Blog Tour Britannica's 5 Minute Really True Stories for Family Time

Authors Alli Brydon, Catherine D. Hughes, Jackie McCann

Illustrators Anneli Bray, Vivian Minekar, Sofia Moore, Skylar White

Publisher Britannica Books

I am delighted to be invited on the Book Tour for this Amazing book. 

Book Review

This wonderful book makes the ordinary extraordinary for curious little minds.  

30 Amazing stories featuring baby dinosaurs , helpful dogs, play ground science and family celebrations and much more. Each of the bitesize stories can be read in 5 accessible minutes that will introduce a child to the wonders of family life including how other cultures and animals live.

What did the worlds first playground look like? 

Who build the first apartment block?

What different cultures eat for breakfast and how they eat?

How animals look after their own families?

Lavishly accompanied by colourful and playful illustrations on every page this fascinating compendium is the perfect gift for curious little minds everywhere. Wonderful to share with both family and in the class room. 

Blog Tour When Shadows Fall by Sita Brahmachari Illustrations by Natalie Sirett

 Blog Tour 

When Shadows Fall 

by

 Sita Brahmachari

 Illustrations by Natalie Sirett

Publisher Little Tiger Press  

When Shadows Fall is a timely, lyrical and impactful story of disaffected youth and the vulnerability of teenage years, the importance of friendship, care and community and of urban green spaces. An empathetic and inspirational tour de force that seamlessly combines art, verse and prose  to portray a powerful message and story. 

I was delighted to be invited on this Fabulous Blog Tour for this wonderful book. Below is this fascinating Interview with Sita talking about  the importance of Art which is an integral part of her story.

Do you think art has the power to heal?
Yes. I have always felt that since childhood. As a member of the refugee centre art and writing class said once 'Art is a good way to tell, a good way to express.' Art can transport and reconnect you to many emotions including awe hope and joy.

Can art give a more powerful message than writing in certain circumstances? Eg Guernica by Picasso "A picture is worth a thousand words
Omid expresses in art what he cannot yet speak in words in the English Language ... but in many ways what he cannot express in any language. He sees in pictures.  A visual, symbolic language appears to me before I write... later the words come. I suppose this is true of being human... we begin with the image and grow into language. It is a struggle to express in words... you see this in Kai's writing. He has many questions and asides, his mind is always in motion. In art the mind can still and settle.  In this story when Kai's world fractures and he can only piece together a few ideas in words Omid fills the gaps with his pictures and imagination. He could not have given Kai a better gift than his art. Natalie Sirett could not have given this story a greater gift either.

 
Can you discuss the refugee element connected to the art in the story?

Both myself and Natalie have worked with refugee survivor children and families in our work. Natalie as a teacher and myself as Writer in Residence at Islington Centre, and in a mentor role. At the centre I have worked with illustrator Jane Ray for over a decade and we are now joined by Ros Asquith.

From the start we held the writing element of our work in the Art and Writing Room  in communal poetry. Now members are writing their own poems and having their art shown in exhibitions.

You can support the centre with their Christmas cards which are available to buy from this online link: Islington Centre Christmas Cards (charitycardsonline.com) 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kai, Orla and Zak grew up together, their days spent on the patch of wilderness in between their homes, a small green space in a sprawling grey city. Music, laughter and friendship bind them together and they have big plans for their future – until Kai's family suffers a huge loss.
Trying to cope with his own grief, as well as watching it tear his family apart, Kai is drawn into a new and more dangerous crowd, until his dreams for the future are a distant memory. Excluded from school and retreating from his loved ones, it seems as though his path is set, his story foretold. Orla, Zak and new classmate Om are determined to help him find his way back. But are they too late? 

“How quickly teenagers fall apart – and how fast they can heal. This is the hopeful message from Sita Brahmachari, a writer who mixes verse and prose to tell stories that stick.” – Alex O’Connell, The Times

A heart-breaking and poignant novel from award-winning author Sita Brahmachari, for fans of THE BLACK FLAMINGO, AND THE STARS WERE BURNING BRIGHTLY and POET X.

