Month: January 2014

My Characters Escape into the World! (And turn out to be made of paper.)

I have become aware that some of my characters have been appearing in public without telling me. Fortunately a kind gentleman named Michael Dickinson managed to take photos of them while they were frolicking at large in Cardiff Central Library. (‘At large’ may not be the right term. ‘At small’ is perhaps more accurate.)

As you can see from the picture below, the runaway characters are preparing to make their getaway in a floating coffeehouse. Note the big, white kite used to pull the coffeehouse along the blue paper water.

Look at the poster! I've been adopted!
Look at the poster on the left! Apparently I’ve been adopted!

Here are Hathin and Arilou from Gullstruck Island/The Lost Conspiracy, dangling their legs into the water.

Gullstruck (2)-small-ish

Here is Neverfell from A Face Like Glass, attending to a formidably sized cheese. It may even be a Stackfalter Sturton…

Neverfell (2)-smallish

…which means it should probably be kept safe from this gentleman.

I love the way he's abseiling down the poster.
I love the way he’s abseiling down the poster.

The forces of law and order are likely to be very interested in the whereabouts of these three – Mosca Mye, Eponymous Clent and Saracen the goose from Fly by Night and Fly Trap/Twilight Robbery.

Come to think of it, the little figure that is just visible through the lefthand window also looks somewhat suspicious. And… um… rather familar. 🙂

Mosca and Clent (2)-smallish

Here is a closeup of the tiny, belligerent paper Saracen…

Saracen (2)-smallish

…and another view of the coffeehouse, where other disreputable individuals can be glimpsed through the windows. The man dressed in a blue coat and seen from behind is Hopewood Pertellis, and the black-clad figure is Aramai Goshawk.

Coffeehouse 2 (2)-smallish

Many thanks to Michael Dickinson for creating this wonderful display, and for sending me these photos!

Michael Dickinson and Saracen
Michael being terrorised by the tiny paper Saracen on his shoulder

Coffeehouse 3 (2)-smallish

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Kids Lit Quiz National Final 2014

On the 6th December, King’s College School in Wimbledon witness a clash of titans – the National Final of the Kids’ Literary Quiz. The Kids’ Lit Quiz is an international literature competition for children aged 10-13, and each year the team that wins the National Final has the chance to compete in the International Final.

Introductory speeches in the grand hall of King's College School
Introductory speeches in the grand hall of King’s College School

This was a second time I had attended the National Final, and once again it was a lot of fun. Every team is given an author as a sort of mascot. It’s very relaxing for the author, because the team does all the hard work, whereas the author basically sits on the sidelines making supportive ‘woo!’ noises and occasionally eating cake.

I was lucky enough to be handed to the team from Finham Park School, who were fun and interesting, and had a tiny cow as a mascot. As it turned out they were also brilliant, and carried off the second prize after a nailbitingly close battle.

Finham Park School Team after claiming second prize
Finham Park School team just after claiming second prize

Many congratulations to all the teams who competed, and to City of London School for Girls who will be going on to the International Final!

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