People – especially children – always ask me ‘where do you get your ideas’? And it’s a good question.

Yesterday as I sat in the hairdresser’s I wrote the bones of an early reader called Joseph and the Pumpkin.

My early reader called Emma, the Penguin is coming out with O’Brien Press in Feb and I had so much fun doing it I thought I might give the age group another go – age 5+.
Plus I promised a son’s friend – Joseph – I’d write a book about him – to impress his school mates!

So I had a name – Joseph – and I knew the kind of boy I wanted to write about – afraid, nervous, lacking in confidence – and I love Hallowe’en so I thought that would make a fun book.

But I had to find a story. So I decided that Joseph would be afraid of Hallowe’en (told a ghost story as a toddler and never got over it – he loves stories but not ghost stories) and by the end of the book overcome this fear.

The plot involves a lost dog (the real Joseph loves his dogs) and a spooky cottage and a journey to find the lost dog involving spooky noises, rustles in the hedges, foxes and deer – drawing on fairy tales like Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel etc.

So that’s the idea in the nutshell – a little boy, a lost dog and his fear – Hallowe’en – and how he overcomes it.

Ideas come from all sorts of place, but finding the central theme, the ‘kernel’ to hang the book around is the important thing – for this story it’s Joseph’s fear and what this fear is based on. Oh and the character has to learn something about themselves along the way – in this case Joseph will learn how strong and brave he can be when he has to be.

I love it when a story starts coming together. There’s still a lot of work to do on the plot, but it’s a start.

SarahX

You are very lucky that I’m am a master of procrastination when supposed to be keying in edits – which I don’t find all that thrilling to be honest. I’m at the final tweaking stage – typos and minor changes – and by this stage I know the book almost off by heart. Still, I am making myself laugh even now – so the book can’t be all that bad. In fact there are a couple of pretty good scenes – coming from me that’s saying a lot! It’s Amy 3 – Bridesmaid Blitz and it really, really is almost finished.

So – Irish Pen New Kids on the Block night – more detailed notes. I will basically transcribe all my notes from the night in case it’s useful to those writing for kiddi winks.

First off was Paddy O’Doherty.

Paddy is an experienced editor and has worked with Children’s Books Ireland for many years. She has recently become the Children’s Editor at Puffin Ireland.

Here is what she had to say (paraphrased) and very interesting it is too:
Penguin Ireland has published for 8 years now. Puffin Ireland is linked to Puffin Uk so the big advantage is that authors will have immediate access to sales in the UK and maybe all the English speaking countries. But this does restrict the books we can take on. They will have to have international appeal.
We will accept unsolicited manuscripts (not from an agent) but there will be little chance at the moment to publish books for the under 7s and picture books. In the future I would dearly love to publish picture books. Paddy explained that the economics of picture books just don’t add up.
This is what she wants:
Age 7 to 9 fiction
Age 8 to 12 fiction
We need books that fill the gaps in the market and gaps in PUffin books
eg Fantasy
Books that will appeal to both boys and girls
animal and child stories like those of MIchael Morpurgo and Dick King Smith
Humour for girls
Louise Rennison type books
She also mentioned Cathy Cassidy and my own Amy Green books (very kindly)

Paddy again: There is no difference between literary and commercial books to me – if they are good that’s all that matters.
We have 80 submissions at the moment – and some have potential.
We want well written, original books with an original voice, a sense of control, a sense that the author knows what they are doing, a sense of authority.

Puffin Ireland’s first book will be by Laura Cassidy – to be published in 2010 or 2011 – and it’s a teen book for girls with an unusual premise.

Puffin Ireland want a cover letter, 3 chapters and a synopsis

It will take 2 to 3 months for them to get back to you and at present they do not acknowledge receipt of manuscripts although this may change.

They give priority to work sent in by agents.

Submission details are on www.penguin.ie

More on Little Island as soon as I get a chance.

YOurs in writing,
SarahX

First of all, thanks so much to all the lovely libaries and schools around the country who hosted Amy Green events or workshops or just plain old talks during the Children’s Book Festival – I had a ball.