Sita Brahmachari is an award-winning author. She has been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal five times, won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2011 and has been bestowed with the IBBY Honour. WHERE THE RIVER RUNS GOLD was Waterstones Children's Book of the Month in 2019 and Sita has a World Book Day title in 2021. An ambassador for Amnesty, Sita is passionate about safeguarding human rights and diverse voices being heard, which comes through in her thoughtful and sensitive storytelling. She is based in North London. http://www.sitabrahmachari.com

Natalie Sirett is a multimedia artist with a multi-faceted practice exploring us, our icons, our stories. http://www.sirett.com

 Blog Tour Thimble and the Girl from Mars by Jon Blake Illustrated by Martin Chatterton

The fourth hilarious and epic adventure of Thimble monkey who's first adventure was shortlisted for the Laugh Out Loud Awards. These great books can be read as a series or stand alone. 

Children will adore the madcap adventure of Thimble and his inspiring disabled hero Jams. But this time there is a new girl on the block better know as the Girl from Mars who is determined to have Thimble for herself. Can Jams stop her? 

Characterful illustrations throughout by Martin Chatteron and clear text make this very readable for 7+ upwards and for reluctant readers who like a giggle. They will love the dastardly effect beans have on Thimble's bum amongst the many other naughty japes!!

Family and friendship are at the centre of the never-ending madcap zany adventure. Another laugh out loud winner!

Book Description

Yes! Thimble monkey is back, causing the usual chaos for Jams and family. But when t he Girl From Mars appears, thing take a sinister turn. Will she stop at nothing to make Thimble her own? Our disabled hero will have to use all his wits to stop her!

Boot by Shane Hegarty Blog Tour May 20th 2019

I am delighted to be starting the Blog tour for the adorable little robot Boot by interviewing author Shane Hegarty about his new book and life as a writer! I've also just made this gorgeous middle grade adventure my Book of the Week in the South Wales Evening Post (review is posted after the interview).

But first Hachette has challenged the bloggers on the book tour to discuss what piece of old tech holds the biggest memory for them. I have very fond memories of my old bright red Sony Walkman. I loved listening to my mixed tapes that I put together myself!! It was a stress free system. I still don't know how to download music!!

Interview with author Shane Hegarty

Can you describe your book in once sentence. 

 A toy robot wakes up in a grinder and with only two-and-a-half memories escapes to go find its owner.

What inspired you to write this book?

Two things really. Firstly, I look at all the advances in robotics and artificial intelligence and wonder what it will be like in a few years time if we make things that know they're being thrown away. And secondly, Boot is sort of like my children, thinking the world is simple only to discover things are more complicated than they seem... 

What is your favourite part of the book?

Oh that is so hard to say! I love it all. But there is a part late in the book where Boot takes control of a certain problem, and I'm very proud of it, and how illustrator Ben Mantle draws it. But no spoilers! 

What character do you most relate to?

 Boot is like a child, and even though I am now a very, very old man (according to my kids) I think we all still have those childlike worries, curiosities and longing for friendship inside us even as adults.

Can we have a sneaky clue what Boots next adventure will be about?

 It's called The Rusty  Rescue, and all starts when Boot and pals go in search of a new nose - only to meet a robot that's been stuck doing a repetitive job in a Testing Lab for a very long time.

As a professional writer what has most surprised you that you didn't expect?

 Just how amazing the young readers are when I meet them in schools, bookshops and at festivals. They're an incredible audience, never shy of enjoying themselves or asking great questions and saying crazy things. 

What's a typical writing day for you?

 I have an office that I escape to and try and work a 9-to-5 day - but there's often a lot of other stuff to do with organising events, planning things, emailing, watching too much YouTube, and dreaded tax forms that get in the way! So when I can write, it's bliss.

Who is your favourite literary hero or heroine?

 I have always loved Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, because there's nothing more appealing to me than an accidental and hapless adventurer. He woke up thinking it would be a normal day and quickly found himself on a spaceship after the Earth had blown up. What a start to a story!

Which is your favourite bookshop?

 I don't want to forget any of the great bookshops  I get to visit! There are so many big and small that I've had the pleasure of visiting in lots of different countries. I will give a shout out to my the only bookshop in my town - Skerries Bookshop - which I think is the smallest I've yet to visit. Theres room for about 5 people at one time, and half the space is given over to children's books. It's owner Paddy is a legend in my town.

Your favourite quote?

Me and my son are always quoting lines from Hot Fuzz at each other because it's one of our favourite films, so any line from that (although some of them are a bit rude...)

