Newsletter Sixteen - June 2010

I know, it’s been far too long since I wrote a newsletter. It’s just as well I haven’t tried blogging. I’d never keep that up to date either!

It’s been an eventful year so far, with an election and new government in the U.K. and the World Cup in South Africa. I bought a beautiful little beadwork lapel flag, made by some grandmothers in South Africa for a children’s charity there. It’s so beautifully made, and was perfect to support England and South Africa at the same time!

As well as writing I’ve been quite sociable. In February there was the SAS (Scattered Authors Society) meeting in Coventry, where I got together with lots of other writers for fun, food and some serious thinking too. As well as that, one of our number, Jo Cotteral who has a great new series out called Sweethearts, took some video of us and edited it for a Youtube film. You can see it here. If you blink you might miss me but it was great fun to do. Many thanks to Jo for all her hard work in making it happen.

A bit later in the year I went to the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Conference, and had a wonderful time there. As well as that, Linda Newbery has been planning the programme for our usual retreat in Oxfordshire in July, and I have been helping with that. It’s the highlight of my writing year, when about thirty of us spend a few days together in tranquil surroundings. It’s not all lazing around though. In fact we have a full programme of sessions, and opportunities to discuss our writing. I can’t wait.

A few weeks ago I had a visit from Katherine Roberts. Her book I Am The Great Horse is excellent. Do read it. Here she is sitting in my conservatory, next to the cat that doesn’t belong to me but which calls in from time to time to sleep on the sofa.

I’ve been enjoying listening to jazz and blues played in a pub not far from where I live. It’s so nice, especially on these warm summer evenings, to wander up the hill and hear some good music, but I have been busy writing too. I’m getting on well with my new series, Heart, the magazine to die for, and I treated myself to a new laptop recently, to help spur me on. It’s a MacBook Pro, and I love it!

I’ve tried something else new this year too, writing a non-fiction history book about Gloucester for Hometown World Publishing. It was great fun to do. Maybe you’ll find it in your school library once it’s published next year.

In the autumn I’ll have my new Fame School title out, Trick or Treat. I had great fun with it, and I love the jacket. I can’t wait until it’s in the shops. But before that, it will be the long summer holiday. I wonder what you have planned. One thing that you’ll definitely need, whether you go away or stay at home is a good book to read. Here are three of mine, all set during the summer.

Click a cover for info about the book

Maybe they’ll keep you going while you’re on holiday from school!

Cindy