we took Liz to see the <a href="http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/">Falkirk Wheel </a>which is such an amazing feat of engineering and we also had a look at the prototype Horse Heads that they are planning on building.</div></div><div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6W4rwzBoI/AAAAAAAAAeo/vGzdowQMgQE/s1600-h/Cosmic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376900905691186818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 88px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 153px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6W4rwzBoI/AAAAAAAAAeo/vGzdowQMgQE/s200/Cosmic.jpg" border="0" /></a>My last day of Outreach was marred by stinking traffic in Edinburgh but once <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=2h&oq=frank+co&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4RNWN_enGB265GB265&q=frank+cottrell+boyce">Frank Cottrell Boyce</a> started reading it was soon forgotten. Frank (whose other work includes Coronation Street, 24 Hour Party People, Welcome to Sarajevo as well as film-adaptations of his books Millions and Framed) has written three novels – Millions, Framed and Cosmic. You may have seen Millions at the cinema or read about it winning the Carnegie Medal (not bad for a first effort!) and Framed was on the BBC this week, probably still on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mk50r/Framed/">i-player </a>and Cosmic was shortlisted for the Carnegie this year too! Frank thoroughly entertained his audience and his stories about his work and where his ideas sprout from were fantastic.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6XXpHSRwI/AAAAAAAAAew/0Whp1hzJXxM/s1600-h/outreach_beckett.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901437556147970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6XXpHSRwI/AAAAAAAAAew/0Whp1hzJXxM/s200/outreach_beckett.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6XhVmxddI/AAAAAAAAAe4/_0-tXaYWuf8/s1600-h/tothebeach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376901604118197714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/Sp6XhVmxddI/AAAAAAAAAe4/_0-tXaYWuf8/s200/tothebeach.jpg" border="0" /></a>Also out on Outreach were <a href="http://www.longacre.co.nz/authors/beckett.html">Bernard Beckett</a> and <a href="http://www.thomasdocherty.co.uk/">Thomas Docherty </a>but as I was not at these sessions so I cannot comment on them but I have been reliably informed that they were excellent.</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In amongst all of this, the Book Festival. Events with the Beano, Terry Deary (of Horrible Histories fame) and Michael Rosen (of Michael Rosen fame) as well as everything that the Edinburgh festival entails.</div><div><br /><br />Phew! I'm knackered - I could sleep for a week, if only, there are 50 teachers coming round on Thursday and will need fed, watered and entertained!</div><div><br /></div><div>Laters.</div><div><br /><br /><strong>Things what i'm loving<br /></strong><a href="http://www.myspace.com/brokenrecordsedinburgh">Broken Records</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thephantombandpage">Phantom Band</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007204434/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=471057153&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0006530761&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0GCAQPW2SR59SYEX94TB">The Lighthouse Stevenson's</a></div><div><a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Toamto__basil_and_Mozzarella_salad_-_Cooking_made_easy">Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella salad</a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-32604761398444991282009-08-21T10:32:00.012+01:002009-08-21T11:00:32.078+01:00Hazel Allan: A Dream Come True<em>Hazel Allan has just had her debut novel Bree McCready and the Half Heart Locket published. Last week saw the book's launch night and every single copy was sold and signed! Hazel has every reason to be thrilled. She tells us more about what becoming a published author means to her...</em> <div><div><div> </div><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5uRXC57kI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/aftjVSLZ3ck/s1600-h/jimm%27ll+fix+it.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372352650022612546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 153px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5uRXC57kI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/aftjVSLZ3ck/s200/jimm%27ll+fix+it.jpg" border="0" /></a>In 1979, when I was eight years old I wrote to “Jim’ll Fix It” to ask if it would be possible to make my dream come true and lock me in a book shop late at night when everyone else had gone home. Now, for anyone under the age of 25 “Jim’ll Fix It” was a television show hosted by Jimmy Saville - a man who made the dreams of thousands of children come true every Saturday teatime. Sadly, my letter was never answered and I didn’t get my “Jim Fixed It For Me” shiny medallion to show off at school. </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5umI02EZI/AAAAAAAAAdg/mkdDh_o6kIA/s1600-h/Hazel+Allan+launch+night.