Top secret stuff from the amazing Celine Kiernan

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to have the fabulous Celine Kiernan on my blog today. I read Begone The Raggedy Witches last year, and absolutely loved it. And the sequel, The Little Grey Girl, was published recently.

She gets described by the press as “Ireland’s answer to JK Rowling”, but I really don’t think this does her justice. She has a magical quality to her writing – I’m more in the world of CS Lewis and E Nesbit.

Anyway, we had a little chat, although she did have to vanish up into the attic for a while in the middle, and here it is. How she didn’t end up a crime writer is beyond me – you’ll see what I mean!

What kind of stories did you write as a child?

Weird, dark, spooky stories, such as the one about the murderously xenophobic astronaut trapped on a crippled ship with the ghosts of the crew they poisoned and the hapless alien hitchhiker who was their intended victim.

Could you share a childhood pic of yourself, or your early writing, if by some lucky chance they’re still shoved in your parent’s attic?

Oh boy…

Me as a kid:

You just sent me off on a very dusty hunt to look for some school day’s writing (If I have an asthma attack, it’ll be your fault)

I had an idea that I might have had some old copybooks in a trunk in my husband’s office, but in fact I turned out to have a wee folder of typed stories! My mam and dad bought me a huge old second-hand dinosaur of a typewriter when I was about 12, and I used to tippy-tap away at the kitchen table almost every night. Here are sections from a few of my stories (including the murderous astronaut one!) It’s hard for me to believe I wrote these as a child. They seem far more mature than I recall myself being.

And a tough one: the Magic Faraway tree or Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?

Alice in Wonderland every damned time (though I prefer Alice Through the Looking Glass!)

What are your top tips for children wanting to develop their writing skills?

Don’t worry about what you think other people want to read, find a story that you want to tell. Write that story without fear or worry or shyness. Be true to yourself and what you want to say. Everything else – spelling, grammar, punctuation, all that stuff – can be learned or fixed later: even if you’re dyslexic ( I know, because I am dyslexic)

Astronaut alert and a book giveaway

What is it about characters called Stan that they must boldly go where no man has been before, tailed by an annoying younger sibling?

In case you hadn’t worked it out, I’m looking at Planet Stan by Elaine Wickson and Space Dragons by Robin Bennett. Nothing to do with a TV series that may have possibly trademarked that phrase. Out of curiosity, I googled “Astronaut Stan” and he’s real … Stan Love

If you follow my blog regularly, you’ll know I absolutely loved Robin Bennett’s last book, The Hairy Hand – you can check out my review here but in a nutshell it was Rincewind (Terry Pratchett) meets The Twits (Roald Dahl) and had me laughing out loud.

Space Dragons is very different. To start with, it’s pitched at the younger end of middle grade, so it’s not a follow on read for fans of The Hairy Hand which I’d say was slightly older. It is, however, ideal for fans of Planet Stan. The writing style is easy, the characters (human) are relatable, and the dragons definitely have touches of Hitchikers Guide to The Galaxy dripping with sarcasm and dry humour.

Anyway, Robin has very kindly popped over to have a bit of a chat about books and kids (his own!) …

I wrote Space Dragons to have two protagonists: a boy and a girl. This was partly just for the helluvit and partly a personal bid to try and get our boys to be nicer to their little sister. And it almost worked.

However they are not completely reformed – I found one of her dolls lashed half way up our conker tree in the garden the other day (quite impressed they managed to get it that high) and, to be fair – aged 10 – she gives as good as she gets these days.

My secondary goal was to have a central character who wasn’t wise cracking or terribly damaged or so mundane as to go out the other side and be perversely interesting. I wanted normal because most of the time most kids like normal – it is their comfort zone. Aside from winding up spending their summer in the outer reaches of our Solar System, Stan and Poppy are pretty typical: Stan is a bit quiet and will get picked on because of it; and Poppy is talkative, but that’s about it, really. However, no-one ever fits the mould completely and growing up is partly a) coming to terms with whatever it is that makes you (usually) just a bit different (tall, short, clever, not-so-clever, weird hair etc) and b) how you turn that into an advantage.

Oh, and I wanted dragons … in Space!

Note

For the record, my primary goal was the same as usual: to write a book that children will read and enjoy … and moral tone, which is frequently just adult posturing and of no interest to children, points vague and points pertinent can go whistle.

Giveaway to Win 10 x Hardcover Copies of Space Dragons – UK Only

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494237/?

The blurb

If Stan Pollux had known he would be spending his summer holidays in the outer reaches of our solar system, he would have put on different underpants.

But when he gets kidnapped by the Planet Dragon Mercury, most things suddenly seem small and insignificant. Stan finds himself in a universe of dragons who had once ruled the skies as gods: Mars, Venus, Saturn and even Uranus way out back. This is shaping up to be the best summer holiday in the history of the cosmos until Stan discovers his stupid sister is missing and that Pluto (AKA Hades) is trying to use her to destroy the Solar System. And it will be all Stan’s fault if he doesn’t get Poppy back.

