Jonathan Stroud's Blog, page 78
November 9, 2011
With Jenni Mai Nuyen and Natalie Wormsbecher outside the theatre...
With Jenni Mai Nuyen and Natalie Wormsbecher outside the theatre at KIBUM.
Rainer in full flow.
Rainer in full flow.
Preparing onstage with Rainer Rudloff at KIBUM.
Preparing onstage with Rainer Rudloff at KIBUM.
November 7, 2011
Detective Stories and Lectures
I'm typing this at the airport, on my way to Germany for the KIBUM Festival of Children's Literature in Oldenburg. This'll be my second day of events in the last week - last Friday I had a great morning at the Hemel Hempstead School. In addition to talking about my books I also did a workshop about detective stories. Discussed the rules of the genre, then got the students to write some of their own… Terrific work. I'm always amazed how much wonderful writing comes pouring out when you just sit down and go for it.
Pleased also to finally put my Patrick Hardy lecture up online (see News page). I guess essays are short stories of a different kind - the adventures of an idea…
November 2, 2011
An autumnal author takes a birthday stroll
An autumnal author takes a birthday stroll
Deeper into autumn
Outside my window, the lawn is clogged with orange carpets of fallen leaves; and also zigzagged by a mysterious series of giant grey toadstools, grown out of nowhere, seemingly following some hidden fissure in the earth.
Still writing. Sometimes I feel like a look-out strapped to the mast of some ship, staring through the fog, waiting for the promised land of the next novel to suddenly take shape before me. Well, I've definitely sighted that land now, and these last two weeks it's been steadily swimming into focus, day by day, which is a very good feeling. I'm busy figuring out my chapter plans now.
My birthday last week too. Celebrated in the traditional way, i.e. a long walk in damp forests, followed by bacon butties and hot tea.
October 14, 2011
New Short Story Now Online!
I've been lying pretty low these last two weeks, getting back into the writing. All through the summer I've been flitting between various projects, trying to get several off the ground. Some writers I know say they manage to write two novels at once, which I've always thought sounded impossible: one in the morning, one in the afternoon. I'm not sure I could do that - jumping between worlds so fast would be just too tricky - but it's nice to have a couple of 'live' projects going. Sometimes it helps with a book to leave it alone for a while, then you get the answer to a problem while working on something completely different. Anyway, my plan is to plunge onwards and have sample sections to show my publishers before too long.
Meanwhile, exciting news… A new short story of mine, The Wishing Charm, is now online at Tesco Magazine's Kids Book Club! It's a little moral tale of magic and the supernatural, which might perhaps be set in Bart's world (though he doesn't appear). You can view it at http://kidsbookclub.tescomagazine.com/books-and-stories/the-wishing-charm.html Hope you enjoy it!
September 30, 2011
Last Days of the Tour
Well, I'm on the train back home after two fantastic days in the East of England. Cloudless skies above, and four great visits: to Norwich School and Sprowston Junior School in Norfolk, followed by Carres Grammar and Queen Elizabeth Grammar Schools in Lincolnshire. Lots of chat about Bart, drawing, reading, and answering excellent questions. Am now somewhat hoarse, but happily zooming south alongside the setting sun.
Norwich Cathedral right next door.
Norwich Cathedral right next door.
A warm welcome at Norwich School.
A warm welcome at Norwich School.