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372353006982795666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5umI02EZI/AAAAAAAAAdg/mkdDh_o6kIA/s200/Hazel+Allan+launch+night.jpg" border="0" /></a>Fast forward thirty years… I am standing alone in Waterstone’s book shop on George Street at the end of the launch party for my debut novel <em>Bree McCready and the Half Heart Locket</em>. All is quiet, the lights are dim and it’s just me surrounded by row upon row of books. It wasn’t quite how I imagined the scene when I penned my letter to Sir Jimmy but it was as close as I could imagine to perfection.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5u9fiXd6I/AAAAAAAAAdo/3nVfQfuvKK8/s1600-h/Hazel+Allan+signing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372353408216299426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5u9fiXd6I/AAAAAAAAAdo/3nVfQfuvKK8/s200/Hazel+Allan+signing.jpg" border="0" /></a>August 13th 2009 was without a doubt the best night of my life. It’s not every day you get to have all your friends and family in the same room celebrating something as amazing as the publication of your first book! I signed so many copies of <em>Bree McCready</em> that by the end of the night my signature had gone from the usual legible loops to a sloping, spidery scrawl. My cheeks hurt from smiling and my mouth was as dry as an astronaut’s slipper. But I was floating around on cloud nine and nothing was going to get me off!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It’s taken me quite some time to get to this point you see, so it really is quite a big deal. When I was younger and I was asked <em>that</em> question - “What do you want to be when you grow up?“ I always had the same answer. A writer. However, having been brought up in a family that valued the old-fashioned work ethic, writing was never encouraged as a career. I was told repeatedly that only the very best get to earn a living doing something they actually enjoy! At school I was complimented for my colourful imagination (or scolded for my daydreaming!) but on the whole my talent seemed to go unnoticed. Despite this I always knew I had a novel in me somewhere. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I did eventually “grow up” my love of writing never left me. I tried my best to bring my passion for words into my work as a nursery nurse. Literacy levels in the area where I worked were unbelievably low and I found this depressing. I very much wanted the children in my care to have a tool that might help them cope with the more difficult aspects of their lives - to broaden their horizons and to make them aware that there was more out there for them. I desperately hoped that it might be possible for them to make their own escapes with the sweep of a pen.<br /></div><div>All my life (much like Bree, the heroine in my novel) I seem to have been searching for something to fill a void in my life. I thought I might have found what I was looking for when I embarked upon my degree in Community Education in 2000. Working with illiterate adults made me all the more appreciative of my gift and more determined than ever to use it in a positive way. During a particularly challenging time in 2006, when I found myself thrust into the unexpected world of single parenthood, writing seemed to organise the chaos in my life and helped to make me feel whole again. Suddenly I was grabbing every spare second I had to scribble down a few paragraphs here and there. I took to carrying a notebook with me for those flashes of inspiration that inevitably occurred in the oddest and most inconvenient places. I began to take my writing seriously and within two years I had a manuscript that was worthy of sending to publishers. It was certainly far from easy getting accepted. I have a head full of grey hairs and a drawer full of rejection letters to prove that! But I would never have given up on my dream. No matter how often I doubted myself I never stopped believing in my book.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5vRlsUJuI/AAAAAAAAAdw/bCPdHZgdvsg/s1600-h/catcher_in_the_rye.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372353753466021602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 122px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5vRlsUJuI/AAAAAAAAAdw/bCPdHZgdvsg/s200/catcher_in_the_rye.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have never been motivated by the thought of fame and fortune and quite honestly I don’t expect it. I am just delighted to see my story in print. It gives me such a thrill to think that young people are reading my book and perhaps escaping some difficult times by immersing themselves in Bree’s story. My greatest pleasure comes from thinking that some may even feel inspired to write down their own thoughts and feelings as a result of reading my work. As a deep-thinking and misunderstood youngster I was always on the lookout for books that contained real characters, ones that I could identify with and who had a story that struck a chord in me. I remember falling in love with Holden Caulfield as I read <em>The Catcher in the Rye</em>. Completely immersed in the story about the young boy who was so achingly familiar to me I drank in the beauty and intensity of the words and basked in the knowledge that somebody understood me at last. Right from the beginning I really wanted Bree to have that affect on her readers.