Happy Halloween! Let’s celebrate this most frightening of festivals by talking about the scariest thing writers face in their day-to-day working lives. Not rejection letters from publishers, or fierce editorial feedback, or even negative reviews. The scariest thing is the blank page. Every writer I have met – from young beginners to experienced pros – … Continue reading
Four books, six authors, a panel title (It Takes Two) that made everyone think of Strictly and Lucy Ivison in the chair – of course we had fun at YA Shot. And we were proud that Waiting for Callback was keeping company with Lobsters and Never Evers (Ellen & Ivison) and The Witch’s Kiss (E & K Corr). They … Continue reading
I have bought myself a present. Not that this is unusual, I’m more than happy to buy myself the occasional pressie – but this is perhaps the best one yet. I should just say here that I am obsessed with murder mysteries. I am never happier than when I’m absorbed in a good death! My … Continue reading
Regular readers of this blog might remember that in August I put up a post called ‘DARE’, where I talked about the latest challenge I’d given myself – to perform a stand-up comedy show in a school before the end of the year. Well I did it! And it happened almost by accident. Because while … Continue reading
Do you like writing? Ariah Robertson does. That’s a snippet of her writing above. She won a goody bag as a runner up in last month’s competition – well done! I loved seeing not just the typed up version of her work, but also the hand written first draft – I like them best. It’s … Continue reading
In the second of my blogs about dialogue, I thought I’d pass on one of my tips for young writers aimed at honing dialogue. It’s really simple: become like a spy and listen in on the conversation of strangers. Obviously, I’m talking about appropriate moments, like in public transport where you get a snatch of conversation, … Continue reading
From now until June 2017 I have the great privilege of being the dlr Writer in Residence. I have a lovely room on the top floor of the Lexicon Library in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin and I’m hosting lots of book clubs, writing clubs and book events. October has been such a fun month. Teen Creatives … Continue reading
Huge congratulations to: Mary O’Mahony, Jodie Cox, Gemma Wright, amani msque, becky butler, Denise Lawrence, Andrea Upton, Rhian Ivory, Liz Taylor and Jo Clarke, who each win a copy of THE SECRET OF NIGHTINGALE WOOD by Lucy Strange Emily Egan, Helen Williams and R Macdonald, who each win a copy of BLACK POWDER by Ally Kerrick Isabella Morgan, Karen Ennis and Clara Egan, who each win a copy … Continue reading
I am working on a book just now that has lots of rather dark and alarming little stories embedded in it – a girl with a frozen crow as a playmate, a girl who has a helpful but uninvited spider lodging in her ear, a girl who listens to the past, that sort of thing. … Continue reading
On a recent school visit, a child said they really liked my first page of Cat Burglar (and the rest of the book – phew!). And they asked me what I thought made a great beginning to a story. This was such a brilliant question, and so I decided to share with you my … Continue reading
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