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK OF THE WEEK

BOOT BY SHANE HEGARTY

CHILDREN 7+

Toy robot, Boot has been accidentally thrown away and must find his owner, Beth in a city full of danger. Can Boot find his way home armed with only two and half memories and a band of rusty robot has-beens? Children will love the gadgets galore, excitement and friendships as well as Ben Mantle's evocative illustrations throughout. A heart-warming quest bursting with adventure, empathy and humour. WALL-E meets Toy Story.
ISBN 9781444949360 PB Hachette £6.99

A Huge thank you to Shane for his fascinating interview. You can follow him on Twitter @shanehegarty Instagram shanewhegarty and hachette's on Twitter @HachetteKids or @hodderchildrens 


Follow the blog tour below. 

BLOG TOUR OCT 15th THE TRAIN TO IMPOSSIBLE PLACES BY P.G.BELL

BLOG TOUR FOR THE TRAIN TO IMPOSSIBLE PLACES BY  P.G.BELL

I was thrilled to interview Peter  about his exciting new middle grade magical adventure, The Train to Impossible Places. Read about Peter's book and his life as an author below.

Can you describe your book in one sentence?

Eleven year-old Suzy's world is turned upside down by a magical mail train, which propels her on a high speed adventure to save the Union of Impossible Places from a sinister force.

How did your Welsh upbringing influence this book?

I grew up in south Wales in the 1980s, when the last of the heavy industry that had defined the area for the previous century was disappearing People were out of work, and whole communities had been left without much hope or purpose. There was a general malaise in the air much of the time.

   I was keen to capture something of that in the book, which is why the troll's society has been suffering a period of "managed decline" when Suzy first encounters it. But I didn't want the reader to feel despondent, so I was careful to include some threads of hope as well - the Impossible Postal Express might be the last of its kind, but it has young and enthusiastic crew members in the form of Suzy and Wilmot, the Postmaster. And the trolls as a whole are inventive and brave. I want to leave the reader with the idea that it's going to endure, as will the rest of troll society. They're an inventive and brave species, and they're great at rebuilding when things go wrong.

Is there a train journey you would love to go on?

I'm lucky enough to have gone on some wonderful train journeys over the years, including the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan, and the Jungfrau railway in Switzerland. My dad is a rail enthusiast, so all our family holidays used to revolve around trains. But I've never ridden a transcontinental railway, and I'd really love to. The Trans-Siberian Express, or one of the coast-to-coast sleepers across the USA. That would be fantastic.

What's a typical writing day for you?

Once I've dropped the kids off at school in the morning, I sit down at my desk at home and write until midday, when I break for lunch. On a average morning I'll get about 1,500 words done. The afternoon is reserved for things like e-mails and admin, although I'll usually try and squeeze in an extra hour's writing before the kids get home again. On a really good day I'll have written 3000 words by the time I go to bed.

As a professional writer what has most surprised you that you didn't expect?

I've been very surprised by just how much extra work besides the writing is involved. There's so much admin! Payments, and taxes, and contracts, and publicity, and events, and travel, and correspondence... the list is endless. I took some advice and hired an accountant, who is worth his weight in gold. And I've employed my wife, who is wonderfully patient and practical, to handle a lot of the admin, which I'm dreadful at doing. That leaves me free to focus on the writing.

Can we have a sneaky clue what the next book will be about?

It's a sequel to The Train To Impossible Places. Suzy is determined to prove she can be a good Postie, but before she and the crew can get back out on the rails, disaster strikes. Trollville is in danger, and only they can save it!

Thank you Peter for a great interview. You can find more information about Peter and his book following handles and tags @petergbell  @Usborne  #TheTraintoImpossiblePlaces on look out for further interviews on the blog tour below. 

BOOK OF THE WEEK
THE TRAIN TO IMPOSSIBLE PLACES BY P.G. BELL
CHILDREN 9+
Science-loving Suzy is horrified to find a grumpy troll building a railway through her house for The Impossible Postal Express. Newly recruited Suzy will whisk children away into an enchanted world of talking packages, exploding bananas, witches and ghosts. Peppered with playful illustrations this magical adventure that turns science on its head is a helter-skelter ride providing enormous fun and the belief that anything is possible. The Wizard of Oz meets The Polar Express.
ISBN 9781474948616 HB Usborne £12.99

BLOG TOUR STORM WITCH BY ELLEN RENNER SEPT 3RD

BLOG TOUR FOR STORM WITCH BY ELLEN RENNER 

I was thrilled to interview Ellen  about her new middle grade magical adventure, Storm Witch. Read about her book and her life as an author below.