I just thought I’d jot down some observations on the festival and generally how you can make us writerly types happy – mostly involving food and some TLC. Here goes:

1/ Do have a glass or bottle of water ready for the author – throats do go Sahara after talking for an hour.
2/ Do make sure the authors get fed at the relevant times – lunch is always good! They may turn into pumpkins if you don’t.
3/ If staying over, put them up in the hotel you would choose to stay in – warm, quiet and clean. Remember some of your authors may need to write/work in the evenings – so do take this into consideration – a tiny room without a desk is a no no.
4/ Please don’t expect them to drive 30 or 40 miles between events – remember many authors are city slickers and more used to trains and buses. Cows in the middle of the road disturb them.
5/ Think about the logistics and what’s best for the author – it might be a better use of their time to base them in the main library rather than slepping them all over the county.
6/ Make sure the person at the desk/in reception knows an author is coming and greets them with a smile. Glum = bad, keen and smiley = good!
7/ Make an effort with posters – these can be ordered from the author’s publisher in advance – or at the very least type welcome and the author’s name on a sheet of paper and stick it to the door. Make the author feel wanted – us authors are sensitive souls, be kind (rewind).
8/ A follow up email/letter to say thanks for visiting is always nice. Chocolates are even better.
9/ Do try to have the author’s books in stock – they will look for them on the shelves!
10/ If the author asks for 5th and 6th class girls, don’t give them 1st class boys – there is a reason for their request! In my case involving bra talk and ballet tutus!!!

Some of the brilliant things librarians and schools did for me this festival:

Cootehill made me a lovely welcome poster and book display.

Alexandra School library provided six copies of Amy Green, Teen Agony Queen for the girls to win on the day of the visit. They also gave me a book token and a box of chocolates. And a follow up thank you card. Many Brownie points for Alex!

Bray/Wicklow libraries presented me with a huge box of Dairy Milk and two darling pink candles for my study. Darlings!

Clare libraries put me up in the Old Ground Hotel – which had a desk so I could work in the evening! Yeah!

Much kindness all round!

SarahX

Did a magic writing workshop with kids in Tallaght LIbrary today. There were supposed to be 1 group of 6th class kids, but I ended up with that lot plus a gang of 4th class kids. So 60 odd in all. Difficult enough for a workshop but they were great – very imaginative and interactive.

We talked about genre, what makes a book ‘good’, how to write interesting sentences – I asked them to come up with a more interesting way of saying ‘The mouse ate the cheese’ and some of their answers were brilliant!
What else – using detail in your work, memory, the importance of unforgettable characters, plotting and conflict and lots of other things.

My tip for doing workshops – be very, very prepared! Lots of exercises for them to do, ones that can easily be adapted for different age groups (in case you get landed with 1st class instead of 6th – happens all the time! Lots of show and tell material – books, photos, diaries etc. And a whole heap of energy and attitude – vital for entertaining 30/60 or more kids!

Paddy O’Doherty’s (Puffin Ireland) wise words keep coming back to me – you must make them know you are in control – in her case she meant her good self, the editor, and she was talking about writing, being in control of the story – but it goes for doing children’s events too – the kids must know you are in control, that you have the session planned, and that you know what you’re talking about and are prepared to be honest, open and attentive during the whole hour/90 mins.

If they start getting twitchy or flicking bits of paper at each other – they’re bored! Try an Abba song (only half joking – it actually works!). Get creative – engage with them. Ask them questions – about their lives, their families, their hobbies/interests, their school.

More next week after sessions in Clare, Lucan and LImerick! Ah yes, Children’s Book Festival – don’t you just love it?!

SarahX

I’ve just set up a new Amy Green facebook page for young fans and readers of 9+ – with lots of tips on great books and insider info on the Amy Green characters – if you have a young reader at home do let them know.
Right, back to edits now!
SarahX

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ask-Amy-Green/157542427175?ref=nf

Phew! I’ve been having a fun time at the Children’s Book Festival. I kicked off my school visits last week with Arklow, Wicklow and Bray; Deansgrange, Stillorgan and Alexandra College in Rathgar.
All the visits were lovely, and a bit shout out to the girls in Hollypark and all the other schools. And thanks for all the emails you’ve been sending me, including the amazingly great poems and stories – it’s a pleasure to read them.
And a big thanks to the librarians, especially Noelle Ringwood, for all their hospitality.

