As a teacher turned author, I often get asked by people working in schools how I started writing, how I find the time and for advice about taking the plunge.
Below are some things I do and have done, which might also help you get your project off the ground. It’s not exhaustive! So please feel free to share others in the comments.
Recently I had the honour of judging the annual children’s story competition for the ‘Leukaemia Cancer Society’. It was an absolute pleasure to play a part in this event, but the highlight had to be travelling to London to meet all the shortlisted children and to present the awards.
In fact, I was so excited about the ceremony, I couldn’t sleep the night before and I was up at 5am!
Here are all the reasons why;
EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!!
I am thrilled to say that I recently signed contracts for a new picture book!
I am thrilled to reveal the covers of my two new early readers with Maverick!
Today I visited Brixham Library for a story time session with a difference!
I knew to expect a great day, since Brixham delights in anything pirate, but I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome and such enthusiastic books worms!
How did you spend National Biscuit Day 2018? I was lucky enough to be invited to Ocean Studios on The Royal William Yard, Plymouth, to test, taste and build biscuit rockets with Plymouth’s Children’s Book Group.
Following a lovely school visit for Book Week, I was thrilled to run a ‘Design a Character’ competition for the KS2 children at Leigham Primary School, Plymouth.
But, gosh! What a challenge! There were 164 smashing entries from Year 3 up to Year 6 and it was a tough, tough job!
I was presented with original, beautifully illustrated and very well thought out ideas. In fact, it was *so* tough that I had to call on some help from some writerly, illustrator friends!
It’s always exciting to hear someone somewhere has enjoyed reading your book, and no less when it’s a teacher sharing your creation with their class.
But when Andrew got in touch from Our Lady of Hartley Primary School there was even more to smile about; Andrew had used ‘Aerodynamics of Biscuits‘ to develop and enhance his teaching of Computing, which is an area I hadn’t used personally before.
Andrew is a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) in ICT and together we have created these lesson plans and activities for you to use at home and in schools.
World Book Day was extra special this year because I was able to spend it in MY school, the school where I work, alongside it’s lovely staff and pupils.
Since the theme was ‘Share a Story,’ the staff got their heads together and arranged a rotation of activities based on one of their favourite books.
Here are a selection of photographs:
