Secret Book

Hi Chaps,

Well, I've been working on something a bit secret recently, I'll let you know more once the book's out, but it's a very nice book, for a good cause, with a couple of fun characters.
As a bit of a teaser, I can show yoiu a rough sketch from the early stages, that I was pleased with, but that wasn't used in the final book.

It gives a bit of a hint, though I'd be very surprised if anyone guesses what it actually is :)

Penelope Perfect

Mark your diaries for 1st Feb everyone!
The first book in the new Penelope Perfect series is published, featuring illustrations by me :)

It's called 'Project Best Friend', and is published by the lovely people at Hardie Grant Egmont in Australia
It seems to be only available in Australia, but it is listed on the Book Depository here - 
Hopefully it'll be available to order/pre-order there soon, and it should be possible to post internationally from there.

The books have an interesting premise, about a girl who is quite anxious, and wants to be perfect.
Most of the time she is good, sensible and calm. But then sometimes she is bossy, angry and frustrated.
And the stories are written to explore these duelling presonalities, how she is never quite sure which Penelope is going to be stronger on any given day.  
And then, Penelope finds that the best moments in her life are when she actually forgets to try.

It was great fun to illustrate, and is a very smart book.
Look on the Hardie Grant FB page for updates here
I'll post more when it comes out.

I Spy - answer

Time's up!
Here's the answer to the 'Small Blue' quiz from last week.
(Actually, I think this is a question rather than a quiz, as the word quiz implies more than one question :)

But anyway, on to the answer. If you know it, give yourself a pat on the back. If not, it's something to look out for .
But on each double page spread with the lights on, you will find, somewhere inthe picture, a red toy car.
Two in Small's bedroom, and then a different style of red toy car in the the hall and kitchen, 
right to the end, everytime the lights are on. 
Four double spreads in all.
Here they are.

But more info on new work coming soon :)

I Spy

Hi Chaps,

Happy New Year everybody.
And as a celebration, I thought I'd do something a bit fun and participatory.

So, as it's been a few months since 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night' came out, I thought I might do a little 'I Spy' quiz.

This is a quiz for people who have a copy of 'Small Blue', or access to a copy, say at a library or something.
But if you look through the book, there is something that appears on every spread where the lights are on.
Bit of a clue, it's a certain coloured toy, but see if you can spot it.

It's a sort of sub-plot I put in, if you can call it a sub plot.
Just sort of something to spot and look out for as you're reading.

But have a careful look through, see what you can spot, and I'll do a post next week with the answer, with pictures.

New York Times Book Review

Hi Chaps,

Well, "Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night" has been reviewed again, and this time in a real life actual paper that you can hold in your hand, which is cool.
Yesterday, 19th October, it was reviewed in the Book Review Section of the Sunday edition of the New York Times.
They say "It's a winning approach to fear of the dark: lots of physical closeness, a few flights of imagination, and a gentle dash of cold, hard logic."
See a scan of the review below, it also featured a section of the goblins spread, further down the page.

Just a small spot, but I do feel chuffed :)

Small Blue review

Hi Chaps,

There have been a bunch of really nice reviews of Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night on various blogs.
I've put a couple of them up on my website, but I thought I'd gather a bunch of them here.

A lovely review, and there was a give-away too, at the Good Reads With Ronna Blog here

A very nice review indeed at Jen Robinson's Book Page Blog here.

Another very nice review at the Books For Kids Blog here
You'll have to scroll down for this one, it was posted on the 6th Sept.

And a nice short review at the Feed A Reader Blog here.
This blog seems to be run by Kirkwood Public Library.
I checked the catalogue, and Small Blue is checked out at the moment :)

Small Blue Published

Hi Chaps,

Well, 'Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night' has been published in the UK, so now it's all out there and available both in the US and the UK.
Get 'em while they're hot, I love a nice warm book, fresh out of the press :)

Apparently it's in actual book stores in the US, and is available on-line at Amazon and Barbes & Noble, and in the UK it's available on-line at Waterstones, Amazon, Books etc and Foyles.
And, I know my local libraries are getting a few copies in, so I'm looking forward to spotting a copy there.

And another way to get yourself a copy -
 I do know there's one up for grabs in a competition which is currently running at the 'Good Reads With Ronna' blog here.
There are three books to win, including 'Small Blue' and there's a lovely review of it as well, at the bottom of the post.

And, if you're after a few more reviews, there's one on Jen Robinson's Book page' blog, here, and another two, from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly on my website here.

I've got a 'Small Blue' quiz in the works, so keep your eyes open for that in the near future here, too.