I have just come back from Cavan where I visited Cootehill, Balieborough and Cavan libraries and met pupils from St Mary’s in Drung, (sorry I kept calling it Dung!), and The Dorley school in Cootehill.

5 Things I Love About the Children’s Book Festival

1/ Meeting great boys and girls from all over the country.
2/ Visiting some really fab libraries – and the lovely librarians who run them.
3/ Finding out about the students favourite books – from Jackie Wilson to Derek Landy and everything in between.
4/ Talking about some of my favourite books with the students and teachers – and believe me, I have a long, long list! (Wilderness is right up there, with Judy Blume and The Cat Mummy)
5/ Answering all the odd and bizarre questions that are thrown at me – from ‘What’s your favourite pet?’ to ‘Are you Cecelia Ahern’s sister?’

I was speaking at the Irish Pen ‘New Kids on the Block’ event last night, along with Svetlana for the Author Rights Agency, Siobhan Parkinson, new children’s editor at Little Island (New Island’s imprint for children and teens), and Paddy O’Doherty, new children’s editor at PUffin Ireland.

I will do a full report on the evening next week – but for now – the main points – ie what they are all looking for. Which is what everyone really wants to know!

Paddy – Puffin Ireland: Wants 7 to 9 fiction
but especially 8 to 12 fiction
She says ‘read Puffin books’ and see where the gaps in the list are – and try to fill the gaps!
she wants – animal and child stories like Charlotte’s Web
Humour for girls – Louise Rennison type books (she kindly mentioned my own Amy Green books as the type of thing she is looking for)
Fantasy
The books must be ‘well written, original ideas and voice, with a real sense of control’ – she wants to feel that the author knows what she (or he) is doing – a sense of authority
She has 80 submissions at the moment to go through, but is very keen on reading more manuscripts from new authors – all good news!

Siobhan – Little Islands: is looking for novels for age 9+ and teen novels
she is not a huge fantasty fan herself – she likes realistic novels
she wants – ‘originality, a strong voice, someone who is in control of their writing’

Svetlana – agent: is a big fan of fantasy and finds this sells best to international publishers
she as likes teenage/crossover fiction
universal stories are vital – and she is most interested in books that can travel

To find out more see: www.puffin.ie
or email siobhan at siobhan.parkinson@newisland.ie

Oh and I told people to read children’s books to get an idea of what works, and many other things – but I’ll type up my notes and publish them here asap.

I have a barby to cater for now – 30 of Ben’s work gang – and it’s pouring rain – oops!

Have a good weekend,

SarahXXX

Hi People,
I’m away next week – writing in West Cork – so no posts ’till the following week – but I’ll leave you with this – a fab event for kids and teens – with Derek Landy, Judi Curtin and many, many more . . . (oh and me!)
Check it out – and book asap!
In the meantime, happy writing,
SarahX

Bubblegum Club Book Bash – Monster Book Fun!

Saturday 3rd October 2009 (During the Children’s Book Festival)

At the Kingston Hotel, Dun Laoghaire
12pm to 3.30pm

The first ever Irish literary lunch for children and teens. An author or book guru at every table! Come along and meet:

Derek Landy, Mr Skulduggery Pleasant himself! Winner of this year’s Irish Book Awards.
Marita Conlon McKenna, much loved and multi award winning author of Under the Hawthorne Tree
Sarah Webb, author of the hugely popular Amy Green series and bestselling author for mums and big sisters too!
Don Conroy, writer, artist and much loved Uncle Don from Den TV
Joe O’Brien, author of the Alfie Green series and other brilliant books
Judi Curtin, creator of the mega cool Alice and Megan books
Celine Kiernan, author of the Moorhawk fantasy/adventure trilogy
Claire Hennessy, teen writing sensation who started her career at age 13!
Alison Walsh, uber experienced editor Ivan O’Brien, publisher, O’Brien Press
Plus more amazing writers – David Maybury, Maeve Friel, Jane Mitchell, Roisin Meaney, and Sarah Rees Brennan. And David O’Callaghan, book guru from Eason.