<br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5ucL30oTI/AAAAAAAAAdY/h38TFJSmNzI/s1600-h/Hazel+Allan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372352836001898802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/So5ucL30oTI/AAAAAAAAAdY/h38TFJSmNzI/s200/Hazel+Allan.jpg" border="0" /></a>I would greatly love for my book to transcend its categorisation as a children’s book and appeal to the adult imagination too. I feel passionately about the need to bring back storytelling at home and I am forever striving to encourage this dying activity throughout my work with children and parents. It took me until I reached the age of 34 to even consider trying to write the novel that I knew was inside me from an early age. This has been a most important journey, pursuing the one thing that has always mattered to me. On that humid Thursday evening, as I stood in the deserted Waterstone’s book store I had the chance to reflect upon the journey that has brought me to this point in my life. A shiver ran up my spine as I imagined my dog-eared, yellowing letter still lying, unread under a pile of thousands more like it in the archive boxes at the BBC. And it occurred to me in that moment that some dreams are worth waiting for…</div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Launch photographs: Caroline Harvey.</em></span> </div><div> </div><div><strong>Other News:</strong></div><div> </div><div>Next week Scottish Book Trust & EIBF's Outreach Tour begins! Keep an eye on the website for photographs, blogs and more!</div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2365116762375889991.post-13296047829017797762009-08-17T11:07:00.019+01:002009-08-17T13:16:47.587+01:00Malorie Blackman: A Week In The Life Of...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolGb7s6M_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/_mASAZkQ9X0/s1600-h/malorie_blackman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370901476312495090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolGb7s6M_I/AAAAAAAAAcY/_mASAZkQ9X0/s200/malorie_blackman.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Malorie Blackman is an author who needs little introduction. She has written over fifty novels, many of which have won literary prizes, and has also written many things for T.V. On Saturday 22nd August Malorie will be doing a sell-out event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. For the past week she has been writing a daily blog for us to give us a taste of what it's like to be a successful author. We were amazed she'd had time to fit this in when we read about how busy she'd been...</em><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><br /><br /><div><strong>Day One</strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolGlaYQDoI/AAAAAAAAAcg/9yqdV6R4Als/s1600-h/melvin_burgess.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370901639166168706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolGlaYQDoI/AAAAAAAAAcg/9yqdV6R4Als/s200/melvin_burgess.bmp" border="0" /></a>I had a great time co-tutoring on a ‘Writing Books for Young Adults’ Arvon course at Lumb Bank in Hebden Bridge with my friend <a href="http://www.melvinburgess.net/">Melvin Burgess</a>. It was such fun but goodness me, it was hard work. Not just for me and Melvin, but also for the other writers who attended the course. We started each morning at 9.30am and didn’t stop most nights until around 11pm. We wrote, we read what we’d written, we wrote some more and we discussed all aspects of publishing. On Wednesday, the author Catherine Fisher came to read to us from her book <em>Incarceron</em> and she answered loads of questions. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my week but when I got back home, I was absolutely knackered! Can’t wait to do it again!<br /><br /><strong>Day Two</strong><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolG0EYTDCI/AAAAAAAAAco/NHgN-nnDKOA/s1600-h/double+cross.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370901890958822434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolG0EYTDCI/AAAAAAAAAco/NHgN-nnDKOA/s200/double+cross.jpg" border="0" /></a>Laura Kelly from the <a href="http://www.bigissuescotland.com/">Scottish Big Issue </a>interviewed me over the phone today about my writing in general and my latest book <em>Double Cross</em> in particular. I think I began each sentence with either ‘Er…’ or ‘You know…’ and I waffled horribly. I sounded just like Misty at the beginning of chapter one in <em>Double Cross</em>. I put the phone down wondering if it was possible for a person to sound any more inarticulate. I hope Laura manages to get something reasonably coherent out of what I said. Damn, but I’m useless at interviews. She made me laugh though when she said that some people (presumably those who have never bothered to read the <a href="http://www.bigissuescotland.com/">Scottish Big Issue</a>), assume that every article is going to be about homelessness. Some people have started to refer to me as the ‘Issues writer’ with a capital ‘I’ - which makes me smile. I’ve written close to sixty books, only a handful tackle ‘Issues’. But, ah well.