Robin Stevens's Blog, page 54
June 13, 2016
Festivals and Fun: May Author Events
I’ve had a very busy and exciting May! I’ve visited schools from Richmond to Grantham, and festivals from Brighton to Linton. There’s almost too much to share – below are just a selection of my favourite moments from May!
All school visits are special, but being asked to visit the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park was particularly incredible. I had an amazing time talking to the year 7s and 8s – here we all are at the end of the talk!
On the 15th May I visited Barnes for their children’s festival. It was a wonderful event, and I was particularly impressed by my two introducers, Loulou and Lauren.
… And just when I thought my Barnes event couldn’t get more exciting, I saw a Deepdean pupil in the front row! She even had a piece of string in her pocket for carrying out detective missions. A true member of the Detective Society!
Photo credit: Ruth Keys
On the 22nd May, I went to the lovely Linton Book Festival. I spoke about the new kids’ crime anthology Mystery & Mayhem with fellow Crime Club member Helen Moss (read Helen’s brilliant write-up here), and was part of their writers’ panel – it was such a fun day!
I also teamed up with Crime Club members Julia Golding and Katherine Woodfine to hold a Mystery & Mayhem event at Bookfeast Oxford. I love being part of a team on stage – it makes staring out at an audience slightly less terrifying! If you ever wondered what an author sees when they get up on stage, take a look at the picture above …
My last May event was Brighton Festival on the 28th, and it was an amazing way to finish the month! I had an incredible signing queue afterwards, and some of them even brought me presents. Thank you Stephanie, Molly and the rest of the audience for being so thoughtful – I loved my bunbreak!
I’ll be back out on the road in July (see my upcoming events here), but this week I’m editing, making final tweaks to my fifth book. Watch out for the title and cover reveal coming in July as well. You can already pre-order it here, though, and it’ll be out in UK shops on 20th October, just in time for Christmas!
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June 10, 2016
Daisy and Hazel arrive in Taiwan
I had a very special delivery today: the Taiwanese edition of my first book, Murder Most Unladylike! It’s the second foreign language edition that I’ve seen (if you missed the gorgeous Italian hardcovers of the first two books, check them out here) and the first to be written in a language that I can’t read a word of. Daisy and Hazel have travelled completely beyond me – it’s a magnificent and bewildering feeling.
I’m completely in love with the cover. It looks like I’ve written a really elegant horror movie, possibly a boarding school version of the Ring. Daisy and Hazel appear to be balancing on the edge of a knife, which is actually very appropriate. And look at the maps!
I’m so honoured to see my book travelling to so many countries – next up will be the French edition this summer. If you see any foreign editions in the wild, let me know!
May 31, 2016
A note on school visits
Note: I edited this on June 2nd to clarify that I’m only referring to school events I book myself, and that this decision does not affect all of my other events!
It’s been six months since I made the decision to leave my job at a children’s publisher and become a full-time author. It’s been an incredibly exciting, strange thing to navigate, and I am so glad that I did it – I know I wouldn’t have been able to write my fifth book without making the change. I’ve had time to visit more schools, and go to more literary festivals, and write more emails and hold more public events…
But about two months ago I began to notice something. I was very tired, all of the time. I could not work out why this was happening. I didn’t even have another job any more! I was probably not trying hard enough, and this was bad.
But then I looked at my schedule, at all of those school events and festivals and signings, and noticed something. I haven’t had more than one day off per week since I left my job. In fact, there have been some weeks (some months) where I’ve had no days off. I’ve been writing and visiting schools five days a week, and then travelling to festivals and signings every weekend. And I suddenly realised why I was so tired.
This lightbulb moment came at almost exactly the same time as I saw my editorial schedule for the next year. I’ve got Book 5 to finish by the end of June, and then a lot of exciting projects (more about these very soon, I promise!) to work on before the end of the year. And that’s why I’ve decided to close to (self-booked) school visits until the end of the year. I’ll be taking school event bookings in the New Year, and can’t wait to be back on the road meeting all my brilliant readers for World Book Day 2017.
What does this mean? Not much, actually! I won’t stop writing, or doing events, or meeting my fans. On the contrary, I’m making this small change to my schedule to allow myself to spend time with you and time with my books. I think it’s the best way forward! To find out more, read the handy FAQ below.
Q: What are self-booked school visits? Does this mean you’ll stop visiting schools?
A: By self-booked I mean visits that I organise directly with a school. I won’t be taking any more bookings until the new year – but I will of course be doing school visits organised by my publisher. I’m doing a big five-day tour of schools in November to promote my fifth book, and I’ll go on another tour of schools in the spring. So you might just get a visit from me anyway!
Q: I love your books! Does this mean you won’t be doing any more events?
