May 2008 Archives

Darkside Nighttrap by Tom Becker
Sorry there was no new blog entry yesterday I've had my head stuck in the new Darkside book by author Tom Becker who is from Ormskirk.
I've been planning on doing the occasional children's book review on here hopefully with a tie-in interview. Scholastic have very kindly sent me a couple of books to read and fingers crossed I should be able to have a chat with the authors soon about how they got their break and about their writing.

The European beaver
A news story on the BBC website yesterday has yet again offered up an excellent idea for a short story. Did you know there are plans to release European beavers in Scotland? The rodent was hunted to extinction in the UK more than 400 years ago but now the Scottish Government has agreed to a trial reintroduction.

Always fancied writing a book but struggle to find the time? - Well here's a chance to write just one chapter. The Green Story is creative writing competition where you can submit your idea for what should happen next. There are three versions, adult, teen and childre's and each has a green theme.

Space Chimps
As regular readers of my blog will know I like to base my short stories around real events, places and animals. The story I sent to Writer's Forum magazine (no reply as of yet) was based on the true story of how chimpanzees were used at the start of the space programme. While watching Cartoon Network with my nephew at the weekend I saw a trailer for a new feature length animation called ' Space Chimps.'

Lauren Child's artwork is very distinctive and very popular
I spent Saturday with my head in Elmore Leonard's first children's book 'A Coyote's in the House'. I've never read any E.L before although I've seen a couple of film based on his books. His material is usually very adult, and he's probably not an author you'd expect to turn his hand to writing for children.
I really enjoyed the book, it has a very distinctive style and I like the plot that a Hollywood star dog and a coyote want to change places. The book was made even more enjoyable by the Lauren Child illustrations.
Which brings me to the point of today's blog - a fabulous new exhibition coming to Manchester and then touring nationwide.

Have you ordered your copy?
Wannabe writers usually rely on a copy of either the Writers' Handbook or Writers' & Artists' Yearbook to keep them up-to-date on agents and publishers wants and contact details. Personally I've always liked W&A but have found it best to check details against websites. And as I was one of the winners in their centenary competition for unpublished novels I'm a bit biased.

Mariella and guests on the Sky Arts coverage of the Guardian Hay Festival
I've set my Sky+ machine for the new run of Hay-on-Sky showing on the Sky Arts channel from tonight (Friday, May 23). For the second year Mariella Frostrup (The Book Show)will be hosting this daily catch up on everything that's happened at the Guardian Hay Festival. Among the authors already lined up for a spot on the sofa are Cherie Blair, Salman Rushdie, Marian Keyes and Jo Brand.

Some of the last known Tasmanian Tigers
My Dr Midas books often include endangered or extinct animal characters, so I was very interested to hear about a new DNA experiment involving the Tasmanian Tiger. I wish there was a way to bring this and other animals back to life - with a time machine perhaps (lol) - but at least this new study gives an insight into their make-up.

Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams were inspired by a real location
Here's a chance to meet two top children's authors underground in the tunnels which inspired their popular book.

Thwoman&home are running a great competition
There is just a couple of days left to enter the woman&home annual short story competition. This year's theme is passion and the word count is a maximum of 2,500 words. Oh and it helps if you like coffee because the prize includes a £75 Costa card!