Heather Child's Blog, page 2
November 6, 2020
Sign for our bookshops – perfect for Christmas shopping!
This lockdown, I’m taking part in #SignForOurBookshops, a national show of support from UK authors, urging people to keep buying through bookshops by offering exclusive signed bookplates.
As you can see below I have some bespoke book plates (stickers that can be signed and attached to your book) designed to match the cover of The Undoing of Arlo Knott.
[image error]
If you would like one for your book, just buy a copy from a high street or independent bookshop (including on bookshop.org) and send me your address and proof of purchase at h.child[at]gmail.com or via social media.
I have 20 of these to give away during lockdown, and I’m happy to personalise them. The offer is UK only and you need to buy your book before 2nd December 2020.
A signed, personalised book makes a great Christmas gift, and you can support bricks-and-mortar bookshops into the bargain!
Over 200 authors are taking part in the #SignForOurBookshops campaign so far, including Matt Haig, Dolly Alderton, Malorie Blackman, Michael Rosen, David Nicholls and many more. It was launched by bestselling author Holly Bourne.
The post Sign for our bookshops – perfect for Christmas shopping! appeared first on Heather Child.
September 24, 2020
Coming up at Bristol Literature Festival
This is the year of online literary festivals – all the chit chat and all the literati you could want, and all from the comfort of your sofa. Bristol Literature Festival has a great programme, and you can catch me at a couple of free, online events too…
[image error]
#kt-adv-heading_f2078a-e2, #kt-adv-heading_f2078a-e2 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading {font-size:20px;line-height:24px;font-weight:200;font-family:Montserrat;}#kt-adv-heading_f2078a-e2 mark, #kt-adv-heading_f2078a-e2 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark {padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}
INSPIRATIONAL FEMALE AUTHORS
#kt-adv-heading_809b85-30, #kt-adv-heading_809b85-30 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading {font-size:40px;line-height:50px;font-weight:800;font-family:Montserrat;}#kt-adv-heading_809b85-30 mark, #kt-adv-heading_809b85-30 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark {padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}
Stories of Strong Women
10:30am, Friday 23 October
Women inspiring women! Bristol authors Jane Duffus, Elle Spellman and Heather Child discuss women whose writing has blazed a trail. Join us for this free, online event.
.kt-btns_bae8a0-d2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button {color:#fff;font-size:18px;background:rgba(45, 92, 136, 1);border-color:rgba(45, 92, 136, 1);}.kt-btns_bae8a0-d2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .kt-btns_bae8a0-d2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus {color:#fff;border-color:rgba(108, 141, 171, 1);}.kt-btns_bae8a0-d2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before {display:none;}.kt-btns_bae8a0-d2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .kt-btns_bae8a0-d2 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus {background:rgba(108, 141, 171, 1);}
Read more
[image error]
#kt-adv-heading_4cdd01-82, #kt-adv-heading_4cdd01-82 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading {font-size:20px;line-height:24px;font-weight:200;font-family:Montserrat;}#kt-adv-heading_4cdd01-82 mark, #kt-adv-heading_4cdd01-82 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark {padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}
NOVEL RESEARCH
#kt-adv-heading_995d4b-f1, #kt-adv-heading_995d4b-f1 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading {font-size:40px;line-height:50px;font-weight:800;font-family:Montserrat;}#kt-adv-heading_995d4b-f1 mark, #kt-adv-heading_995d4b-f1 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark {padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}
Hidden Gems
7pm, Saturday 24 October
From landmine-sniffing rats to the mysterious ‘red gene’… Bristol novelists Ali Bacon, Jean Burnett, Kerry Postle and Heather Child share the three most amazing things they found out while researching their books. Delve into the secrets of famous Italian artists, the birth of photography, the Spanish Civil War and some astonishing quantum physics. You are sure to learn something new!
