Keris Stainton's Blog, page 3
July 14, 2014
Today is Malala Day
Who is Malala?
As a young girl, Malala Yousafzai defied the Taliban in Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to receive an education. In 2012, on the way home from school, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman; she was 14 years old. Miracuously, Malala survived and has continued to speak out on the importance of education, particularly for women and girls. On her 16th birthday, she gave a speech at the United Nations and has also written an autobiography, I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, which was released in October 2013. She’s been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize twice and is just 17 years old.
- Molly Adamson
July 10, 2014
Throwback Thursday: See the Child
I am posting a picture of myself as a child* in support of the 1.5 million children neglected in the UK. Politicians say there are ‘no votes in vulnerable children’ but sign this @KidsCompany petition www.seethechild.org to demand change. Together we can See the Child. Change the System. #SEETHECHILD or Text I SEE to 63000 (Standard network rates apply – no donation taken).
* Yes, another one. Sorry.
July 3, 2014
Throwback Thursday: Camping
My mum, holding my baby sister. And me, holding up the tent (in our garden).
July 1, 2014
Writing for Teenagers course starts TODAY
It’s July. Seriously. I mean… come on. Where has this year gone? Soon be Christmas! etc. But it means that my online Writing YA course starts again!
Here’s a comment from Kirsty, who did the course in May/June:
Keris provided detailed examples and lots of really useful resources that I can return to and explore further. Keris’ links with a range of YA authors is apparent and many have kindly shared their writing experiences. It’s really useful to see that range so you finally get a feeling that one size doesn’t fit all and that there really isn’t only one right way to write. What this course does, is to start to help you find the right way for you.
And here’s all the info if you’d like to join me in July: Writing for Teenagers.
June 26, 2014
Throwback Thursday: Specs
The boys modelling my glasses.
June 24, 2014
London, baby!
Last week, I had one of the best days I’ve ever experienced. In the morning I had an exciting sekrit meeting and then, along with author friends Keren David and Candy Gourlay, I went to Buckingham Palace.
We were invited to a garden party by the Red Cross because of the money we raised with the Authors for the Philippines auction at the end of last year. I’ve wanted to go to a Palace Garden Party since I was little, when Swap Shop had one (The Wombles were there), so I was very excited. But I didn’t really have any idea what to expect.
In the end, it was glorious. Much more relaxed than we’d expected it to be. It was a really hot day, the gardens were beautiful (there’s a lake there! I had no idea!), the food was wonderful, and we met some really lovely people. In the taxi afterwards all I could think was “I’ve just spent the afternoon eating cucumber sandwiches at Buckingham Palace…” Amazing. Thank you so much to the Red Cross for inviting us. And thank you to Candy for the photos.
From there, we went to lovely James Dawson’s book launch (for , which is too scary for me to read), where I chatted to lots of other lovely publishing people. Well, I say “chatted”, it was mostly me saying “I’VE BEEN TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE, YOU KNOW?!” And then went for dinner with author friends (and had the best steak I’ve ever tasted).
It was just a perfect day.
And all of it came out of writing.
Out of the YA writing community that I am so lucky and so honoured to be a part of.
June 19, 2014
June 17, 2014
How things change…
From my diary, 17 June 1998 (i.e. 16 years ago today).
June 12, 2014
June 10, 2014
What I read in May
I planned this year to read (or re-read) all of Maya Angelou’s memoirs. I’d only managed one, but as soon as I heard that she’d died, all I wanted was to hear her voice in my head, so I read Gather Together in My Name. And it was wonderful.
I also read her picture book, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, to Joe. We both loved it.
Joe and I re-read all the Oliver Jeffers books we have and we got a couple more from the library. The Incredible Book Eating Boy was Joe’s favourite. Stuck remains mine.
Once David finished reading Matilda to Harry, I read him Susie Day’s Pea’s Book of Best Friends. I’ve read it before (I adore the series), but loved rediscovering it with Harry.
I really enjoyed Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV by Warren Littlefield and it made me want to re-watch a bunch of TV shows and to finally get around to watching Seinfeld (yes, I know) and Mad About You. So interesting.
Another book I’ve been meaning to read for years is Anne of Green Gables. So many of my friends love it so much that I knew I’d love it too and I really did. Can’t wait to read the rest.
Eloisa James is one of my favourite authors – and one I probably never would have discovered had her books not been sent to me for review – and Three Weeks With Lady X was another fantastic read. (And another one just turned up yesterday. I’m very happy she’s so prolific.)