Describe Storm Witch in one sentence.
It’s a coming-of-age story set in a world of vast seas and small islands; where Storm has to discover who she is while struggling with elemental magic, love and loss, friendship and betrayal.

(So the answer is: only if it’s a really long sentence!)



What inspired the powerful elemental element in the book?

I’ve wanted to write a book about weather magic for a long time. But magic is dangerous – the logic has to be impeccable or you will make yourself ridiculous. If I use magic I want it to be connected to the themes of the book – the ‘why?’.

For Storm Witch it made sense to use the ancient concept of four elements – air, earth, fire and water – and make the elements themselves the source of Storm’s power. The Elementals are at war, and that could destroy Storm’s world. Storm Witch is ultimately about ‘balance’ – the creative versus the destructive urge in human beings. It’s about how hard it is for all of us to find that balance, individually and as a society; and equally how essential it is that we keep trying.

What is your favourite part of the book?

Probably Storm’s ‘Choosing’, where she has to travel alone to the top of her island’s mountain (a dormant volcano) and visit the shrines of the Elementals one by one, to hear their prophecies. It was great fun to write.

What character do you most relate to?

There are two: Storm and her mother, Dain. But all my characters will have something of me in them. Scary, when I think of a few of my villains . . .


Can we have a sneaky clue to what is in store for Storm in the rest of the series?

Of course not: that would spoil the fun. And my editor would be unhappy. She’s very nice and extremely talented, and I want her to be happy.

 

As a professional writer what has most surprised you that you didn't expect?

That each book is just as hard, sometimes harder, than the last. I guess you keep raising the bar, but I somehow thought it would get easier. It’s also a surprise (and relief!) that the more I write, the more my imagination flourishes – like a garden constantly sprouting weird and wonderful new plants. I’ve no idea where it all comes from, especially my casts of characters.

What's a typical writing day for you?

I get up at around 7-ish and go to my study. I start with a cup of tea and a read-through of the previous day’s work, to get me into the story again. Then I get some music going and try to get a few hundred words down before breakfast, even if they’re rubbish and I’m not feeling it. I take breaks to make fresh tea or eat something. Music is essential, or an app with white noise like Ommwriter. When I hit a dead end, I’ll knit or play the piano for fifteen minutes to refresh.

I’m a morning person; by late-afternoon my brain is done and I start doing non-writing jobs. When the weather is good I take a motorcycle for a run up a twisty road. Riding is a necessary counterpoint to the writing and a great stress reliever. It’s active instead of sedentary, and it’s like meditation: you need to be totally in the moment and concentrating. The other thing I like to do is get to the gym three evenings a week. I need a certain level of fitness to stay well and focussed both for the writing and the motorcycles.

For me the key is starting first thing. If I let myself be distracted I can procrastinate for hours, doing all those other terribly important jobs that always need doing.

First drafts are mentally and emotionally challenging so I can only do about four to five hours a day, although I can rewrite all day long. I prefer rewriting to first drafting. Rewriting is creative in a different way; it’s where books are made. First drafts can be like pulling teeth. I’m a seat-of-the-pantser: I can’t plot in detail in advance and have given up trying.

One of my books, City of Thieves, wrote itself, and the first draft barely needed any rewriting. That hasn’t happened since, although I wish it would. That really was magic!

Who is your favourite literary hero or heroine?

Difficult question. I’m not sure I can claim to have a favourite, but I am very fond of Cat Chant from Diana Wynne Jones’ Charmed Life. I like his diffidence and cowardice. True bravery is all about being frightened 

Storm Witch by Ellen Renner is published on 6^th September by Nosy Crow in paperback priced £6.99

MANY THANKS TO ELLEN FOR HER FASCINATING INTERVIEW. FIND MORE INFO ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND BOOK ON TWITTER @Ellen_Renner

If you wish to follow the rest of the Blog tour  see the banner below

MY REVIEW OF STORM WITCH BY ELLEN RENNER

CHILDREN 9+

Thirteen-year-old Storm must undertake The Choosing and be claimed by one of the Elementals, Air, Water, Earth or Fire. But she is bestowed with a great and terrible gift. Will Storm's new powers help save those she loves or will it betray everything she holds dear? A whirlwind adventure which will sweep you into its enchanted world. At its epicentre is a strong heroine in a coming of age quest that will leave you breathless.
ISBN 9780857636409 PB Nosy Crow £6.99