Robin Stevens's Blog, page 15

My Behind the Book video is available now!

I’m very pleased to say that my Behind the Book video, featuring a Q&A, a workspace tour and a reading from the last two chapters of Death Sets Sail, is available to watch NOW on the Puffin YouTube channel. There’s a link below – I hope you enjoy it!

Behind the Book – watch the video from Friday!

I’ve got a new video on the way! Behind the Book with Robin Stevens will premiere on the Puffin YouTube Channel on Friday 18th September at 6pm BST.

You’ll be able to watch it at any time after that – and I’m also going to be posting it here on my website the next day. It’s got a tour of my workspace, a Q&A with fans and me reading the final two chapters of Death Sets Sail – so if you haven’t finished the book yet, you’ve got a few days to read it before you watch the video!

I really hope you enjoy it – I loved making it! I’ll also be back later this month with an update video on my own YouTube channel, so look out for that as well.

Writing Prompt Mondays: Prompt 22

Well done on your responses to last week’s prompt, Detectives! Your stories were so clever and thoughtful and romantic. I particularly liked Polly’s story about real female pirates, Ana’s story about a crush that might break up a friendship, Inaya’s Partition love story, Bel’s Murder Most Unladylike meet cute and Shims Girl’s geeky love story.

Because a lot of you have gone back to school by now, there’s less time for you to write your stories. So for the rest of this year, these prompts are going to become monthly, not weekly. You can still post your responses at any time, of course – and if you get bored you can always go back and respond to older prompts!

For the rest of September, your prompt will be resolutions. This was suggested by Detective Society member Neve – and it seems like a great choice, since this is the beginning of the school year, a time full of new challenges and big decisions.

A resolution is of course just a decision – to take up running, or learn to bake, or to be nicer to a family member or friend! You can write about characters making resolutions and breaking them, deciding to do something nice or not nice at all. You can also write about resolve in general – that’s the inner strength you use to get you through a difficult time and deal with upsetting things going on in the world.

Good luck, Detectives – both with your stories and with taking the big decisions that are part of all of our lives!

The rules …

It can be as long or as short as you like, and take you as much or as little time as you want.It can be any genre (type) of story you want. If you have an idea for something that I haven’t mentioned (writing a poem! Being inspired by a song you love! Writing non-fiction!), don’t wait for my permission – just go for it! This is your creativity working!You are not allowed to worry about grammar or spelling.You are not allowed to worry if it isn’t perfect, or criticise yourself as you’re writing.You are encouraged to make a plan before you begin, to make it easier for you to get to the end of the story. This can be two words or a whole page! But if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.Get to the end of the story without stopping to go back and fix bits you don’t like. Once you’ve finished, read it through again. If you still don’t like those bits, you can edit them now!If you want (and only if you want!) you’re allowed to post the first 500 words of your story in the comments below. I have to moderate the comments so it may take a while for them to show up – please be patient. I don’t want to see you apologising for your story or minimising what you’ve done when you post – writing a story is a triumph and you should be proud!Please do not use your full name when you comment – first names are fine, or you can make up a username that you like! Also remember to stay safe online and not get into private discussions with anyone you don’t know in real life without telling an adult first.If you like someone else’s story, you are allowed to comment to say so! If you’d like to give them ideas that might make their story even stronger, that’s OK, but please be kind and remember how deeply we all care about our writing. A good format for feedback might be something like: ‘I loved ****! Have you thought of ****? I think it might make your story even better!’ I will delete any comment if I feel it’s critical without being constructive.I can’t promise to give feedback on any individual stories – I’m not marking them!This isn’t a competition, and there will be no winners and no prizes, though I may choose a story or two to highlight in future posts.

Scottish Schools: This is your chance to get a visit from me!

I’ve got good news for Scottish fans – I may not be able to come visit you in person this autumn, but I’ll be able to be with you virtually!

I’m teaming up with the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour and Book Week Scotland for a week of absolutely FREE events for Scottish schools. (Yes, this is schools only, I’m afraid – but please do share the link with your teachers to see if your school could book me).

Visit the webpage to find out more, and to watch a short video from me about what I’m offering. I’m really looking forward to chatting to as many of you as possible – I’m so glad we can still connect online!

Ask Me Anything for my new Behind the Book Video!

Have you finished Death Sets Sail? Do you have BURNING QUESTIONS that you’re longing to have me answer? Now’s your chance!

You have until the 6th of September to send all of your questions about the MMU series, The Ministry of Unladylike Activity, Howl the puppy or anything else you might want to know to a special email address that my publisher Puffin has set up: askrobinstevens@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. I’m going to be answering my very favourites on a new ‘Behind the Book’ video, premiering on the 18th of September on the Puffin YouTube channel. I’ll also be reading the last few chapters of Death Sets Sail. So expect tears …

Please make sure you follow the instructions above carefully – don’t email my usual author email address, and don’t delay, as the 6th September deadline is very soon.

I can’t wait to answer your questions, Detectives!

Death Sets Sail at the Reading is Magic Festival!

I’ve got great news for any Detective Society members sad to be missing me at this year’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival – although I won’t be able to be there in person, the festival is going online this year, and I’m part of it!