A fantastic, once in a lifetime chance to talk to these amazingly talented authors.

Plus Derek Landy will entertain you with tales from the depths of his wickedly creative mind. And our crack team of book trade professionals will answer all your questions on how a book is created and how you too can get published.

It gets even more exciting – every young reader will go home with a goody bag, and there will also be an Author Auction – win a writer to visit your school, or signed books by Darren Shan and other cool writers, plus a bookshop on site.

Please note tickets are limited and early demand has been unprecedented, so please book now to avoid disappointment. Children e20, adults e25 (child and adult tickets both include lunch – and child tickets include free goody bags)
All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult

Booking: email – bubblegumclubbookbash@gmail.com
Tel: 01 2360456 or 086 2628888 or check out www.bubblegumclub.ie for details
Children’s Book Festival info: www.childrensbooksireland.ie

I’m so nice to you all out there – that instead of writing Amy Green 3 – which is actually at a really fun part – a boat trip in Paris – I’m writing this blog on:
1/ the personality you need to be a published writer
And 2/ how I wrong my very first book for early readers (age 5+) and got it placed with O’Brien Press.

So first to number 1: It takes a particular kind of stubbornness to be a published writer. A sense of self belief, of it being your right to have a book on the shelves. Not in a cocky He-Man, Master of the Universe way, but in a ‘Hey, I can do this, I’ve worked hard and I deserve it,’ way.

The people I see getting published (sometimes after years and many, many books) are those who have clung on to this self belief.

Of course you’ll have wobbles along the way, jeepers we all have them. But in general you have to keep the writing faith and believe that in the end, you will get published.

OK, number 2: Mrs Noah and the Penguin

I’ve just had an early reader accepted by O’Brien Press (thank you Michael, Ivan et al!)

I’d never written for this age group before so this is how I went about it.

a/ I had a general idea – sparked by a girl in a writing workshop. I was ‘teaching’ her creative writing – they taught me far moe than I taught them, let me tell you – anyway she told me how she went to school one day dressed as a carrot as she thought it was a fancy dress day and it wasn’t. We were talking about embarrassing moments and how to use these in your work!

Long and funny story, but basically the poor mite had to spend the whole day in orange tights, orange top and a pair of old gym shorts the teacher found in lost property (as her cardboard carrot costume wasn’t great for sitting in as you can imagine).

So I got to thinking about this – and that was the basis of my own story, about a little girl who dresses up as a penguin for her Noah play in school – but is the only one in a costume.

I added the extra dimension of a feminist Noah’s Ark play – hence Mrs Noah – as I’d written one for my daughter’s school at the start of this year – and very proud of it I am too!

So I had my idea, my plot. And my character – a 9 year old girl called Emma (after my youngest sister).

B/ I took a whole load of Panda books (the early reader series it will be part of) out of the library and I read them to my daughter. Then I picked the ones she liked the best and I re-read them and noted why they worked, the language, dialogue used, and word count.

c/ Then I started making notes for my own book, scene by scene.

- Emma hears about the play
- Gets picked as a penguin – disgusted by this – but there is a reason- she’s a natural comic and great at making people laugh
- Sick – misses school
- Dresses up as a penguin for dress rehearsal – but this has been cancelled due to leaking school hall roof
- Goes into school in costume
- Everyone laughs at her
- She decides to do a silly dance and make them laugh with her and not at her
- She gets a starring role in the play as Mrs Noah’s Penguin

Ta da! I know it’s hardly Booker stuff, but it works.

d/ I wrote up the story and reworked it many times until I was happy with it.

e/ I submitted it to O’Brien Press and they said yes! Hurrah!