.kt-btns_84fced-dc .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button {color:#fff;font-size:18px;background:rgba(45, 92, 136, 1);border-color:rgba(45, 92, 136, 1);}.kt-btns_84fced-dc .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .kt-btns_84fced-dc .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus {color:#fff;border-color:rgba(108, 141, 171, 1);}.kt-btns_84fced-dc .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before {display:none;}.kt-btns_84fced-dc .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .kt-btns_84fced-dc .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus {background:rgba(108, 141, 171, 1);}
Read more
And my lovely writing group, Just Write Bristol, are putting on a virtual version of their popular Story Sunday events, normally held at the Southbank Centre…
[image error]
#kt-adv-heading_8455dd-b9, #kt-adv-heading_8455dd-b9 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading {font-size:20px;line-height:24px;font-weight:200;font-family:Montserrat;}#kt-adv-heading_8455dd-b9 mark, #kt-adv-heading_8455dd-b9 .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark {padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}
THE GREAT ESCAPE
#kt-adv-heading_77ef75-6e, #kt-adv-heading_77ef75-6e .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading {font-size:40px;line-height:50px;font-weight:800;font-family:Montserrat;}#kt-adv-heading_77ef75-6e mark, #kt-adv-heading_77ef75-6e .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading mark {padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}
Story Sunday
7pm, Sunday 25 October
Just Write Bristol present a flurry of escape and escapism.
Showcasing specially commissioned short and snappy stories read by our best-loved writers and performers who will also talk about their writing lives, writing styles and writing inspiration. Join us on our imaginary journeys, find out how writers tick, be ready with your feedback, comments and questions!
.kt-btns_50414c-36 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button {color:#fff;font-size:18px;background:rgba(45, 92, 136, 1);border-color:rgba(45, 92, 136, 1);}.kt-btns_50414c-36 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .kt-btns_50414c-36 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus {color:#fff;border-color:rgba(108, 141, 171, 1);}.kt-btns_50414c-36 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before {display:none;}.kt-btns_50414c-36 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .kt-btns_50414c-36 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus {background:rgba(108, 141, 171, 1);}
Read more
Look forward to seeing you there!
The post Coming up at Bristol Literature Festival appeared first on Heather Child.
July 7, 2020
Lockdown lonesomeness, hope and isolation
I’m sure many writers have found that during lockdown they are pulled two ways.
On the one hand, there is no FOMO to stop you writing, because nothing is going on anyway. Everyone in the world is having to hunker down at home, as you do normally. Surely you were born to ride out this pandemic, at double your normal rate of productivity… or so goes the theory.
On the other hand, there is too much craziness to concentrate, you’re worried about the day job, elderly relatives, book promotion, Dominic Cummings and the world in general.
[image error]
My experience has been this typical dichotomy, probably a bit more of the second one. I’ve continued to write, but have not been as productive as expected. There has been less creative stimulation, and more anxiety. My drinks cupboard has certainly taken a hit.
But work on book three continues… and I found time to write a story on cheese for a lovely anthology published by Storgy. It is titled – comfortingly – You Are Not Alone, whose profits go to support the most vulnerable people in our society, those who are really suffering from the pandemic. You can support Big Issue, Shelter and other charities by grabbing a copy here.
The post Lockdown lonesomeness, hope and isolation appeared first on Heather Child.
February 19, 2020
Deep in the forest… I visited a book club
Earlier this week I braved the flooding to head into the Forest of Dean, where I was warmly welcomed by the Newnham Readers group, a book club set up by local librarian Margaret Ellis.
The group chose The Undoing of Arlo Knott as their February read, and I went along to hear what they thought of it. I’d already been told that they never all agreed on a book one way or another…
Luckily they had mostly good things to say!
There were lots of comments about Arlo being driven by his own ego through much of the book, and what kind of person he eventually becomes. Surprisingly, there were also quite a range of interpretations of what happens at the end.
I also heard some interesting new ideas about the snake…
That’s the benefit of hearing from different book groups: it reminds you that reading is a hugely subjective experience. As a writer, all you can do is frame the story; what people see in it will always vary.
With thanks to Newnham Readers for a very pleasant evening (and to Maggie for the amazing lasagna!)
If you are a book club in the Westcountry and would like me to attend your event, please get in touch.
The post Deep in the forest… I visited a book club appeared first on Heather Child.
November 13, 2019
A bookish autumn
There have been so many book events over the last couple of months I’ve hardly been able to keep up! Needless to say it’s been great reading from The Undoing of Arlo Knott to new audiences, and getting into a lot of interesting chats with readers about the nature of time, quantum physics, snakes, superheroes and much more!
So what’s been happening?
Dragons and AI at Bristol con
In October I was at Bristol con, where it was lovely to see Gareth Powell as the guest of honour, plus a few more familiar faces. As well as two panels and a reading I ran ‘The Forest of Forking Paths’ workshop, in which we co-created our own adventure story. Being a fantasy crowd, a dragon got involved fairly quickly…
Super Relaxed Fantasy Club
Last night I was in London at the fabulous Super Relaxed Fantasy Club. Such a brilliant evening with a warm, friendly crowd and great readings from Paul Cornell and M.R. Carey – who gave us an exciting glimpse into his brand new and highly intriguing Book of Koli.