So, all Stan has to do is learn how to fight like a hero in space armour, defeat the dragon god of the Underworld, Hades, rescue his sister and save the world. All before his parents realise she is missing.

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Space-Dragons-Robin-Bennett-ebook/dp/B07NDY2394

US – https://www.amazon.com/Space-Dragons-Robin-Bennett-ebook/dp/B07NDY2394

About Robin Bennett

Robin Bennett is an author and entrepreneur who has written several books for children, adults, and everything in between. Listed in the Who’s Who of British Business Excellence at 29, his 2016 documentary “Fantastic Britain”, about the British obsession with fantasy and folklore, won best foreign feature at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards, and his first book for young adults, Picus the Thief, won the Writer’s News Indie Published Book of the Year Award in 2012. Robin is also a director at Firefly Press

Twitter – https://twitter.com/MonsterBooksRaw

Another bus journey and a creative writing workshop

A few weeks ago, I spotlighted the first Jay-Jay bus adventure. Well there are five more in the series and, since I’m Scottish, the story behind his Island Adventure caught my attention …

Over to Sue …

‘Jay-Jay and his Island Adventure’, was originally written for a Scottish book bus.

‘Play,Talk, Read’ was the project which visited remote areas if Scotland to encourage reading in the very young. It was a great success and the bus even visited the Shetland Islands travelling on a very small ferry.

The children had never seen a double-decker on their island before and certainly not one to play on.

However, the Scottish project was too busy with referendums and with the book ready and edited, I changed the name of the bus from Benji, sending Jay-Jay instead, and relocating to Spain.

The island on the cover of the book was based on a piece of mainland Spain which I have visited many times. Cap D’Or is the promentory near to a little village of Moraira.

The villagers in Moraira invited me to read this book in their library and local schools. The people in this little village were surprised to find that Jay-Jay was a real bus. Now all of the books are in the local library in both Teulada and Moraira.

Review

I haven’t got much more to say than for the first Jay-Jay book: this is a super positive story for readers ready to start tackling longer books, but reluctant to let go of the pictures. The illustrations are gorgeous in a lovely traditional style (think Famous Five rather than Charlie & Lola or Neon Leon). For parents and teachers, if you’re bored to tears with Biff and Chip, please add this to your reading pile!

Of course, as a Scot, I wish it had stayed in a Scottish island, but Jay-Jay relocated well (which fits neatly with my recent blogs on expat life!)

Creative Writing Workshop

Sue and I are doing a creative writing workshop at the Festival of Chichester on Saturday 29th June where we’ll plan a journey, and make some badges to go with it. Do come and join us!

Giveaway to Win Jay Jay and the Carnival (UK Only)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494228/

Do you remember play buses as a kid?

I’m thrilled to introduce todays guest, Sue Wickstead, as we recently did a joint creative writing workshop for kids at Crawley WordFest. Sue writes picture books based on the real play buses inspired by her work with the children’s charity, The Bewbush Playbus Association (is it only me that finds that a terrible tongue twister?!?). She’s also written a non-fiction photographic history book about the original bus which is worth a look too.

If you scroll down, there’s a giveaway competition for one of the books in the series and a free build-your-own-bus toy. Before we get there though, let’s take a look at the first book in the series, Jay-Jay The Supersonic Bus.

I have to say this is quite text heavy for a picture book: it’s really closer to a chapter book. Personally, I’d be tempted to reprint in a chapter book size format rather than laid out as it is in gate big square picture book style, but the illustrations are really lovely, so I would still want them. Ah it’s tricky! I wonder what the pictures would look like converted into black & white? Actually that could give quite a nice image.

Anyway, I reckon this is perfect for that tricky age where the kids are starting to read independently but absolutely insist on lots of pictures. The language itself is simple and straightforward. If you’re bored to tears with Biff and Chip, and who isn’t – can anyone tell me why schools still insist on using this dull and dated series? – then this is well worth a look. Overall, I can see this working really well for KS1 (UK school system – ages 4-7).

Blurb

Jay-Jay the bus is rescued from the dirty scrap yard, where he was sadly gathering dust and cobwebs. Feeling nervous yet excited, he’s taken to an airport where he is magically transformed into a ‘Playbus’ full of toys, games and adventure.

A fictional tale based on a real-life bus ‘Supersonic’, which flew in the imaginations of the many young children who visited it.

Giveaway to Win a copy of Jay-Jay and the Island Adventure (UK Only)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494213/?

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using Rafflecopter. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

And another special offer:A free 3D card bus can be claimed via the website site ‘Enquiry button using ref code JJay

Additional bus models and books also offered as a promotion on request.

