The Scottish branch of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has let me know that Jane Yolen will be leading an all-day workshop about children’s picture books on Sunday, October 4, from 9am […]
Dust off your children’s book manuscript and sharpen it up. Here’s a competition offering a nice advance. Chicken House is a UK publisher with a great reputation. Good luck!
If you find you need a bit of online advice on your writing, head to Help! I Need A Publisher, Nicola Morgan’s blog. I’ve […]
Now here’s a gorgeous blog with a great title. (I’m going to make you click on the link to learn what it is. I think it’s worth the trip.) Its author, Will, is a connoiseur of beautiful historical illustrated books whose images he takes the time to post […]
I wonder whether most people regard Philip Pullman as an author and illustrator, picking up on the fact that he made the striking black and white images throughout the His Dark Materials trilogy.
If you visit Philip’s newly expanded website, you will be in no doubt of his illustrative talents. He has created a gallery […]
Maybe this week’s theme should be “My Heroes”, what with Nick Bantock yesterday and Shaun Tan today. Both gentlemen are certainly alchemists, creating lush worlds from the seemingly ordinary.
Today I have been swooning over Tales from Outer Suburbia
I was rearranging my studio bookshelf today and got caught up in my collection of Nick Bantock’s Griffin and Sabine books. They are truly treasured art objects, stunning examples of paper construction, illustration and storytelling for grown-ups. If you are unfamiliar with the series, it began with Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence
Friends often ask me whether I have read books on how to write for children and I have to confess that I have only read one, Pamela Cleaver’s Writing a Children’s Book: How to Write for Children and Get Published 
I disappeared off the radar last week to attend in a five day Arvon residential writing course in deepest rural Devon and I am still buzzing from the amazing time I had. […]
Ever so often I receive a lovely package from Margaret K. McElderry Books in New York containing a copy of the latest printing of You Have to Write
Ever since I was chomped by the writing bug, I have made it my business to attend as many author appearances and read as much children’s fiction as I can. It’s all part of acquainting myself with the writing side of the children’s and young adult book industry. And anything that involves venturing out of […]