<br /><br /><strong>Day Three</strong><br />Did a webchat for <a href="http://www.raisingkids.co.uk/homepages/homepage_default.asp">RaisingKids.co.uk</a> today. People sent in questions and comments and I did my best to answer as many of them as I could in the hour I had. It’s a shame you can’t see the faces of the people who ask the questions. I like faces. But if you can’t chat in person, answering questions via the Internet is a great way to communicate with more people. It never ceases to amaze me that I get emails from Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, America and all points in between. Our world is definitely getting smaller and smaller. And the great thing about answering questions over the Internet is that I can sit at my computer with my hair a mess and wearing no make-up and I won’t frighten the questioners away. Let’s hear it for webchats!<br /><br /><strong>Day Four<br /></strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolHFwmgcXI/AAAAAAAAAcw/f_W2meg2ESw/s1600-h/edbookfest.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370902194887356786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolHFwmgcXI/AAAAAAAAAcw/f_W2meg2ESw/s200/edbookfest.jpg" border="0" /></a>I’ll be in Edinburgh soon, doing my thing at the <a href="http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/">Edinburgh International Book Festival</a>. I’ve decided to talk about how and why I became a writer and I’ll read a short extract or two from <em>Double Cross</em>. I do hope those in the audience come with lots of questions for me as that is the part I enjoy the most. Before any festival event I always get so nervous. I mentally kick myself for agreeing to do them but once I’m on stage and chatting away, I really enjoy it. But it’s the five minutes before I go on stage which is a killer! My heart is racing away and I tend to feel like I’m going to be sick, I’m that nervous. But it tends to be worth it – and the Edinburgh Festival is definitely one of my favourites. Plus my hubby Neil is from Edinburgh so that’s another reason why I love the place. (I have to write that ‘cause my hubby is currently looking over my shoulder as I type!)<br /><br /><strong>Day Five</strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolHVgtOzmI/AAAAAAAAAc4/EozZiy56EgM/s1600-h/noughts+and+crossses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370902465498500706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolHVgtOzmI/AAAAAAAAAc4/EozZiy56EgM/s200/noughts+and+crossses.jpg" border="0" /></a>Today is my day for reworking a short story I wrote recently. I put it away and read it a couple of weeks afterwards and discovered the voice of the young adult telling the story was all wrong. I hate it when that happens. So I’m practically rewriting the story, in the first person this time as opposed to the third person. And already it’s working so much better. I’ve done that a number of times actually. When I started writing my book <em>Noughts and Crosses</em>, it was originally going to be Sephy’s story for the first half of the book and Callum’s story for the second half, but when a story of mine isn’t working, it’s like fingernails scratching up and down a mouse pad – only inside my head. That’s when I tried alternating the chapters between Sephy and Callum and the fingernails stopped scratching. When I wrote my book <em>Cloud Busting</em>, I tried it first of all as a prose story but the fingernails came back. And then I tried it in verse and the fingernails relaxed. Now I’m reworking my current short story, the fingernails are quiet – but I sense they are poised, so I’d better get it right!<br /></div><div><br /><em>If you're not one of the lucky people with a ticket to Malorie's EIBF event on Saturday, here's a video of her talking about Double Cross.</em><br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KeOChaMJSms&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KeOChaMJSms&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><strong>Other News: </strong></div><div><br /></div><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolHpqEChSI/AAAAAAAAAdA/_Dxb1aSwOXw/s1600-h/andanotherthing+cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370902811607467298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolHpqEChSI/AAAAAAAAAdA/_Dxb1aSwOXw/s200/andanotherthing+cover.jpg" border="0" /></a>PanMacmillan and Penguin are joining forces to stage a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy convention - "Hitchcon 2009" - in October to mark the 30th anniversary of Douglas Adams' series, and the publication of Eoin Colfer's authorised sequel <em>And Another Thing...</em><br /><br /></p><div><br /><br /></div><p></p></div><div></div><div><div><br /></div><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vHyF1bY_RA0/SolIJ7MSWhI/AAAAAAAAAdI/CU-07PG94Ro/s1600-h/carol-ann-duffy-portrait2.jpg"></a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>Audiences now have another opportunity to hear Poet Laureate, <a href="http://www.carolannduffy.co.uk/">Carol Ann Duffy</a>, speak at the Book Festival. Following the early sell-out of her first event, a second has been added to the programme on Tuesday 18 August at 6.30pm offering a magical celebration of her poetry accompanied by the music of John Sampson.<br /></p></div></div></div></div></div>Scottish Book Trusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06345165889671093937noreply@blogger.com0