The moral of the story – when it comes to writing for children, do your homework! Read books for that age group, think of a strong idea, pack it with great characters and rewrite until as perfect as you can make it.

Good luck!

SarahX

Hi All,

The weekend was a bit hectic – with the Mountains to the Sea Festival children’s events running both days. Fab authors – Marita Conlon McKenna, Derek Landy, Oisin McGann – all gave thier all. David Maybury did a stonking Dahl reading – very talented boy, that David.

Festivals and talks are an important part of a writer’s life, and it’s always lovely to meet young readers and their parents. So hi to all the gang I met at the festival, especially the lovely Abby!

As the Indo did not have room for my children’s reviews last month – here they are – a little out of date but not to worry!

August round up:
There are many ways to create a reader for life, and taking children along to meet their favourite author is one of them.

Here’s your chance, with two September Book Festivals – Books 2009 and the Mountain to Sea Festival – both providing comprehensive children’s programmes. And October sees Children’s Book Festival swing into action in schools and libraries all over Ireland.

Derek Landy, author of the hugely popular Skulduggery Pleasant books will be speaking at both September festivals – Saturday 12th September in People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire, and again in the National Gallery, Dublin, on Saturday 19th September. Other highlights include John Connolly reading from his new teen novel, The Gates (Books 2009); and much loved author, Marita Conlon-McKenna talking about her writing (Mountain to Sea).

Speaking of creating readers, O’Brien has come up trumps with The Train Driver by Kunak McGann (e5.99), a charming and well written early reader about a young boy, Dara, who’s mad about trains for children of 4 plus, with excellent full colour illustrations. For GAA fans, Feile Fever by Joe O’Brien (e7.99) will hit the spot. Fast paced, exciting, with lots of authentic match action and well rounded characters, this is a welcome addition to sport literature for readers of 7 plus.

And Somerville Press in Bantry has just published West Cork and Kerry for Kids by Cammy Harley (e9.99), a comprehensive guide to activities in these areas, ideal for holiday makers.

Finally, for teens, The Wisdom of Dead Men (£6.99 Random House) by Irish author, Oisin McGann is an explosive fantasy read, set in the Victorian era. It opens with a gripping spontaneous combustion scene and the action never lets up. Idea for any Philip Reeve fans. Oisin McGann will also appear at the Mountains to Sea Festival, don’t miss him!

Sept round up:
Teenagers are well served this season, with some exceptional titles including The Bride’s Farewell by Carnegie Winner, Meg Rosoff (£10.99 Penguin), a beautifully produced hardback about Pen, a young woman who runs away on the morning of her wedding. Set in the 19th century, it’s a lyrical, Hardy-esque read for older, thoughtful teens.

Love, Aubrey by American writer, Suzanne LaFleur (£9.99 Puffin) is another hard hitting novel, this time set in America. When Aubrey is abandoned by her mother, she has to fend for herself, before starting to rebuild her life with the help of her granny and some old and new friends. Cleverly plotted, with some exceptional writing, ideal for older readers of 14+.

If Darren Shan books are your teen reader’s poison of choice, check out The Enemy by Charlie Higson (Puffin £12.99), a taut, gore-filled horror/thriller set in London. A strange disease has turned everyone over the age of 14 into a zombie, but one hardened gang of youngsters is determined to survive.

Life Swap (Walker Books £6.99) by Abby McDonald is a clever, well written ‘grass is always greener’ novel about two girls, American party girl, Tasha and shyer English girl, Emily. What happens when the two girls swap places makes for light hearted yet compelling reading. Ideal for Meg Cabot fans.

And finally, Irish author, Celine Kiernan is back with book two of the Moorhawke Trilogy, The Crowded Shadows (O’Brien e10.99), a theatrical historical fantasy set in medieval Europe. This time our feisty teen hero, Wynter Moorhawke sets off to find the Rebel Prince, encountering dangerous wolves, and the strange and otherworldly Merron people along the way. With smatterings of Irish, used to great effect as the Merron language, this is a cracking adventure yarn, with added layers.