For World Book Week I contacted a few schools with the view of going in as a guest to read my book, perform the poems with the children and tell them the story about how I became a writer.  I went to Manor Park First school in Dorchester, St Andrews School in Preston, Weymouth and Southwell Primary School on Portland.

The Value House in Weymouth is holding a Halloween event on the 31st oct from 11am to 3pm.  I am signing books and doing readings.  Every child who turns up in Fancy dress will get a samll gift, there is also a Halloween Poetry competition running and Sue Simms from Poetry Space has kindly donated the prizes.  There are two age groups under 7's and under 12's the closing date to be judged by Sue is the 26th October.  I hope the day will be a lot of fun and if you are looking for something to do with the kids in Half Term here is the perfect answer.  I would love to see as many people as possible.  I of course will be dressed up as Lola's Mum her name yet to be chosen from suggestions on the Facebook page.  Please come along.

So much has happened since the last time I wrote a blog on here.  There are so many media applications to keep up with.  The great news is the book is being publish by Bristol publisher 'Poetry Space.'  The books are coming off the print run this week and I will go with my son to collect some for the Book launches.

We now have a Facebook page to promote the up and coming Poetry book 'Down The Plughole.'  We have had a great response and everyone seems to love the cover design.  I have been drafting a letter today ot publishers/agents with the hope of a publisher seeing our great book and publishing it.  Michelle has been working very hrd on the illustrations and I have been trying my hardest to market it, in any way I can.  My son put a funn comment on the page's wall 'Am I famous now Mum.'  This made me smile and hope that there are both proud to be feature in it. 

Hopefully next time I blog there might be some news, hopefully not just a pile of rejection letters.  Well who knows, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Fiona :)

Tightwad tips That's life magazine page 43.   Yes they are my hands in the tip   I sent it by e-mail.   It is an old tip that came from my gran.   She would have laughed at that.   So many thanks to her for passing it on down.  

Excitement over, but it is great to have something in print again.   All the rejections can be hard to take at times, but I am determined to keep on trying.  

I have finished my story about Macey the cat and Roxy dog.   I am very please with it and will be sending it to a publisher shortly, after some feedback and some photos, have been taken to enclose.   I think it will become more  of a real story with them.

My vision for it would be a picture book for age range   0   -   7.     He's keeping my fingers crossed.

Must keep writing though,  however slow, to enjoy the dream, however hard it seems.

Library Help

I have been to my local libary today to collect a book they kindly orderred in for me.  it is such a great service.  I resserach the books i want on Amazon, take a list to them and then they order them in.  When they are ready I get an email, reminding me to collect them.

Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson was the book I collect today along with 5 others of a similar style.  The reason for the research is my new idea for a book about Macey and Roxy.  I have added some great new lines and I am waiting for some new inspiration from them both.

Roxy still likes to chase macey in the garden and she gets scared.  Today she bought in some huge bugs, depostited them on the rug and chewed fiercely for a while leaving no trace.  Even licking her lips. 

Michelle has sent me over some completed drawings for 'Down the Plughole' and I am amazed at how she has brought my poems to life.  I am very excited.

Writing in rhyme,

happens all the time,

driving my family mad,

 they say I'm sad !

Maybe I am, but I can't help it.

I just want to be friends

This is the title, I have come up with for my new children's story.  It is about my dog Roxy and our new adopted cat Macey.  Roxy has never been close to a cat and has always chased them whenver she has seen one, nearly yanking my arm out of my socket when I have been walking her.  Macey was very nervous when she came to live in our house and was frightened of Roxy, but they are slowly learning to be friends.  We put up a stair gate at the top of our stairs so that Macey could explore upstairs and Roxy could not bother her.  So the cat lives upstairs and the Dog downstairs.  They have started to play together, astonishing.  The story is through Macey's eyes as a scared kitten.

I have also met up with Michelle Last and we are continuing to move forward with 'Down the Plughole'.

Words are my bread and butter, under my breath I slowly mutter.

Tomorrow is my 43rd Birthday so a day off for some retail therapy.   I have put the finishing touches to my competition entry for the Academy of children's Writers.   There is a huge prize so I am sure it will attract a lot of brilliant entries.   My story is about a Superhero dinosaur.   I am entering it as you never know.   Everyone I tell about it seems to love the idea, even the lady in my local library, who wants me to get it published and read it to the children at a special session.   I dream of this.   Words consume me, Words Rhyme through me, It makes me who I am.

Fi xx