A: No! Closing to school visits means that I can keep on doing public events in bookshops and at festivals. There will be a regular programme of public events around the release of the fifth book – keep checking the calendar at the bottom of my About Me page to see where and when I’m appearing. I’ve updated it with my schedule for the summer already!
Q: So you’ll still be promoting your fifth book?
A: ABSOLUTELY! That was never in doubt, and I’ve already got lots of events in the pipeline. If you want to meet me, there’ll be lots of opportunities.
Q: Will you be at any festivals this summer?
A: I’m not going to be at Hay or Edinburgh, unfortunately – but check my schedule to see where I will be appearing!
Q: I’m a librarian or a teacher and we’ve already agreed a date for an upcoming self-booked event. Will you still be coming?
A: Yes, I will. I’m going to honour all of my existing commitments – anything else wouldn’t be fair.
Q: I’m a librarian or a teacher and we’ve been in contact about a self-booked event – but we haven’t yet agreed on a date. Can we still go ahead?
A: Please email me about this – I’ll work on a case by case basis, and try to accept what I can! Don’t panic yet.
Q: I’m a librarian or a teacher and I’d like you to come visit my school for World Book Day, or later in the spring. Are you open then?
A: I’ve got a few slots free for the week of WBD, so it’s worth trying – but I can’t commit to anything else in the spring of 2017 until the new year.
Thank you all for being so understanding and lovely. I have the world’s best fans – and I know you deserve the best books I can write!
An announcement – school visits
It’s been six months since I made the decision to leave my job at a children’s publisher and become a full-time author. It’s been an incredibly exciting, strange thing to navigate, and I am so glad that I did it – I know I wouldn’t have been able to write my fifth book without making the change. I’ve had time to visit more schools, and go to more literary festivals, and write more emails and hold more public events…
But about two months ago I began to notice something. I was very tired, all of the time. I could not work out why this was happening. I didn’t even have another job any more! I was probably not trying hard enough, and this was bad.
But then I looked at my schedule, at all of those school events and festivals and signings, and noticed something. I haven’t had more than one day off per week since I left my job. In fact, there have been some weeks (some months) where I’ve had no days off. I’ve been writing and visiting schools five days a week, and then travelling to festivals and signings every weekend. And I suddenly realised why I was so tired.
This lightbulb moment came at almost exactly the same time as I saw my editorial schedule for the next year. I’ve got Book 5 to finish by the end of June, and then a lot of exciting projects (more about these very soon, I promise!) to work on before the end of the year. I have to admit defeat – I can’t write these books and do as many events as I’ve been doing. I am not actually magic. And that’s why, with heavy heart, I’ve decided to close to school visits for the forseeable future.
What does this mean? Check out the handy FAQ below. But know that I want to make sure I can be available to my wonderful fans and get my books delivered on time, and I think that this is the best way forward. I hope you’ll understand!
Q: I love your books! Does this mean you won’t be doing any more events?
A: No! Closing to school visits means that I can do public events – in bookshops and at festivals. There will be a regular programme of events around the release of the fifth book – keep checking the calendar at the bottom of my About Me page to see where and when I’m appearing. I’ve updated it with my schedule for the summer already!
Q: So you’ll still be promoting your fifth book?
A: ABSOLUTELY! I’ve already got lots of events in the pipeline. If you want to meet me, there’ll be lots of opportunities.
Q: Will you be at any festivals this summer?
A: I’m not going to be at Hay or Edinburgh, unfortunately – but check my schedule to see where I will be appearing!
Q: I’m a librarian or a teacher and we’ve already agreed a date for an upcoming event. Will you still be coming?
A: Yes, I will. I’m going to honour all of my existing commitments – anything else wouldn’t be fair.
Q: I’m a librarian or a teacher and we’ve been in contact – but we haven’t yet agreed on a date. Can we still go ahead?
A: Please email me about this – I’ll work on a case by case basis, and try to accept what I can! Don’t panic yet.
Q: I’m a librarian or a teacher and I’d like you to come visit my school for World Book Day, or later in the spring. Are you open then?
A: I’ve got a few slots free for the week of WBD, so it’s worth trying – but I can’t commit to anything else in the spring of 2017 at the moment.
Q: I’ve emailed you, and you haven’t responded yet. Why?
A: I’ve been so busy with the fifth book, and with events, that I haven’t been able to take the time to respond. I want to write back properly to everyone who contacts me, and that sometimes takes a while. Be patient – I promise that I will get to you!
Thank you all for being so understanding and lovely. I have the world’s best fans – and I know you deserve the best books I can write!
