I last posted on 1st June!! That's rubbish!! Lazy me!! No real excuses, except I've been very busy. June and July were spent finishing off my next book 'The King of Space' (more to come later on that). Then I went on holiday with my family (and my Mum) to sunny Menorca, where I wrote a new picture book, whilst lying on the beach, in between being buried in the sand and paddling with my daughters. More to come on that later too. Then I had to catch up with some jobs that were a little bit late, because I'd spent too long finishing 'The King of Space'. Then I went to the Czech Republic to teach a week long course on 'character design for animation' for a fantastic event called Anomalia. Then I came home and sketched out the roughs for my new book. Phew.
This week I'm drawing some roughs for another 'Will Gallows' book, due early next year.
Next week, I'm off to Templar to look at my new book roughs, and will hopefully start colouring-in the week after. I'm VERY excited about this one. It will be fun!
And then today I had some very good news. 'The Pirates Next Door' (Templar Publishing) has been short-listed for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Hoorah! Or, as an ex-pirate should say 'Oooo-ARR!!' It's now going to be judged by lots of children and a judging panel, headed by one of my favourite children's authors, Michael Rosen. Funnily enough, Rosie has made me read 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' every morning this week. She must've known something that I didn't.....
Which means I shall be attending two awards events in November, because a little while back I found out that 'The Pirates Next Door' was also short-listed for the Sheffield Children's Book Prize. Doubly funnily enough, my book is up against five other books including Michael Rosen's 'Dear Fairy Godmother' (illustrated by Nick Sharrat). I'm very excited by the Sheffield awards ceremony. It looks like they have a manic event with a qerzwillion screaming children present... Eeek!
But for now... Until I write an update on 'The King of Space', here's a bear that I doodled at Amsterdam airport, on my way home from the Czech Republic.
