Jonathan Stroud's Blog, page 79

Early morning mists at the Saracen's Head Hotel....

Early morning mists at the Saracen's Head Hotel. It's apparently haunted by a ghost, but I didn't see her. Mind you, I woke up in the depths of the night with a strange pain in my arm… Either the ghost had touched me with her chill fingers, or I'd slept on it funny. The choice is yours…

Solomon Tour Part Two

A busy few days began on Tuesday with me giving the Patrick Hardy talk in London. It's an annual speech about 'excellence in Children's Books', and I chatted about writing Fantasy: the types of it; & the authors that influenced me. With luck I'll post the text of the talk up on my author site before long, and it'll appear on the Children's Book Circle site too.

On Wednesday I travelled under big blue skies to East Anglia & the marvellous Norfolk Children's Book Centre, set amid fields. I signed their wall (which seemed to have every children's author's scrawl/illustration), then did a lovely event at Aldborough Primary School.

At Puffin HQ, with nice view of the Thames behind me. I'm...

At Puffin HQ, with nice view of the Thames behind me. I'm just about to step inside and do the Patrick Hardy talk.

Enjoying an ice-cream at SilverDell Books.

Enjoying an ice-cream at SilverDell Books.

Morning stroll by Lytham windmill.

Morning stroll by Lytham windmill.

Solomon Tour Day 2

Up early to wander along the shore at Lytham. Then off to St Bede's School for a morning event, organised by SilverDell Books of Kirkham. SilverDell are famous for their homemade ice-cream, so we had to call in there for a sample, before an excellent event at St Augustine's School in Clitheroe. Great questions and a long signing queue has left me a very happy author.

Onstage at Manchester Grammar School yesterday.

Onstage at Manchester Grammar School yesterday.

Solomon Tour Day 1

Great day yesterday in Northern England. I began in Liverpool after a trip through the Wirral peninsula, long ago mentioned in 'Sir Gawain & the Green Knight' as the Wildernesse of Wirrale, but now a desirable spot where lots of footballers live. Took the train to Manchester and the Royal Grammar School, where I did a nice event in their fantastic lecture theatre. Afterwards off to the great store Simply Books, humming with children's reading groups, where I had some reviving courgette cake and geared up for the journey north to Preston and the sea.

Outside Simply Books yesterday after great event at Manchester...

Outside Simply Books yesterday after great event at Manchester Grammar School.

Off on tour...

Since the Edinburgh Festival late last month, I've been lying fairly low working on my new projects, and also preparing for the Patrick Hardy Lecture 2011, which I'll be giving on 27th September in London. This is an annual talk, usually given by an author or illustrator of Children's Books, organised by the Children's Book Circle. Past speakers include David Almond, Anthony Horowitz, Jacqueline Wilson and Malorie Blackman, and I'm really thrilled (and a bit nervous) to have been invited to give it this year. It's open to everyone (£5 non-Book Circle members), and you can find out about how to come along by visiting the CBC website. Check out my News/Events pages for more information.

Meanwhile, I'm off on a mini-tour this week to celebrate the UK paperback publication of The Ring of Solomon. On Tuesday I'll be visiting a Manchester Grammar School, and popping in to Simply Books (see my Events page for info) in Stockport. On Wednesday I'll be in Preston, courtesy of Silverdell Books, visiting St Bedes School and St Augustin's RC High School. The week after that I'll be off to Norfolk and Lincolnshire, as well as giving the Patrick Hardy talk. Exciting times! I've invested in lots of new razors, combs, ironing boards etc to make myself look respectable…