And if you miss out on the giveaway, Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus will be 99p until 22^ndApril. Purchase Links –

http://bit.ly/JJKSupersonic– Amazon .co.uk

http://amzn.to/2BxvU2l– Amazon .com

Author Bio

I’m a teacher and an author and have currently written six children’s picture books with a bus theme.

For over 20 years, alongside my teaching career, I worked with a Children’s Charity, The Bewbush Playbus Association, which led me to write a photographic history book about it.

I soon found that many children had never been on a bus before, let alone a ‘Playbus’ and they wanted to know more. I decided to write a fictional tale about the bus, his number plate JJK261 gave him his name.

I also undertake events and author bookings and love to share the story. There are also a few more stories in the writing process, with links to real events and buses.

The story has been read in many schools in the south-East of England, where I teach as a cover teacher, it is always well received and certainly different.

Social Media Links –

https://www.suewickstead.co.uk/

Facebook: – Author Page http://bit.ly/2kEEhPq

http://bit.ly/2kXfjdj– Bewbush Playbus

http://bit.ly/2BZiews– Teacher in the cupboard

Twitter https://twitter.com/JayJayBus

Exclusive interview with author Claire Fayers

When I’m in schools, I’m often asked for book recommendations, and Claire Fayers’ new novel, Storm Hound, has been top of my list ever since I read it. It has the best opening paragraph EVER!

So I’m super excited that she agreed to an interview …

What are you working on now? Is there a potential sequel to Storm Hound?

I’m currently working on a couple of new proposals to send in to my publisher. It’s too soon to say which one will be my next book but I’m having great fun playing with ideas. I would love to write a Storm Hound sequel. It’ll be up to my publisher but if Storm Hound does well you never know. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Could you share any childhood pics either of you in the Welsh hills or of you writing?

I wish I could, but my parents didn’t take any pictures of me when I was growing up. All I have is one photograph of me holding my cello after I won the cup for music in primary school. Everyone assumed I’d grow up to be a music teacher. I didn’t know it was possible to be an author back then.

To make up for the lack of photos, here’s a pic of an early story I wrote in school. I liked writing about animals even then!

And here’s another of me taken last year, sitting on top of Mount Skirrid where Storm fell from the sky.

Did you have any pets as a child?

Yes, loads. We had guinea pigs, a rabbit, two dogs and a succession of hamsters (not all at the same time, I hasten to add!) But the pet that I truly loved above all others was my cat Mitzi. She was an ordinary black and white moggy. She died when I was about twelve and I didn’t get another cat until I owned my own home, much later. Obviously, I had to write a cat into Storm Hound – look out for Nutmeg.

What are your top tip for parents to encourage their youngsters to write?

Fill your house with books. Make regular trips to the library with your children as a love of writing usually starts with a love of reading. Make up stories with your children. Lead by example and set aside some time to write together. Keep a stash of fun pens and paper in different colours. Don’t correct or criticise your children’s efforts. Encourage them to write letters to relatives (and get the relatives to write back – nothing beats getting your very own letter through the post!)

And before you go, this is a tricky one: Michael Morpugo or Phillip Pullman?

Oh gosh. They are both masters, and their books are so different it’s hard to choose. But my reading (and writing) habits do tend to go towards fantasy so I’d have to say Pullman.

Thanks so much for a fun interview.

Thanks Claire! I didn’t know you played cello and wrote stories about horses as a kid – me too.

If you haven’t come across Claire before, here’s some more info.

Biography

Claire Fayers grew up in South Wales, studied English at the University of Kent, and is now back in Wales where she spends a lot of her free time tramping around castles in the rain, looking for dragons.

She has worked as a church caretaker, a shoe shop assistant, in accountancy, in health and safety, in IT, and in a library. Only one of these prepared her in any way for life as a full-time author. She works from her home in Cardiff, sharing her workspace with a pair of demanding cats and an ever-expanding set of model dinosaurs. Storm Hound is her fourth book for Macmillan Children’s Books.

Website www.clairefayers.com

twitter @clairefayers

facebook www.facebook.com/clairefayersauthor

Blurb

Storm of Odin is the youngest stormhound of the Wild Hunt that haunts lightning-filled skies. He has longed for the time when he will be able to join his brothers and sisters but on his very first hunt he finds he can’t keep up and falls to earth, landing on the A40 just outside Abergavenny.

Enter twelve-year-old Jessica Price, who finds and adopts a cute puppy from an animal rescue centre. And suddenly, a number of strange people seem very interested in her and her new pet, Storm. People who seem to know a lot about magic . . .

In Claire Fayers’ electrifying adventure Storm Hound, Jessica starts to see that there’s something different about her beloved dog and will need to work out which of her new friends she can trust.

Lexi Rees, author

books for adventurous children

Category Archives: Book reviews by Lexi

Top secret stuff from the amazing Celine Kiernan

Astronaut alert and a book giveaway

Another bus journey and a creative writing workshop

Do you remember play buses as a kid?

Exclusive interview with author Claire Fayers

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