The Reading is Magic Festival launched its programme last week, and I’m thrilled to be part of its brilliant line-up, doing a panel with two of my detective author friends Sharna Jackson and Serena Patel! We’re chaired by Katherine Woodfine – and you can watch our event for free on the 30th September at 1:30pm.

Visit the website now to find out more and to see who else will be appearing – it’s an amazing list of authors and illustrators, and I hope it helps brighten up your autumn!

Death Sets Sail Article Round-Up

I’m back from my holidays, and catching up on all of your messages and emails. It’s so nice to hear that you’ve been enjoying Death Sets Sail – and so lovely to read all of the mentions it’s been getting in the press!

Imogen Russell Williams chose Death Sets Sail for her Guardian round-up last weekend. She calls it:

A triumphant conclusion to a satisfying, wide-ranging series that deserves to be read for years to come.

Imogen Russell Williams, The Guardian, 29th August 2020

Alice Nuttall also mentions Death Sets Sail in her list of Eight Kids’ Books with Best Friend Teams for Book Riot, saying:

as well as being one of the most brilliant homages to the work of Agatha Christie that I’ve ever seen, it’s a wonderful, if bittersweet, conclusion to the story of two best friends who’ve gone through so much together.

Alice Nuttall, Book Riot, 31st August 2020

And Surrey County Council has picked Death Sets Sail as one of its September Top Ten Reads!

Murder Most Unladylike in Huffington Post India

There have been some wonderful mentions of Death Sets Sail and the Murder Most Unladylike series while I’ve been away – and I think one of my very favourites is this absolutely incredible article about the series by Anannya Baruah.

It’s a long read, and I think a very worthwhile one. Anannya gets into so many of the themes and ideas I wanted to explore in the books, and I feel so honoured that she sees the series in such a complex and interesting way. She writes so beautifully about the series ending, too – I got a bit teary more than once!

“It feels strange to say goodbye to Wells and Wong at a time when a global pandemic has changed everything about the world as we used to know it, but I also envy anyone—young or old—who picks up these books for the first time.”

Anannya Baruah, Huffington Post India, 22nd August 2020

Writing Prompt Mondays: Prompt 21

Hello Detectives! I hope you’ve had a good few weeks. I’ve been on holiday, playing with Howl the puppy and reading lots of amazing books – expect a video about my favourites in September! I’m not officially back until later this week, so although I’m setting you this prompt now, I haven’t yet had the chance to read your stories from Prompt 20 and pick my favourites. Check back here later to see what they are!

This prompt was suggested by Detective Society member and regular prompt participant Xydel, who wanted to see a romantic theme. So for this week, I’d like you to write a story with a romance!

Your romance can be between anyone – characters you’ve made up, people from your favourite book or film, historical figures … You can have a love triangle, a hopeless romance or a requited passion. Your lovers can get together, stay together or break up. But if your characters do realise they love each other by the end of the story, keep it to kissing only please, as this will be read by Detective Society Members of all ages.

The rules …

It can be as long or as short as you like, and take you as much or as little time as you want.It can be any genre (type) of story you want. If you have an idea for something that I haven’t mentioned (writing a poem! Being inspired by a song you love! Writing non-fiction!), don’t wait for my permission – just go for it! This is your creativity working!You are not allowed to worry about grammar or spelling.You are not allowed to worry if it isn’t perfect, or criticise yourself as you’re writing.You are encouraged to make a plan before you begin, to make it easier for you to get to the end of the story. This can be two words or a whole page! But if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.Get to the end of the story without stopping to go back and fix bits you don’t like. Once you’ve finished, read it through again. If you still don’t like those bits, you can edit them now!If you want (and only if you want!) you’re allowed to post the first 500 words of your story in the comments below. I have to moderate the comments so it may take a while for them to show up – please be patient. I don’t want to see you apologising for your story or minimising what you’ve done when you post – writing a story is a triumph and you should be proud!Please do not use your full name when you comment – first names are fine, or you can make up a username that you like! Also remember to stay safe online and not get into private discussions with anyone you don’t know in real life without telling an adult first.If you like someone else’s story, you are allowed to comment to say so! If you’d like to give them ideas that might make their story even stronger, that’s OK, but please be kind and remember how deeply we all care about our writing. A good format for feedback might be something like: ‘I loved ****! Have you thought of ****? I think it might make your story even better!’ I will delete any comment if I feel it’s critical without being constructive.I can’t promise to give feedback on any individual stories – I’m not marking them!This isn’t a competition, and there will be no winners and no prizes, though I may choose a story or two to highlight in future posts.

Good luck, Detectives, and remember: all’s fair in love and war …

Death Sets Sail on Down the Rabbit Hole!

I’m still on holiday this week, but I’m stopping by to share something fun with you – I was featured on the Down the Rabbit Hole children’s books podcast along with fellow crime writer Sharna Jackson!

Our episode is up now, and it’s all about crime fiction, our books (Sharna writes the High Rise Mystery series) and our writing tips. We’re interviewed by host and mystery author Katherine Woodfine, whose latest book, Villains in Venice, I’ve actually just finished reading. So listen in now – and I’ll be back in September!