Tales of our city and more
This autumn we had another excellent Bristol Festival of Literature. My writers group Writers Unchained ran the ‘Tales of Our City’ spoken word evening, and we also had a stall at the Arnos Vale book fair.
What does the internet know about you?
Last but not least, Bishopston Library in Bristol kindly invited me to talk about Everything About You and dive into some topics of AI deep fakery, big data and the internet of things. A great crowd (and a library well worth checking out for its impressive range of events).
The post A bookish autumn appeared first on Heather Child.
October 13, 2019
Read at your own risk: Heroes and Villains
We’re seemingly surrounded by villains and in desperate need of heroes. But how do authors create them and what can we learn from these timeless archetypes?
Day: Wednesday 16th October
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Max Minerva’s, 39 North View, BS6 7PY
Tickets: £3 (redeemable on purchase of a book)
About the authors
Heather Child’s latest novel, The Undoing of Arlo Knott, came out in August this year and was a Guardian book of the month. It tells of Arlo, who develops the mysterious ability to reverse his last action, making him better at life and able to experience anything without worrying about the consequences. But as he discovers, second chances aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
Robin Etherington is one half of the Etherington Brothers, the author of five Long Gone Don adventures and the creator eight book-length Von Doogan puzzle adventures for The Phoenix. He’s also written for Star Wars, Transformers, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. His new book, How to think when you write, is set to break Kickstarter records when it comes out in October.
The post Read at your own risk: Heroes and Villains appeared first on Heather Child.
August 13, 2019
What do the reviewers think of Arlo Knott?
“This is a breathtaking book […] I hesitate to use clichés like ‘unputdownable’ but this is a book that is very easy to keep reading and reading”
Blue Book Balloon
“The end reveal just took my breath away” **** – Shalini’s Books and Reviews
“One of my favourite reads so far this year” – Runalong the Shelves
“I love this book […] I implore you to read it” – The Fantasy Inn
“I am still thinking about it days, and weeks, later” ***** – Marciano’s Missing Millions
“Beautiful and unique, The Undoing of Arlo Knott is a book I would recommend” – Cal Turner Reviews
“Clever, fascinating, interesting and very different” **** – Alex J Book Reviews
“A totally different read, constantly twisting and turning – perfect for Summer holidays” – Roachie’s Reviews
“Very intelligent speculative fiction with a clever science twist” – Liz Loves Books
“A real gem of a book” – Bibliophile Book Club
“A great book club read” – Over the Rainbow Book Blog
“If you want something different to read, this is such a beautiful book” – Bookish Blogging by Hannah
“There’s a surprise in the end” **** – Varietats
Thanks again to Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers for organising Arlo’s blog tour.
The post What do the reviewers think of Arlo Knott? appeared first on Heather Child.
August 6, 2019
Arlo hits the high street
Arlo Knott is finally out in the world, having been launched at a sell-out event at Storysmith Books, Bristol.
With fabulous hosting from Hugo award-winning sci-fi critic and publisher Cheryl Morgan, we talked about having an undo button for life, plus the power of hindsight, quantum physics and snakes and ladders.
The room was packed and the shop ran out of books. Huge thanks to everyone who came and made it such a wonderful launch.
The post Arlo hits the high street appeared first on Heather Child.
July 30, 2019
Win a signed copy of THE UNDOING OF ARLO KNOTT
‘Brilliantly twisty, thought-provoking stuff – such enjoyable reading’
– Jenny Colgan
What if your life had an ‘undo’ button?
Enter below…
Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Details will be used for this competition only and not passed to any third party. Book posted within UK.
Competition closes Monday 12 August.
The post Win a signed copy of THE UNDOING OF ARLO KNOTT appeared first on Heather Child.
July 29, 2019
Arlo goes to MCM Comic Con Manchester
This weekend past, I was with Alison Littlewood up at MCM Manchester, talking to a packed audience about how to set a novel with fantastical elements in the real world.
A highlight was Michael Rooker – of Guardians of the Galaxy – checking out Everything About You at the Author corner (he’s Mary Poppins, y’all!).
The post Arlo goes to MCM Comic Con Manchester appeared first on Heather Child.
