It has been busy

It was a busy week. I went to London to sign a stock of “A First Book of Animals” for independent bookshops. It was a big pile of five hundred books and it took me almost five hours to do it. On my way home I got extra book labels to sign “when I have a minute”. I didn’t mind. Independent bookshops are doing a great job and we all should do everything to support them. Without independent bookshops things would go down hill very quickly.And this is what independent bookshops are doing for us. This is the window of “Tales on Moon Lane” and this one is the Children’s Bookshop in Huddersfield.

I did a school visit at the lovely little Ewhurst Infant School. I’ve been there before a couple years ago and it was a great day making books with children.

Last week I was also twice at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. On Monday I did an event with Nicola Davies, talking and painting animals from our book. I’m really enjoying these events. Nicola is a great speaker and it is always great fun watching the children being involved and having a good time.

Then I was back on Friday to do a talk about my picture books. I love the Cheltenham festival and I always have a nice audience. I also have a very young audience, but it all works well. It’s simple, the parents who take children to such events are the parents who read books to their children, therefore the children listen well and enjoy the stories.

The next stop was in Totnes -Turn the Page Totnes – Children’s Book Festival. Once again I did an event with Nicola. It was brilliant, we even had a real barn owl visitor, who joined us on the stage! 

Totnes was really nice and it was one of the festivals, where you can meet up and chat with fellow illustrators and writers and you can also go to see their talks. Nick Sharratt’s event was fun!

I’m now hoping to catch up with my work.I have these sketches for a picture book on the table and some sketches for a board book too.I’d better get on with it.