This year was my first proper experience of book week, and it was a total treat. I visited six schools, did four assemblies, two workshops, one literature festival, one family workshop and one panel. I met hundreds of children and LOVED hearing their amazing ideas about magical creatures, their beautiful descriptive language and their original and surprising stories…

I’m particularly excited to share this month’s blog post because it focuses on the work of Angelo Rinaldi, the breathtakingly talented artist behind the cover art for both Dragon Daughter and Rise of the Shadow Dragons.

When I do school visits, children often ask me about the artwork and how it was created. Angelo kindly agreed to do a Q&A interview with me, so now we all get to hear the answers.

I was thrilled to be invited to run a workshop for Golden Egg North this month, on adding tension and foreshadowing as you edit a novel. 

Last Friday, Dragon Daughter was voted as Calderdale Book of the Year in the primary category. To say I am delighted would be such an understatement. Let me tell you why…

This week I had the huge pleasure of attending the Leeds Book Awards. I know from experience that the ceremony is beautifully organised by Kirsty Fenn and colleagues from Leeds Library Services, an event full of excitement and warmth and love of books.