May 27, 2016
Mystery & Mayhem reviewed in the Sun
I woke up this morning to extremely exciting news – TWO of my books were reviewed in the Sun! The first was Jolly Foul Play, and the second was the mystery anthology I’m part of, Mystery & Mayhem!
Natasha Harding gave it four stars, and called it: ‘A wonderful anthology of 12 new crime stories … there is something to suit every taste’.
The full review is below. I’m so delighted to see the book covered like this – it feels like a win for the whole Crime Club!
Jolly Foul Play reviewed in the Sun
I woke up this morning to extremely exciting news – TWO of my books were reviewed in today’s Sun!
The first is Jolly Foul Play. Natasha Harding, the reviewer, gave it four stars, and said: ‘With enough twists to satisfy young readers, it’s an exciting story.’
I’m incredibly proud to see my book covered in one of the country’s biggest newspapers – thank you Natasha! You can read the full review below.
May 25, 2016
Jolly Foul Play reviewed in the Spectator
Jolly Foul Play just got a review in a rather unusual place – the Spectator magazine! It’s the oldest magazine in the UK – if Daisy’s father Lord Hastings read anything apart from the Boy’s Own Paper, I’m sure it would be this!
The whole article is here, and the excerpt about Jolly Foul Play is below:
Robin Stevens’s Jolly Foul Play (Puffin, £6.99) is the latest Murder Most Unladylike Mystery, set in the 1930s and involving two girl sleuths, one Home Counties, the other Hong Kong Chinese. It’s Agatha Christie for nine-year-olds with psychological insight from our Chinese heroine. Again, there’s a murder at Deepdean School — where no sensible parent should ever leave a child — and besides the usual bloodied hockey stick there’s a bit of lesbianism. Just saying. I’m told by my child reviewer that the plot is ‘realistic’. Golly!
The reviewer is quite correct about Deepdean, by the way. Goodness knows why they haven’t shut it down yet …
May 13, 2016
A very Mysterious launch!
Last night, Daunt’s in Cheapside were kind enough to host the launch of the crime anthology I’m part of, Mystery & Mayhem. It features 12 authors and 12 (absolutely brilliant) original crime short stories for ages 8-12 (and up), and yesterday we managed to gather a third of the Crime Club, their families and friends into one space for one very fun evening. Huge thanks to my partner in crime Katherine Woodfine, and Egmont’s Maggie Eckel, for helping with the preparation, and to fellow Crime Club members Helen Moss and Harriet Whitehorn for coming along and bringing delicious bunbreak supplies with them!
Below are a selection of pictures from the party (and the preparation – I made my favourite tiffin recipe, which went down very well!).
Tiffin making time!
A beautiful Mystery & Mayhem display at Daunt Cheapside!
Matching my dress and nails to the book!
With Helen Moss and crime fan (and author) Yu!
Harriet Whitehorn, Helen Moss, me and Katherine Woodfine with our book!
Have you got your hands on Mystery & Mayhem yet? If so, which are your favourite stories? And if not, are you excited to read it? Let me know in the comments below!
May 7, 2016
Junior Library Guild Selection for Poison is Not Polite!
I’m delighted to announce that Poison is Not Polite (the US edition of Arsenic for Tea) is a Junior Library Guild selection for Spring 2016, meaning that it will be appearing in JLG libraries across the USA.
This is a really exciting honour, and I’m so pleased that US readers will now have more access to the book. The JLG sent me a certificate and a (very shiny) pin to celebrate, and they’re both in pride of place in my office already.
If you spot a copy of Poison is Not Polite in your local library, let me know – and I hope you enjoy Hazel and Daisy’s second adventure!
May 6, 2016
Murder Most Unladylike Book 5 – preorder now!
Good news, Murder Most Unladylike fans! I sent the first draft of Murder Most Unladylike 5 to my editor a few weeks ago, and she’s just let me know that 1) she likes it and 2) she didn’t guess the murderer! I’m very relieved, and looking forward to working on edits over the next month or so.
We’ve set a firm date for its publication, too: it will be out in the UK and Ireland on 20th October 2016. Although we’re still finalising title and cover, I know that it will be red, because this is Hazel and Daisy’s first Christmas adventure!
From the Amazon description:
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas hols in snowy Cambridge. Hazel has high hopes of its beautiful spires, cosy libraries and inviting tea-rooms – but there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College.
Three nights before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident – until the Detective Society look a little closer, and realise a murder has taken place. Faced with several irritating grown-ups and fierce competition from a rival agency, they must use all their cunning and courage to find the killer (in time for Christmas Day, of course).
And although we don’t yet have a title (stay tuned for that reveal soon!), you can pre-order the book NOW!
This is a book that I’ve loved writing, and one that I can’t wait to share with you all. It may seem like a long way away now, but the time will fly. It’ll be October before you know it!
