Can you finish a story by an Usborne author?
I have also been quite busy applying for jobs so apologies for the gap between posts. I've had another rejection, a basic slip, came back very quickly, and the envelope had got chewed up in the post. Was a bit disappointed as the agency's requirements ask for the first 50-100 words with a footer, which took a bit of time sorting. Oh well.
I have just received the new programme for this year's Bath Festival of Children's Literature. Inside there is the usual fantastic list of visiting authors (perhaps I'll get to go this time, so far I've always had diary clashes!) and there is mention of two competitions that I thought I'd pass on.

Well if you've been following me on Twitter you will know I've had a reply from the agent who was looking at my full manuscript of my revised Dr Midas and the Pirates. Sadly the whole thing had come back so I knew it was going to be bad news.

Don't look down! I loved watching this amazing double high wire walk by Sky Productions at Maryport harbour.
One of my characters in Dr Midas and the Khmers, Tomistoma, wants to be an acrobat and tightrope walker, so when I heard about a free high wire event I just had to go!
I love any excuse for a research trip and this one was to take me up to Maryport in the Lakes. My mum went along with me as she's been before to see for a pirate day which I couldn't make.
The event was called 'Walk to the Stars' and was part of Lakes Alive a fantastic arts event which included six Reach for the Sky performances by aerial acts including Corazon de Angeles which I've looked up on You Tube.
The event I chose was on Friday night at Maryport harbour and was by Ramon Kelvinck Jr and Jade Kindar-Martin (Sky Productions) from France.

As you may know I now volunteer one day a week at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston, Lancashire. I was really excited to hear about their new summer exhibition which is all about fairy tales.
Enchanted Worlds: Art of Fairy Stories and Mermaid Tales runs from the 13th June - 5th September 2009 with a big family fun day planned for the first Saturday at 12 noon.
Enchanted Worlds will include painting, sculpture, photography, film, animation, puppetry, print and illustration from some of the world's most revered artists of the genre.

Hello again. Haven't really got anything particular to talk about this week so I thought I'd upload my photo of me meeting the lorikeet at Rainbow Landings, Edinburgh Zoo.

The bird is such a beautiful colour you can see why they called the exhibit rainbow landings!
I had an email last week from someone I know via volunteering who said their granddaughter loved reading and animals so they'd had a look at my website (www.drmidas.co.uk) and really enjoyed it which was really nice to hear. Its nice to know I'm not the only one who loves books and animals!

The Alan Titchmarsh Show are looking for 'The People's Author' - a writer who has a "strong, real life inspirational" story to tell.
The winner will receive a publishing deal with Orion including a £20,000 advance.

BBC Countryfile Magazine are running a competition to celebrate the centenray anniversary of the birth of Sir Peter Scott, who founded the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).
The competition is to write about one of your experiences of great British wildlife in no more than 100 words!

Before I forget and in case you miss Tony's comment elsewhere here's an event at Pritchards in Formby that fans of football books might like.
He says: "On Sat 9th May Peter Lupson will revisit to sign copies of his wonderful 'Across the Park' it really looks at the origins of LFC and EFC and shows how much they have in common, he will be joined by curator of LFC museum and also crime author Stephen Done and also Robert Galvin from the National Football Museum in Preston and we hope a few special guests too. A great day out and a chance to get a great book or two."
I'm not a footy fan myself despite pressure from my nephew but that sounds like a great event.

Well I'm still working away on book three, I've been moving early sections around as I've realised my main child character - Joe - wasn't in it enough. Also working on being in his head more - which is a problem I had to fix with the rewrite on my first book. I'm also considering culling a character - a prince - as I think there are too many adult characters in my book.

Well another year has passed! Yes I've been blogging for over a year now and another Galaxy Book Awards has come and gone without me being invited - ha!
It's one of my favourite fantasies to imagine lurking on one of those tables at the back! What did you think of this years' winners? There were at least two books I liked the sound of that I haven't read, because I'm always desperately short of things to read as you know - NOT!